2013 Nissan Sentra Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Sentra, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)30838.5%
- Brakes9712.1%
- Airbags9612.0%
- Engine9111.4%
- Driver assistance627.7%
- Electrical435.4%
- Fuel system374.6%
- Steering162.0%
- Seat belts131.6%
- Other / unspecified81.0%
- Suspension70.9%
- Visibility60.7%
- Body & structure50.6%
- Exterior lighting40.5%
- Interior & seats40.5%
- Transmission30.4%
- Tires & wheels10.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
It's slipping in the transmission
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that similar model year vehicles were recalled for the transmission failure; however, the VIN was not included in a powertrain recall. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked in the backyard for over a year and was no longer driven due to safety concerns. The failure mileage was not provided.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
It was 108 degree outside at 4:30 pm in the zip code of 89052. At a sloped intersection on a major street I stopped for the light. When the light turned green I tried to accelerate the car, it failed to accelerate, the break did not function, and the steering was difficult. The car stalled. The car started rolling downhill. I was able to turn the car to the next street ~20 yards down the intersection. The street had no slope and no other cars at the time. The car eventually stopped. But that was a dangerous incident and it could be much worse.
WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, I PUSHED MY BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW FOR MY NEXT TURN. THE PEDAL WAS SLIGHTLY INEFFECTIVE, MEANING THE PRESSURE IN THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE BRAKE DID NOT HALT MY CAR IN A SAFE TIMEFRAME. I HAD TO RELEASE AND PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN TO FEEL PRESSURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW JUST IN TIME TO MAKE MY NEXT TURN. THIS WAS DEFINITELY SCARY AS I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE BEFORE.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the front passenger's side air bag warning light remained illuminated while the front passenger's seat was occupied. The contact stated that the dealer had previously repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS), and the contact was provided a letter stating that the vehicle was eligible for additional repairs for 15 years. The manufacturer was contacted, a case was filed, and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who failed to honor the letter and provided an estimate for the diagnostic test, and the contact declined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer then closed the case. The failure mileage was approximately 16,050.
I am reporting a failed remedy for Recall R1608 (Occupant Classification System). My 2013 Nissan Sentra was serviced at Nissan of Van Nuys for this recall. Despite the dealership marking the recall as completed, the safety defect persists. Specifically, the passenger seatbelt warning light remains illuminated when the passenger seat is empty, indicating the OCS sensor is incorrectly classifying seat occupancy. This malfunction directly impacts the vehicle's ability to correctly deploy or withhold airbags in a collision. The dealership refused to re-evaluate the failed repair without legal representation. Furthermore, the Multi-Point Inspection provided during this safety recall visit was falsified; a technician hand-wrote a failing brake measurement of '3mm,' yet the Service Advisor marked the system as 'Green/Safe' on the final document. This documentation fraud makes their certification of the recall repair unreliable. They have since refused to re-inspect the safety defect.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Erractic rpms. Shakes/hesitant on take off from stop. Accelerator can be pushed all the way and it goes 5mph. Shifting takes a good minute with shakiness. Can not drive in rush hour traffic almost got accident many times.
It's slipping in the transmission
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Erractic rpms. Shakes/hesitant on take off from stop. Accelerator can be pushed all the way and it goes 5mph. Shifting takes a good minute with shakiness. Can not drive in rush hour traffic almost got accident many times.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
IPDM failure on 3 Nissan vehicles customer owned all having same issues, after taking unit apart, compositors on exact same spots all burnt. As we'll as several places (including spots where issue happened) missing Conformal coatings to protect the entire board from moisture. -Whitmer automotive LLC
I called my home Nissan yesterday to get the information about my recalls on my car that I was not aware of after the State Troopers helped me get my cat to a safe location. I was told that there are recalls on the car (and was never notified) I called where it was originally bought from a Nissan Dealership and they gave me several recall codes as I was stranded in the freezing cold with my babies in the car. There are several recalls on my car (P1-1,P1-2, and P1-5,2, P1-8.) The car went from 1RPM and shot up to 8, and down to 0 and the car would not drive after that unless it was less than 15MPH. Anything over 15-20 the car would go from 1RPM back to 8, and shoot down to 0 and jerk the car forward and backwards. I was told it was only an 02 reprogramming recall from the location it was towed to, to a different Nissan dealership. However, I was given several codes of recall from the Nissan Dealership that I purchased it from.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, fuel started spewing out of the fuel filler neck. The contact waited until the fuel level was almost empty and slowly pumped gasoline into the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to three separate mechanics and was informed that the issue was related to the oxygen sensor; however, two mechanics also stated that the issue could be related to a defect with the EVAP system. The contact then stated that while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle began to lose power while depressing the accelerator pedal, as the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH and pulled over. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle several times but was unsuccessful. The contact called the mechanic, who advised the contact to restart the vehicle in neutral(N). Once the vehicle was in neutral(N), the contact was able to restart the vehicle and resume normal operation. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there was a Nissan recall for the rear O2 sensor under NISSAN ID: P1A25. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for service; however, the dealer refused to service the vehicle due to the check engine warning light and other issues that the dealer claimed would affect the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.
