2013 Nissan Sentra Power Train Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 26, 2026 · 311 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 311 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2013 Nissan Sentra, 49% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 75,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “cvt transmission” (16% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • CVT transmission: mentioned in 50 of 311 complaints (16%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2013 Nissan Sentra at $5,250, and half of them between $4,650 and $5,700.

Based on 26 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.

At what mileage do power train problems happen?

Based on 246 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles16 · 7%
10k–25k miles13 · 5%
25k–50k miles21 · 9%
50k–75k miles70 · 28%
75k–100k miles76 · 31%
100k–150k miles47 · 19%
150k+ miles3 · 1%

How serious are the reports?

Of 311 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 an injury.

Nissan Sentra power train complaints by model year

Peak: 2013, with 311 complaints
1995: 419951996: 111997: 11999: 419992000: 82001: 92002: 2020022003: 92004: 72005: 1020052006: 82007: 172008: 2020082009: 32010: 182011: 1820112012: 682013: 3113112014: 18220142015: 1722016: 1272017: 7620172018: 462019: 542020: 1020202021: 42022: 62023: 220232024: 92025: 4

n = 1,238 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearPower Train complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2025 Sentra413%—
2024 Sentra922%28,000
2023 Sentra210%75,300
2022 Sentra67%36,000
2021 Sentra43%118,000
2020 Sentra105%25,500
2019 Sentra5424%62,000
2018 Sentra4625%75,500
2017 Sentra7633%60,000
2016 Sentra12747%87,000
2015 Sentra17249%75,500
2014 Sentra18248%82,000
2013 Sentra31149%75,000
2012 Sentra6838%71,000
2011 Sentra1813%91,458
2010 Sentra1813%80,000
2009 Sentra35%90,000
2008 Sentra2012%70,000
2007 Sentra1711%70,000
2006 Sentra87%140,500
2005 Sentra106%63,141
2004 Sentra74%37,000
2003 Sentra95%70,378
2002 Sentra207%28,000
2001 Sentra94%67,847
2000 Sentra85%44,180
1999 Sentra47%72,900
1997 Sentra11%—
1996 Sentra118%—
1995 Sentra43%—

When owners reported it

Peak: 2018, with 76 complaints
2013: 1201312014: 5201452015: 142015142016: 192016192017: 362017362018: 762018762019: 672019672020: 302020302021: 232021232022: 132022132023: 152023152024: 6202462025: 5202552026: 120261

n = 311 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (0)

No safety recall lists power train for the 2013 Nissan Sentra. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

Transmission slipping

Received Jun 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11742762

It's slipping in the transmission

Received Dec 7, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11703554

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…

Received Oct 15, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11693618
Nissan Sentra
Front view of a 2026 Nissan Sentra SR sedan. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Deathpallie325, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2013 Nissan Sentras have power train problems?

No. NHTSA has 311 owner complaints about power train for the 2013 Nissan Sentra (49% of the 638 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2013 Nissan Sentra power train?

No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.

At what mileage do power train problems start?

The median reported mileage is 75,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2013 Nissan Sentra?

Owners report a typical cost of $5,250 (half paid between $4,650 and $5,700), from 26 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

What do owners say about power train problems on the 2013 Nissan Sentra?

The most frequent phrase is “cvt transmission”, in 50 of 311 complaints.

Other 2013 Nissan Sentra problems

See all 2013 Nissan Sentra problems or power train problems across all Sentra years.