YearToAvoid

2013 Nissan Sentra Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 311 of 638 total complaints (49%) filed on the 2013 Nissan Sentra, the highest share of any Sentra model year. Median mileage at failure is 75,000 miles, with no related recall on file.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
311
49% of 638
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
75,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • CVT transmission fails outright, sometimes stranding drivers on the highway and requiring full replacement.
  • Vehicle stalls or loses power at low speeds, with RPMs dropping and no check engine light or fault codes present.
  • Transmission jerks or bucks during acceleration, with RPMs revving high before an abrupt shift.
  • Owners report whining or gurgling noises from the CVT months before a total failure occurs.
  • Transmission unexpectedly slams into low gear at highway speeds, described as dangerous by owners.
  • Some owners report the same CVT failing more than once after replacement.

When 2013 Nissan Sentra transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 9, 2013, latest Jun 8, 2026.

2013 Nissan Sentra transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter262013 Q12015 Q32017 Q12018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32023 Q12024 Q3
311 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2018 Q3 (26).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Nissan Sentra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Sentra model year

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

  1. 201018 (13%)
  2. 201118 (13%)
  3. 201268 (38%)
  4. 2013311 (49%)
  5. 2014182 (48%)
  6. 2015172 (49%)
  7. 2016127 (47%)
  8. 201776 (33%)
  9. 201846 (25%)
  10. 201954 (24%)
  11. 20209 (4%)
  12. 20214 (3%)
  13. 20226 (7%)
  14. 20232 (10%)
  15. 20249 (23%)
  16. 20254 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Nissan Sentra transmission a common problem?
Yes. NHTSA lists 311 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Sentra, which is 49% of all 638 complaints filed for that model year, the highest share among Sentra years covered.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Nissan Sentra transmission?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2013 Sentra.
At what mileage do 2013 Nissan Sentra transmissions typically fail?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 75,000 miles.
Did the CVT failures cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2013 Sentra lists 1 crash and 2 injuries, with no fires reported.
How does the 2013 Sentra compare to other Sentra years for transmission complaints?
The 2013 Sentra's 49% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain is higher than 2012 (38%), 2014 (48%), and every other model year in the data.

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.