2013 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
638 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 495 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 308 of 638 complaints (48.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 331 | 51.9% |
| Braking behavior | 113 | 17.7% |
| Engine operation | 75 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 308 |
| Air Bags | 96 |
| Service Brakes | 95 |
| Engine | 87 |
| Unknown Or Other | 64 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 51 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 33 |
Power Train: 308; Air Bags: 96; Service Brakes: 95; Engine: 87; Unknown Or Other: 64; Vehicle Speed Control: 51; Electrical System: 41; Fuel/Propulsion System: 33
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 145 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 60 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 122 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 98 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 63 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 145; 25,000 to 49,999: 60; 50,000 to 74,999: 122; 75,000 to 99,999: 98; 100,000 to 149,999: 63; 150,000 and above: 7
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (145). 143 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 43 |
| 2014 | 52 |
| 2015 | 54 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 63 |
| 2018 | 115 |
| 2019 | 107 |
| 2020 | 50 |
| 2021 | 33 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2012: 1; 2013: 43; 2014: 52; 2015: 54; 2016: 44; 2017: 63; 2018: 115; 2019: 107; 2020: 50; 2021: 33; 2022: 26; 2023: 25; 2024: 12; 2025: 8; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 331 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 113 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 75 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10482802 · 2012-10-31 (October 31, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 419 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 419 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500822 · 2013-02-28 (February 28, 2013)
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYING ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PERSON OVER 100LBS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYING ON THE DASHBOARD, WHILE IT IS SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF AFTER 7 SECONDS. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON TUESDAY 2/26/13.. THEY SAID IT IS A FAULTY CENSOR AND THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER WITH NO DEFINITE TIME LINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502204 · 2013-03-09 (March 9, 2013)
I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND LOST POWER. IT DID NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I HAD TO PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME THAT WAS ALSO MAKING A LEFT TURN. I OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS AT THAT POINT. IT ONLY HAD 152 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALERSHIP SENT A TOW. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN CAN SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 152 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503044 · 2013-03-14 (March 14, 2013)
TOOK OFF FROM A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR STALLED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN AND IT RAN FINE. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, BUT THE OTHERS WERE WHEN IT WAS PRETTY COLD OUTSIDE AND I DEEMED THAT THE REASON FOR THE STALL. NOW I BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING MORE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503511 · 2013-03-18 (March 18, 2013)
THE PASSENGERS SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING AND WILL NOT ACTIVATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE AND THE GUY TOLD ME THAT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS TOO SKINNY AND MAYBE THE SENSOR DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IN A CAR ACCIDENT IT WILL PROBABLY NOT WORK. THE CAR ALSO HAVE AN ANNOYING NOISE EACH TIME I HIT THE BREAKS IN THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. IT HAVE BEEN 3 MONTHS AND 3 SERVICE VISITS AND SEVERAL CALLS TO SERVICE, DIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504956 · 2013-03-29 (March 29, 2013)
I PURCHASE THIS AS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE LAST MONTH FROM A NISSAN DEALER. TODAY MORNING WHEN I LEFT HOME AT 5:40AM THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 25F AND WHEN I SWITCHED ON THE CAR AND PULLED IT TO THE DRIVE MODE SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED BY ITSELF. I THEN PULLED IT BACK IN THE PARKING GEAR AND REIGNED THE ENGINE AND LEFT HOME. I REACHED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE STOPPED TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN! I FEEL SCARED DRIVING THIS CAR NOW ON FREEWAY AS I FEEL IT MAY STOP ANYTIME AND I MIGHT GET INTO A BIG CRASH. THERE IS A RECALL LETTER I RECEI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509012 · 2013-04-21 (April 21, 2013)
AIR BAGS ON PASSENGER SIDE DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509846 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)
EXTREMELY LOUD INCREASING GRINDING REAR DRUMS BRAKES NOISE, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE LOCAL SALE DISTRIBUTOR DEALER REPRESENTATIVE TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION FOR THAT YET. THERE MAY BE A DEATH RISK CONCERN BECAUSE ARE THE BRAKES OF THE CAR ........... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10509846 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V068000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2013-03-01 (March 1, 2013)
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Sentra vehicles manufactured from September 11, 2012, through October 4, 2012. Some fuel tank assemblies were not properly sealed during the manufacturing process. As a result, a small amount of gasoline may leak from the tank when it is full.
Consequence: A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V069000 · Air Bags
Reported: 2013-03-01 (March 1, 2013)
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.
Consequence: If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V138000 · Electrical System:Software | Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2014-03-25 (March 25, 2014)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V681000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2015-10-20 (October 20, 2015)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V242000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.
Consequence: If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V244000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
NHTSA campaign record ↗