Fuel tank leaks gas
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I purchased my vehicle in July of 2017 from Ron Craft Chevrolet; the transmission became inoperable and failed in Nov2019; I had my vehicle shake and immediately the power stop on the highway, almost causing an accident. Due to pandemic; OEM parts were on hold due to processing. In September of 2021 and after a thorough review of the vehicle the purchased of the OEM directly from Nissan was validated and installed by an authorized Nissan dealer. Now been only 13months the OEM Transmission installation. There was once again a transmission failure on the highway going 60; with my children and partner. the vehicle shake and the vehicle immediately pulled back causing a powerful pull and immediately lost power and control over the steering; Almost Causing an accident on the Houston toll highway.
Ever since I first purchased the car it wants to die and it seems like it doesn't want to go when I press the gas. It does this when I stop or when I press the gas.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am reporting a failed remedy for Recall R1608 (Occupant Classification System). My 2013 Nissan Sentra was serviced at Nissan of Van Nuys for this recall. Despite the dealership marking the recall as completed, the safety defect persists. Specifically, the passenger seatbelt warning light remains illuminated when the passenger seat is empty, indicating the OCS sensor is incorrectly classifying seat occupancy. This malfunction directly impacts the vehicle's ability to correctly deploy or withhold airbags in a collision. The dealership refused to re-evaluate the failed repair without legal representation. Furthermore, the Multi-Point Inspection provided during this safety recall visit was falsified; a technician hand-wrote a failing brake measurement of '3mm,' yet the Service Advisor marked the system as 'Green/Safe' on the final document. This documentation fraud makes their certification of the recall repair unreliable. They have since refused to re-inspect the safety defect.
My complaint is that Clear Lake Nissan failed to properly repair a recall on my 2013 Sentra. The recall is located at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/NISSAN/SENTRA/4%252520DR/FWD#recalls. The Recall Campaign Bulletin # NTB13-032b / Campaign ID#: PC213 / NTSA#: 13V-069. It is located at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2013/RCRIT-13V069-4312.pdf. The date of initial issue was 8/5/2022. Associate at Clear Lake Nissan committed to run repairs on CVT reprograming & repair of OCS recall to include sensor and seatbelt repair, parts, and labor. Clear Lake Nissan has not attempted to resolve the issue; instead told me they will have to charge me a diagnostic fee of $181 and then parts and labor to do the repair. I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager and was told they will reach out to me via a phone call, but I have yet to receive a call from either a supervisor nor a manager. Please see uploaded files to include a more detailed write up of complaint with specific recall details & explanation of events.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED FOUR SUMI TOUR PLUS LSW TIRES IN OCTOBER 2016. IN OCTOBER 2018, A BULGE WAS DISCOVERED IN ONE OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE COMPANY I BOUGHT THE TIRES FROM SUGGESTED THE TIRE MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A POTHOLE (EVEN THOUGH I LIVE IN FLORIDA WHERE THERE ARE FEW, IF ANY, POTHOLES.) IN APRIL 2020, ANOTHER BULGE WAS DISCOVERED IN ONE OF THE THREE REMAINING ORIGINAL TIRES. BOTH BULGES OCCURRED WITH THE TIRES HAVING LESS THAN THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I CONTACTED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THE BULGES WERE "IMPACT BUBBLES," WHICH IS NOT A DEFECT, BUT A ROAD HAZARD. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE, AS I HAVE HIT POTHOLES IN THE PAST THAT HAVE ACTUALLY DENTED MY RIM, BUT NEVER HAVE I HAD BULGES OCCUR IN THE TIRES THEMSELVES IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING...LET ALONE TWO BULGES IN UNDER TWO YEARS. *TR *JS
WHILE IN MOTION THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT DID BREAK. THIS ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO BECOME NON RESPONSIVE AND CAUSED THE DRIVE AXLE TO BREAK. IF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT THE TIME, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SEVERE ACCIDENT TO SAY THE LEAST.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while she was driving, there was an abnormal grinding sound. There was a vibration coming from the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vibration was from the front lower control arm. The contact was informed that the ball joints were the cause of the abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was approximately 104,567.
