VehicleVerdict

2013 Nissan Sentra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 871 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.6 times the median Sentra year — the 2013 model ranks #1 of 45 Sentra years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 34 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Transmission leads the complaint categories with 311 reports (36% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

871

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

3

Investigations

35

Crash-involved

6

Fires reported

34

Injuries

2

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2013 compare to other Sentra years?

See all Sentra years to avoid →

What are the most common 2013 Nissan Sentra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission31136%
Airbags9711%
Brakes9711%
Engine9110%
Other647%
Electrical System587%
Speed Control516%
Fuel System374%
Steering162%
Seat Belts131%
Tires & Wheels81%
Suspension71%
Visibility & Wipers61%
Body & Structure51%
Lighting40%
Seats30%
Driver Assistance20%
Latches & Locks10%

Does the 2013 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

16V242000AirbagsApril 26, 2016 · 645,898 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.

Consequence

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 injury to the child in the CRS.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

16V244000AirbagsApril 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

15V681000AirbagsOctober 20, 2015 · 919 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

14V138000Electrical SystemMarch 25, 2014 · 989,701 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

13V068000Fuel SystemMarch 1, 2013 · 392 units

Defect

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Sentra vehicles manufactured from September 11, 2012, through October 4, 2012. Some fuel tank assemblies were not properly sealed during the manufacturing process. As a result, a small amount of gasoline may leak from the tank when it is full.

Consequence

A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

13V069000AirbagsMarch 1, 2013 · 82,038 units

Defect

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING I GOT REALLY SCARED BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON I HAD MY SMALLER SIBLINGS WITH ME THAT DAY AND THOUGHT THE WORST WHEN THE TOWING TRUCK PICKED MY CAR UP AND I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 26, 2020 · crash

THIS IS THE THIRD (3) TIME IT HAPPEN, NO BREAKES GOING DOWN MY STEEP DRIVEWAY. I LIVE IN A NEIGHABORHOOD WITH MANY HILLS AND IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL. MY SPEED WAS NO MORE THAN 4MPH WHEN BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · March 2, 2015 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE VERY SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE CONTACT WAS FLOWN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · April 17, 2016 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 22, 2015 · crash · fire

I HIT A METAL BARRIER AT 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I HAVE HAD 2 SURGERIES SIGNIFICANT BRAIN DAMAGE AND MEMORY LOSS. NISSAN WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALSO TRANSMISSION BLEW AT LESS THAN 36000 MILES MOSTLY HIGHWAY

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 11, 2015 · crash

2013 Nissan Sentra — common questions

Is the 2013 Nissan Sentra reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 871 complaints put the 2013 model at #1 of 45 Sentra years. It is one of the Sentra years to avoid.

What are the most common 2013 Sentra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (311 complaints), airbags (97 complaints), brakes (97 complaints).

Does the 2013 Nissan Sentra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2013 Nissan Sentra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2013 Nissan Sentra under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Nissan Sentra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sentra years to avoid are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2002, 2019, 2017, 2020, 2001, 2018, 2012, 2003, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2005, 1996, 1995, 2006, 1994. The cleanest record among Sentra years belongs to 1983.

How safe is the 2013 Nissan Sentra?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2013 Nissan Sentra earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.