Home · 2013 Nissan Sentra Sr Turbo · Complaints

What 638 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Sentra Sr Turbo

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (638)Crash / fire / injury (32)Transmission & drivetrain (311)Brakes (97)Airbags (96)Engine (87)Speed control (51)Electrical system (43)Fuel system (36)Steering (16)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (13)Seat belts (13)

87 of 638 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 1 of 4

Apr 11, 2026EngineLane Departure

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.

NHTSA ODI 11730515

Dec 7, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngine

It's slipping in the transmission

NHTSA ODI 11703554

Mar 27, 2024EngineFire

Feb 26th, 2024 i drove my car for the first time since having surgery on Jan. 11, 2024. I was going about 35 mph when extremely fast the car radio turned off it felt as if the engine was also turned off but within a blink of your eye the car was turned back on , all by itself, a tiny jerk, nothing major. I instantly looked at the temp gauge, made sure the key was in ignition correctly. There was nothing to signal a problem. The next day i didnt leave my home. On Feb. 28, 2024 i drove the car about 7 miles and it did this same glitch twice .Again all gauges read normal, i got out of the car this time popped the hood. No smoke , no burning smell or any smell at all. I checked the fluids, the belt, the battery connections everything was fine. Later that night a family member had someone try breaking into their home. Very upset i decided to leave my home and drive over to be if some comfort. I drove a total of 21 miles, as i was turning into the driveway the car fid it again however this time i had to get it in park and restart my car. Again no over heating no smoke no burning or fuel smells. I parked the car went inside. About 7 minutes later , definitely no more than 10 minutes, i heared a loud bang. I look outside and my entire motor was on fire and the tire had already blown!! In under ten minutes!! I tried putting the fire out with the water hose but 911 dispatch heard the second tire blow and repeatedly asked me to stop and go inside the home that fire fighters were on their way . I had let my insurance go since i had emergency surgery and was unable to drive or work and pay for it. I bought this car in aug. 2020 and had to replace the cvt transmission nov. 2022. And now no car. This could have been a tragedy if anyone had small children and had ran back inside because they forgot a coat or a book bag, please look into this for other customers safety. Firefighters said it was so burnt they couldn't begin to tell how or where the fire started.

NHTSA ODI 11579642

Dec 20, 2023Engine

I was driving down the road and all of a sudden the car started to sputter and I couldn't accelerate. Whenever I came to a stop it jerked after a minute of the RPM just revving, it finally shifted and lunged forward. I think the transmission went bad. Made it home parked it and I've been too concerned to drive it since.

NHTSA ODI 11561051

Nov 4, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

Code P0101 came on, service Bulletin from NHTSA.gov was done. Car came back worst. Engine stalled in the middle of the street. It wouldn’t turn on, we had to push it to get it out of the street. Car will accelerate on its own when turn on. Sometimes car will accelerate when put on Reverse on its own….. RPMs will be at 7 and 8 when going 45MPH. I notice this has been an issue for Nissan Sentras 2013-2015 based on research all over the internet. People have replaced Thottle body, air mass flow sensor, break sensors, fuel intake, fuses. Vehicle isn’t safe to be driving in street, may caused an accident, even mechanic said I shouldn’t be driving the car because it isn’t safe. We already made a complaint with NHTSA, DMV for financial Help and nothing. Help is really needed.

NHTSA ODI 11553612

Mar 13, 2023Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, SLOW TO ACCELERATE CVT IS ACTING UP

NHTSA ODI 11511648

Feb 8, 2023Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11506272

Jan 25, 2023Engine

transmission problems that don't show up on diagnostic.. it shows up as air sensor problem. That could cost a lot of money if you listen to it...by keep trying to fix the air sensor that has no problem so you will go to auto machines and dealership and they don't know why and keep tell you to fix this or that. The real problem is the transmission. the system fails by not tell you the real problem and have a malfunctioned transmission with the the wiring inside.

