2017 Nissan Sentra
Common Problems
Ranked from 95 federal NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
15 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Transmission shifting issues
38complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission hesitates or skips gears during acceleration, causing the vehicle to lose power and fail to shift properly.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Brake system failure leading to loss of control
10complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brake system fails, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash, often due to brake lights not functioning properly.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Engine Stall at Idle
9complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine occasionally stalls at idle, often due to issues with the stop-start system or fuel delivery.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Exterior lighting issues leading to visibility problems
7complaintsMedium severityOtherThe exterior lighting fails intermittently, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Airbag deployment failure during collision
6complaintsSafety riskElectricalAirbags failed to deploy during collisions, increasing injury risk.
Related recall: 18V551000
- 6
Electrical system issues leading to unexpected vehicle shutdown
6complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe electrical system fails, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly shut down with no warning, leading to loss of power and lights.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V551000
- 7
Fuel system issues leading to loss of power and acceleration
6complaintsSafety riskFuel systemThe fuel system malfunctions, causing the vehicle to lose power and acceleration, especially at higher speeds.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Steering system failure leading to loss of control
6complaintsSafety riskSteeringThe steering system fails, causing the steering wheel to seize or lock up, leading to loss of vehicle control.
- 9
Transmission Failure
6complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe CVT transmission frequently fails, causing the car to hesitate, shake, and stutter, leading to potential accidents.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Check Engine Light Issues
5complaintsMedium severityElectricalMultiple instances of the check engine light coming on, indicating underlying electrical system failures.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V551000
- 11
CVT Transmission Slipping
5complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe continuously variable transmission (CVT) frequently slips, causing the vehicle to hesitate and lose power during acceleration.
$3,500–$6,500est. cvt replacement · 8–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Engine performance issues
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine experiences lag in acceleration and fails to maintain speed, especially at higher speeds or under heavy load.
- 13
Steering system instability
4complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel becomes difficult to maneuver and the vehicle swerves side-to-side, causing the driver to become car sick.
- 14
Brake system malfunction
3complaintsMedium severityBrakesBrakes fail to function correctly, leading to loss of control or reduced stopping power.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 15
Engine starting issues
3complaintsLow severityEngineEngine fails to start or starts poorly, especially after being stationary.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.