2013 Nissan Sentra problems, complaints and recalls
NHTSA data checked October 31, 2026 · counts are computed from NHTSA's public APIs, not estimated
Summary
NHTSA's public complaint database lists 638 owner complaints for the 2013 Nissan Sentra, and its recall database lists 6 safety recall campaigns for it.
Leaving out "unknown or other", the component group owners named most often is power train (311 complaints, 49%), followed by air bags (96) and service brakes (95). A complaint can name more than one group, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
24 complaints say a crash happened and 4 mention a fire; together the complaints report 20 injuries and 1 death.
Among Nissan Sentra model years 2010–2020 in NHTSA's data, 2013 has the most complaints (638, against a median of 215 for the other years).
The newest recall is 16V242000, received April 26, 2016, for air bags.
638owner complaints
6recall campaigns
24complaints reporting a crash
4complaints reporting a fire
20injuries reported
1deaths reported
Complaints by component
Owners pick one or more component groups when they file. Share is the percent of the 638 complaints that name the group.
Component group (NHTSA label)
Complaints
Share
Power Traintransmission, axles and driveshafts: slipping, hesitation, harsh shifts
311
49%
Air Bagsair bag deployment, sensors and warning lights (including the Takata inflator recalls)
Service Brakes, Hydraulicthe main hydraulic brakes: pedal feel, ABS, brake lines
2
<1%
Forward Collision Avoidanceautomatic emergency braking and collision warnings, including false braking
1
<1%
Fuel System, Other
1
<1%
Lane Departurelane-keeping assist and lane departure warning
1
<1%
Latches/Locks/Linkagesdoor and hood latches, locks
1
<1%
Tirestires
1
<1%
Traction Control Systemtraction control
1
<1%
Recalls (6)
Newest first. Summary, risk and remedy are NHTSA's own recall text (a U.S. government record), shown as published. A recall applies only to the vehicles its notice names; your VIN lookup is the final word.
NHTSA campaign 16V242000
Received April 26, 2016 · Air Bags (sensor: occupant classification)
What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V244000
Received April 26, 2016 · Air Bags (sensor: occupant classification)
What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V681000
Received October 20, 2015 · Air Bags (frontal)
What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign 14V138000
Received March 25, 2014 · Electrical System (software)
What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign 13V069000
Received March 1, 2013 · Air Bags
What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign 13V068000
Received March 1, 2013 · Fuel System, Gasoline (storage: tank assembly)
What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
When the complaints were filed
By the year the complaint reached NHTSA. A late rise often means a part wearing out with age or a problem drawing attention after a recall.
How many complaints has NHTSA received about the 2013 Nissan Sentra?
638 owner complaints as of October 31, 2026, per NHTSA's complaints API.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2013 Nissan Sentra?
Power Train is named in 311 of 638 complaints (49%); NHTSA's group covers transmission, axles and driveshafts: slipping, hesitation, harsh shifts.
How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Sentra have?
6 recall campaigns in NHTSA's recall database, most recently 16V242000 (April 26, 2016). Check a specific car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is 2013 a bad year for the Nissan Sentra?
By complaint count, 2013 ranks 1st of 11 Sentra model years 2010–2020 in NHTSA's data. Raw counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how old they are.
How to read these numbers
Complaints are reports owners file with NHTSA. NHTSA does not confirm each one, and one problem can be reported more than once.
Counts are not adjusted for sales: a model that sold twice as many cars can collect twice the complaints without being worse per car.
Older model years have had more time to collect complaints.
A recall listed here may not cover every car of this model year. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.