NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant detection system may incorrectly identify an adult as a child or miss an occupied seat. This can cause the passenger airbag to stay off during a crash.
This page covers 7 recalls, 636 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Nissan Sentra.
30–33 mpg combined
7.1–7.8 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate what owners report about the 2013 Nissan Sentra, making up well over a third of all filed complaints. The CVT transmission is the most common focus, owners describe hesitation and shuddering when pulling away from a stop, erratic RPMs, sluggish or delayed acceleration even with the pedal fully depressed, and in some cases a near-complete loss of forward motion in traffic. Some owners report having the transmission replaced outright. Brakes draw the second-largest complaint volume, with owners describing reduced stopping performance and pedal-related concerns. Airbag complaints round out the top three reported systems. A recurring powertrain symptom worth noting is sudden loss of drive power with no warning lights, owners describe pressing the accelerator and getting little or no response, sometimes at highway speeds or in stop-and-go conditions.
636
Total Complaints
24
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
17
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Nissan Sentra has 7 recalls, the most serious being a fuel tank that can leak gasoline when full, creating a fire risk if a spark or heat source is nearby.
The remaining recalls all center on the front passenger seat's occupant classification sensor, which detects whether the front passenger is an adult or a child in a car seat and controls whether the airbag deploys. One issue involves the seat belt bracket in the front passenger seat: securing a child seat there can bend the bracket, which in turn causes the sensor to miss the child seat and fail to suppress the airbag in a crash, putting the child at greater risk of injury. A related problem stems from prior repair work: vehicles that had the occupant classification sensor replaced during an earlier recall may have received the wrong replacement unit. An incorrect sensor can fail to recognize an adult in the front passenger seat, causing the airbag to stay off when it should fire, or fail to suppress it when it should not. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, and multiple filings cover the same underlying sensor problem.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant detection system may incorrectly identify an adult as a child or miss an occupied seat. This can cause the passenger airbag to stay off during a crash.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram or replace the occupant detection and airbag control units to ensure proper airbag operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat belt bracket can bend when used to hold a child car seat. This prevents the air bag system from recognizing the child seat is installed, so the front passenger air bag may not turn off as it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will strengthen the seat belt bracket and update the air bag and occupant detection system software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Installing a child seat in the front passenger seat may bend the seat belt bracket, causing the occupant sensor to fail. The airbag may then deploy in a crash when it should be suppressed, increasing injury risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket and reprogram the airbag control unit and electronic control unit.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles may have an incorrect Occupant Classification System module that fails to properly detect an adult passenger in the front seat, reducing the system's ability to protect them in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Occupant Classification System module to correct the issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The occupant classification system control unit may incorrectly identify the front passenger seat as empty when an adult is sitting in it.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the occupant classification system software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Fuel tank seals may be incomplete, allowing a small amount of gasoline to leak when the tank is full.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank may have been manufactured with a defect that causes it to leak when full. Leaking fuel near an ignition source could cause a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your fuel tank and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
