YearToAvoid

2017 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 69 engine complaints for the 2017 Nissan Sentra, 30% of its 230 total complaints for the year. There are no recalls tied to this engine complaint category, and the median mileage at failure was 36,596 miles.

Engine complaints
69
30% of 230
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
36,596 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden hesitation or lag when accelerating on the highway, with RPMs swinging up and down unpredictably.
  • Several report the car losing speed or stalling out on inclines and hills without warning.
  • Some describe the engine and gear shift failing to advance properly between 30 and 50 mph, feeling like it lets go of a gear before re-engaging.
  • A few owners report the car struggling to accelerate past certain highway speeds, sometimes shaking when pushed near 80 mph.
  • One owner reported the vehicle stopping completely while crossing railroad tracks, with all electrical systems shutting down at the same time.

When 2017 Nissan Sentra engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 28, 2017, latest Dec 24, 2025.

2017 Nissan Sentra engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter62017 Q22018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42021 Q42022 Q42024 Q12025 Q2
69 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q2 to 2025 Q4; peak 2022 Q1 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2017 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 2017 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists 69 engine-related complaints for the 2017 Sentra, which makes up 30% of the 230 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Nissan Sentra engine?
No recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category on the 2017 Sentra.
At what mileage do 2017 Sentra engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 36,596 miles.
Are engine problems worse on the 2017 Sentra than other years?
The 2017 Sentra's 30% share of complaints tied to engine issues is close to the 2010 (37%), 2012 (30%), and 2015 (29%) model years, and notably higher than the 2020 (7%) and 2019 (13%) model years.

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.