NHTSA ODI 11503577

Nov 2, 2022Engine

I'm driving on Freeway an aproximate speed of 60' 65mph when my car begins to shake and losses power I hit the Gas and doesn't respond I have cars all over me at higher speeds I'm trying to merge to slow lane but my car doesn't do anything I put on my emergency lights turn off my car reignite it turns on but it feels like it skips speeds shaky and I take it home at a speed of 20/ 40" I'm not able to take it higher the motor sounds forced.

NHTSA ODI 11491978

Oct 18, 2022SteeringEngineFuel system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11489806

Sep 21, 2022Engine

Transmission

NHTSA ODI 11485663

Jul 17, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WAS DRIVING TO WORK BUSY ROAD CAR BASICALLY SHUT DOWN TO LIMP MODE COULD NOT ACCELERATE VERY CLOSE CALL TWO CARS NEARLY SIDE SWIPED ME HAD TO CREEP AT 2MPH TO CURB. CALLED TOW TRUCK TOOK VEHICLE HOME WHERE IT SAT PROCEEDED TO TRY AND FIX CAR OVERTIME. HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE.

NHTSA ODI 11474372

May 24, 2022EngineFuel system

I purchased this car in 2018 with 30k miles. In 2020 I had to replace the transmission. Now 2022 and I have to replace the transmission again. The car is decelerating and sputtering at times. But it’s not covered? How does a car have three transmissions within such a short time under 120k miles?

NHTSA ODI 11465988

Apr 22, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Problem with transmission slipping

NHTSA ODI 11461800

Mar 6, 2022Engine

Perdi mi trabajo porque el carro se descompuso

NHTSA ODI 11455442

Jul 10, 2021Electrical systemBrakesEngine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11424215

Jun 4, 2021AirbagsEngineCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph when the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and found no issue and could turn off the warning light, however, after a few days, the warning light illuminated again. While driving at undisclosed speed, the contact was hit head-on by another vehicle causing damage to the front driver side of the vehicle. The air bag did not deploy. There was medical treatment at the scene. There was no one injured, however, the contact was unconscious for a minute and had some pain in their back but did not go to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop who did some repairs to the front driver side of the vehicle, and also inspected the vehicle and found issues with air bags and oil leakage to the engine but was not able to repair those issues. The vehicle was not fully repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage approximate was 210,000.

NHTSA ODI 11419699

Jan 31, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

THE VEHICLE HESITATES SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ACCCELERATING... AXTS LIKE IT DOESN'T SHIFT OUT RIGHT.... AND BOGS DOWN WHEN ACCELERATING AT NORMAL SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 11390840

Oct 12, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

MY CAR STARTED JERKING AND ALL SUDDEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT WAS LIKE LOOSING ITS POWER AND THEN IT MADE A LOUD JERK ALSO NO WARNINGS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DEALER PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO

NHTSA ODI 11363874

Aug 16, 2020Engine

PURCHASED OUR 2013 NISSAN SENTRA SV IN MAY, 2016. IT CAME WITH A 7 YEAR CPO, EXPIRATION MAY 30, 2020. WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF PURCHASE I HAD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SHIFTING/TRANSMISSION RELATED ISSUE. WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR THE CAR TACHOMETER WOULD REV TO 4500 RPM BUT NUT GO ANY FASTER, THEN SHAKE/THUNK, AND GO INTO 2ND GEAR. FROM THAT TIME UNTIL APRIL, 2020, I WENT IN TO 4 SEPARATE NISSAN DEALERSHIPS IN 2 STATES WITH THIS PROBLEM. EACH ONE SAID THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE NISSAN SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION STOPS WORKING. IN APRIL, 2020, MY LAST VISIT, I EXPLAINED A NEW PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE CAR COULD NOT MAINTAIN 65 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT GOING INTO OVERDRIVE OR A HIGHER GEAR, AND WAS SHIFTING MULTIPLE TIMES INTO MULTIPLE GEARS. BUT STILL NOTHING WOULD BE DONE BY NISSAN AS THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT FAIL. THEN, ON JULY 22, 2020, THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 2ND TWICE. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION. A CASE SHEET WAS DEVELOPED AND I SENT IN INFORMATION TO THEM. 8 DAYS LATER THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID MY CPO WARRANTY ENDED END OF MAY, 2020, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. BY THE WAY, MY CASE SHEET NUMBER WAS 40830236. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THIS WEEK COSTING US OVER $4000. VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED. I KNOW OUR CPO ENDED END OF MAY, 2020. BUT NISSAN REFUSED TO LOOK AT TRANSMISSION UNTIL TOTAL FAILURE. I AM SENDING YOU COPIES OF OUR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT BILL, A COPY FROM NISSAN NOTING TRANSMISSION NEEDING REPLACEMENT, AND OUR CPO WARRANTY. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE US.

