repaired · 2017 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. 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…
2013 Nissan SentraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 638 owner complaints about the 2013 Nissan Sentra, most often about the power train. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-681 the manufacturer reports only 68% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 26, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Nissan Sentra has problems
638 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
311Power train3 crash/fire/injury
96Air bags13 crash/fire/injury
95Service brakes10 crash/fire/injury
87Engine4 crash/fire/injury
51Vehicle speed control2 crash/fire/injury
43Electrical system
33Fuel/propulsion system
16Steering
13Seat belts
6017 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 311 | 3 |
| Air bags | 96 | 13 |
| Service brakes | 95 | 10 |
| Engine | 87 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 51 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 43 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 33 | 0 |
| Steering | 16 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 13 | 1 |
| 17 other systems | 60 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2013 Nissan Sentra recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. 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.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Air bags: frontal
Risk. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated.
Show 2 more recalls
no report yet
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.
no report yet
Air bags
Risk. 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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
75kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 246 power train complaints. 80% were reported before 100,000 miles.
31under 30k miles196under 100k miles50100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
32 owners mentioned a cost$4,000median
Middle half: $3,675 – $4,725
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Sentra year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sentra median. How we score
1136636374139636258991171411085859171236304180197170116154167551441421806383813522702311852242081338120413420
'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Nissan Sentra safety ratings
2013 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (12.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Nissan Sentra, and the recalls they led to.
- Occupant Classification System FailureLed to recall 15V-681
- Excessive Brake Pedal TravelNo recall
- Occupant Classification System FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Sentra owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
The CVT transmission has a serious problem it does this jerking movement and could lead to an accident or serious bodily injury to occupants in the vehicle I am filing a complaint regarding the CVT transmission failure in my 2013 Nissan Sentra (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle began showing symptoms such…
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…
Own a 2013 Sentra?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.