When I reversed in a parking lot, the tire arm on my front passenger tire broke, causing my car to lean on the tire. I found oil on the ground after my car moved. It had to get towed to the NISSAN dealership in Lincoln, NE. Before I got towed, I talked to the police because the damage was so significant. The dealership said that the ball joint came off because of a missing screw. I had no warning from my car or the dealership that there was a prior issue, only a loud noise and the oil on the ground.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The transmission just went out while I was driving. I tried accelerating and my car was not accelerating and now it is not going into gear
EXPLODED SUNROOF I WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO A COMPLETELY SHATTERED SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF WAS BLOWN UP. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY EXPLAINED THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. I ALSO CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AND THEY ALSO NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. I WAS ASKED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH THEN THE SUNROOF THEN BLEW OUT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SUNROOF. I GOT MOST OF THE DAMAGE COVERED BY MY INSURANCE BUT THIS SHOULD OF BEEN COVERED BY NISSAN AS THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE SUNROOF. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS THE THIRD (3) TIME IT HAPPEN, NO BREAKES GOING DOWN MY STEEP DRIVEWAY. I LIVE IN A NEIGHABORHOOD WITH MANY HILLS AND IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL. MY SPEED WAS NO MORE THAN 4MPH WHEN BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
THE WINDSHIELD SPRAY DOES NOT SPRAY CLEANING FLUID ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT HITS THE BOTTOM OF THE WIPER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SELLING DEALER, NISSAN OF CHESAPEAKE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT ALL OF THE TIME AND THAT IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL AND IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. VERY DANGEROUS IF TRYING TO CLEAN SALT/ROAD GRIME FROM THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The left headlight went our or so I thought until I tried to change it then it worked until I put the cover back on. Also the car beeps a warning but I never know what the warning is for. The mass airflow system sensor has been replaced 5 times as of today since 5-2021. It stalled and died leaving me scared as I tried to enter the road luckily o wasn't injured.inhave no info as far as mileage, fuel usage etc..
BRAKES GO OUT EASY/BOTTOM OF CAR IS A TOTAL MESS AND NON STOP PROBLEMS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am reporting a failed remedy for Recall R1608 (Occupant Classification System). My 2013 Nissan Sentra was serviced at Nissan of Van Nuys for this recall. Despite the dealership marking the recall as completed, the safety defect persists. Specifically, the passenger seatbelt warning light remains illuminated when the passenger seat is empty, indicating the OCS sensor is incorrectly classifying seat occupancy. This malfunction directly impacts the vehicle's ability to correctly deploy or withhold airbags in a collision. The dealership refused to re-evaluate the failed repair without legal representation. Furthermore, the Multi-Point Inspection provided during this safety recall visit was falsified; a technician hand-wrote a failing brake measurement of '3mm,' yet the Service Advisor marked the system as 'Green/Safe' on the final document. This documentation fraud makes their certification of the recall repair unreliable. They have since refused to re-inspect the safety defect.
My complaint is that Clear Lake Nissan failed to properly repair a recall on my 2013 Sentra. The recall is located at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/NISSAN/SENTRA/4%252520DR/FWD#recalls. The Recall Campaign Bulletin # NTB13-032b / Campaign ID#: PC213 / NTSA#: 13V-069. It is located at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2013/RCRIT-13V069-4312.pdf. The date of initial issue was 8/5/2022. Associate at Clear Lake Nissan committed to run repairs on CVT reprograming & repair of OCS recall to include sensor and seatbelt repair, parts, and labor. Clear Lake Nissan has not attempted to resolve the issue; instead told me they will have to charge me a diagnostic fee of $181 and then parts and labor to do the repair. I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager and was told they will reach out to me via a phone call, but I have yet to receive a call from either a supervisor nor a manager. Please see uploaded files to include a more detailed write up of complaint with specific recall details & explanation of events.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
Transmission slipping
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The contact had to depress the brake pedal aggressively and the vehicle would lurch forward. The failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the failure recurred at various speeds. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER RESET THE CODE, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR LONGER THAN SIX WEEKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT LEAST THREE OR MORE TIMES, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THERE WAS A STRONG HESITATION AS IF THE VEHICLE MAY STALL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES AND INDICATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A FOURTH TIME. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE MAY RECURR INTERMITTENTLY EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .