7.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,540
Average Mileage:
61,400 miles
Total Complaints:
29 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace transmission (16 reports)
  2. the transmission was replaced (9 reports)
  3. not sure (4 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Nissan dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #9

Jul 212016

Sentra SL 1.8L

  • CVT transmission
  • 28,000 miles

Back in 2016 my car started making a knocking noise in the engine. I already had issues with hard down shifting hesitation of the acceleration. Thinking I maybe had a nail in the tire I took to Firestone. They said tires were all fine they suspected it to be my bike rack. 1. The noise was coming back from the front not the back and 2. I took the bike rack off before going to confirm this was not the case.

I then took it over to a Nissan Dealership who had it all day long. They said nothing was wrong with it and I could come pick up. When I left the dealership to go back to work, the car would not shift out of what would be considered 2nd gear (so 40 miles an hour or so) Being on the Freeway with people going 70 made this very difficult. So I took it back and they kept it overnight. They said they needed the transmission light to come on so they could get the code from it. (this NEVER happened)

They finally ended up changing out the transmission and all was good.

- Ashley S., Converse, TX, US

problem #8

Feb 052018

Sentra S

  • CVT transmission
  • 35,000 miles

In the beginning of February, as I was traveling down the interstate, my car lost all power. The accelerator was not responding. I coasted to the side of the road and called my friend who has knowledge of these things. After checking this and trying that, he told me to put the car in drive and see if it would go. It did. I brought the car to the Nissan dealer that night, explained what happened, and dropped it off. The next day they called and said the mechanic found no codes and did not experience the problem. So not fixed! The very same day as I was driving home the same thing happened. I called them when I got home and they told me if it keeps happening to bring it back. I have been back to the dealer four times now, I even took the mechanic for a ride with me and of course the car drove fine. Nothing has been done to fix this problem. I keep getting the same old story about how they can't fix it if its not throwing any codes. It is a dangerous problem as I sometimes cannot accelerate when pulling out, or when passing, climbing hills etc... How do I get them to acknowledge this issue as my warranty will be expiring very very soon?

- kjf2720, Columbia, US

problem #7

Mar 012018

Sentra

  • CVT transmission
  • 10,000 miles

My transmission started going out and my 2015 Nissan Sentra at 10,000 miles, I took it to the dealership several times and they just gave me a runaround and said it was a sensor and easy to fix but it kept happening in happening, they eventually put in a rebuilt transmission in, it was okay for a while and now this transmission is going out. They do not want to put in the second transmission. The dealership says that it's not uncommon for this cars to need Transmissions very quickly because they're not made to drive a lot of miles. Which I drive a lot of miles for my job. I still owe $15,000 on this car that has nothing but problems I'm so upset.

- Victoria P., Castro Valley, CA, US

problem #6

Nov 122017

Sentra SV

  • CVT transmission
  • 76,420 miles

CVT transmission has been slipping intermittently since probably around 70,000 miles. Dealer diagnosed that transmission needed to have sub-assembly and control valve replaced at an estimate of $3,254.69. Declined repair at this time.

- Tobbie C., Lowell, MA, US

problem #5

Sep 202017

Sentra SV 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

I BOUGHT THREE OF THE SAME MODEL OF NISSAN LAST YEAR APRIL 2016 BRAND NEW FROM AUTHORIZED DEALER. ALL THREE CARS STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE.

AT PRESENT, ONE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS IS COMPLETELY OUT, NOT FUNCTIONING AND UNDRIVABLE,WHILE THE REMAINING TWO HAD SHOWN SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES. BOTH CARS COULD LOSE THEIR TRANSMISSION ANY MOMENT FROM NOW.

- bodlong, Middle River, US

problem #4

Mar 012016

Sentra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

This only happens when iI am driving 70-80 on the highways and turnpike never in town.

It started just pulsating off and on now after about 25 to 30 mins into my drive the RPM's jump between 3-4 and pulsates it is keeping my motor ribbed up and if i am going up any slight of a hill i loose mph while the RPMS are setting at 4. i used a full tank of gas going from McAlester, Ok to Tulsa, Ok and back. There is clearly something wrong but every time i take it to the car dealer they say unless it throws a code they cant do anything about it meanwhile i am still having to make trips to Tulsa to doc appts ones a week and hope I don't end up broke down on side of the road with a car that is only 2 years old.

I wish they made cars like they use to and then they would be worth what you pay for them these days

- sabrnajw69sw, McAlester, US

problem #3

Aug 152017

Sentra SR 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 27,000 miles

My wife was driving the car to the gym. She called to let me know the car was revving up and down and was a bit shaky. She parked the car and when she began driving a hour later, the car ran fine. That was, until she was about to get on the highway. She called me to say she pulled over to the shoulder because the car had no power. I drove to meet her. The engine malfunction light was on. I started the car and was able to drive it to a parking lot. However, when I was driving, the car barley had any power. I could hardly get up a slight incline. The gear selector was in D and it started slipping before I could get to the parking lot. I shifted it to L and was able to eek along very slowly till I parked the car.

I'm getting the car towed to the Nissan dealer we bought it from. More information later.

Update from Sep 1, 2017: The transmission was diagnosed and deemed to require replacement. Fortunately, due to an error in ordering someone else's transmission, mine was delivered in two days and installed in 4. So, I was able to get the car running withing a week.

Here's the thing. The experience with Nissan was just about as perfect as a customer experience could be in this situation. They towed my car to the dealer using the Nissan road hazard protection, which was still in effect. Then, no questions asked, they offered to replace the transmission. They were polite and very efficient. So, what this tells me is that they know they have issues and maybe a great customer experience can smooth over a bad product.

I plan to sell the car and look around for a new one that has a great reputation.

- Ken T., Lebanon, US

problem #2

Jun 172017

Sentra S 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 99,800 miles

I begin to notice the rpm meter jumping up&down, then the car begin to jerk and shake. As I was driving on the highway, it seem to loose power, and would not move when giving it gas. It begin to slowly move, and I was able to get to safety and have it towed. I had it checked and was given a code 2859, and after having another mechanic look at it, I was told that it's gone...(GONE),the transmission has FAILED and need to be replaced.

Basically this CVT system that has been put in these cars aren't worth...well I'll leave it at that. So sense there's been this problem for so long,I can only wonder,WHY are they still doing this,and not changing it.

I for sure Will Never Recommend this or any Nissan and I'm going to MAKE NOISE til sleep is lost. I can't understand this Crap of a Make,installing a system that doesn't live up to the test,even at 50k,it can do the same thing,not to mention,the air bag system had to be replaced as a recall and to me,still see the same issue.

I leased this car and was told by the dealer they can't help me cause it has to be No More Than 60k in miles....WTH.....Now I'm ready to pursue legal counsel seeing this is something that should Never Have been to Continue with the system they're using.....so I'm out of a vehicle to work Right Now....I can say more,but at this time,I'll hold off!!!!!

- Donnell W., Frederick, US

problem #1

Aug 082016

Sentra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles

I've only had "brand new" car for a year,it jolts,it shakes, I almost got hit by a car TWICE due to the problem with the transmission.one shouldn't have to deal with this with a brand new car

- Sandra L., South Gate, CA, US