YearToAvoid

2013 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 133 engine-related complaints for the 2013 Nissan Sentra, 21% of its 638 total complaints for the year. Owners report stalling, loss of power, and shuddering tied to CVT behavior, with median failure mileage at 51,000. No related recalls are listed for this area.

Engine complaints
133
21% of 638
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
51,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving at highway or city speeds, sometimes with no warning light.
  • Violent shaking or shuddering paired with rising RPMs while the transmission struggles to shift, especially on the highway.
  • Vehicle drops into limp mode or barely moves, forcing drivers to creep to the roadside or shoulder.
  • Extended delay for the gear to shift, with the car acting as if it were overheating shortly after starting to drive.
  • Engine compartment fire reported after a burning odor was noticed while driving at 55 mph.
  • Excessive engine RPM increase while driving downhill that the dealer could not duplicate.

When 2013 Nissan Sentra engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 31, 2012, latest Apr 11, 2026.

2013 Nissan Sentra engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter72012 Q42014 Q22016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q42025 Q4
133 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q1 (7).

Engine recalls for the 2013 Nissan Sentra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sentra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201053 (37%)
  2. 201140 (28%)
  3. 201254 (30%)
  4. 2013133 (21%)
  5. 201488 (23%)
  6. 2015101 (29%)
  7. 201668 (25%)
  8. 201769 (30%)
  9. 201838 (21%)
  10. 201929 (13%)
  11. 202014 (7%)
  12. 202112 (9%)
  13. 202214 (17%)
  14. 20234 (20%)
  15. 20243 (8%)
  16. 20255 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2013 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists 133 engine-related complaints for the 2013 Sentra, which is 21% of the 638 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Nissan Sentra engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine problem area on the 2013 Sentra.
At what mileage do 2013 Sentra engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2013 Sentra is 51,000 miles.
What engine symptoms do 2013 Sentra owners report most?
Owners commonly describe stalling or sudden loss of power, shuddering with rising RPMs, and delayed or failed gear shifts tied to the CVT.
Are engine complaints worse in 2013 than other Sentra years?
The 2013 Sentra's 133 engine complaints are the highest count among the listed model years, though its 21% share of total complaints is lower than years like 2010 (37%) and 2011 (28%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.