NHTSA ODI 11349657

Apr 12, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

I BOUGHT MY 2013 NISSAN SENTRA SR FROM TOWNE AUTO BROKERS 03/2013 I TEST DROVE IT AND IT HAD NO SHIFTING PROBLEMS AT THAT TIME. 2 WEEKS LATER WHILE I'M DRIVING IT THE SENTRA STARTED JERKING AND IDLING ERRATICALLY, THE RPM TACHOMETER RED LINED 3 TIMES WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED!! WHILE REDLINING THE SENTRA'S TRANSMISSION SHUDDER WITH THE ERRATIC JERKING ALL THE WHILE DECELERATING BEFORE CATCHING 3RD GEAR AT 4,000 RPM. I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC 3 MILES FROM HOME SO I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKING IT HOME. WHILE STOPPED AT THE STOP LIGHT THE SENTRA IDLED NORMAL, THEN AT THE GREEN LIGHT WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENED( NO POWER AT ALL AND THE RPM DIDN'T RISE) I WAS LITERALLY STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION NOT ABLE TO MOVE MY NISSAN SENTRA UNDER ITS OWN POWER!!! I'M AFRAID THAT THIS IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS WELL AWARE OF BEFORE INSTALLATION IN NISSAN SENTRA AND ALL OTHER MODELS WITH THIS CVT TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THE NISSAN CORPORATION SHOULD RECALL ALL CVT TRANSMISSION DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN LACK OF POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11320924

Mar 7, 2020Engine

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 120,000 MILES AND HAVE DRIVEN IT TO 139,000. I STARTED NOTICING MY TRANSMISSION STALLING AND I REVIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL A COUPLE TIMES REGARDING MY TRANSMISSION BEING RECALLED. I UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE THE LETTER ANYMORE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11316782

Feb 18, 2020Engine

WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR IT CONSTANTLY JERKS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT ALSO JERKS WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS GOING DOWN A HILL. LAST WEEK WHEN DRIVING TO WORK I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE RPM NEEDLE FLEW UP AND GOT STUCK. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN A CAR THAT IS JUST BARELY 7 YEARS OLD. I AM ALSO HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS SO I GET TO ENDURE THE FEAR OF NOT KNOWING IF THE CAR WILL GO WHEN I HIT THE GAS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR IS THE WORST TRANSMISSION EVER MADE. WONDERFUL NEWS. SO NOW MY CHOICES ARE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, ON TOP OF THE ALREADY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I AM STILL PAYING ON THE CAR, TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION OR BE TERRIFIED EVERYTIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MY CAR THAT I WON'T MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. YOU HAVE MADE A VEHICLE THAT IS OF POOR QUALITY AND NOT WORTH THE MONEY YOU ARE EXPECTING PEOPLE TO PAY. YOUR CAR IS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. I PRAY THAT I AM CAPABLE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE CLEARLY INEVITABLE MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HAPPEN AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.

NHTSA ODI 11309925

Jan 24, 2020Engine

THE CAR GOES INTO A LIMP MODE. CANNOT ACCELERATE PAST 20MPH. MECHANIC DETERMINED MY TRANSMISSION IS BAD. QUOTED $4,000 TO REPAIR. CAR HAS 87, 511 MILES. SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY OTHER CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11301530

Jan 21, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AN ODOR OF FUEL WAS SOMETIMES PERCEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER LOCATED IN COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, WHERE TWO CODES POPPED UP: P0456 AND P101. THE VENT CONTROL VALVE SEAL-O-RING 16618-JF00A WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 11300782

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Working with the data? Download all 638 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Nissan Sentra Sr Turbo verdict →