2011 Nissan Sentra: check engine light

Filed May 22, 2025 · Engine · VA

To Whom It May Concern, I’m writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment with Nissan over the CVT failure in my 2011 Nissan Sentra. There are no active recalls listed for my vehicle, yet I’m experiencing the same transmission failure thousands of others have reported—jerking, hesitation, loss of power, and check engine codes P1778 and P0776. I purchased this car 3–4 months ago as a single mother trying to rebuild my life. I chose this vehicle specifically because I thought it would be a dependable, affordable option to get back on my feet. Instead, I’m now stuck with a car that’s barely driveable, a dangerous transmission, and no support. It feels like punishment for trying to do things the right way. I understand warranties expire, but Nissan is a million-dollar company, and the CVT transmission issues are a known and ongoing defect. You should not continue to profit while customers are left stranded and burdened with thousands in repairs due to faulty engineering. It’s not just inconvenient—it’s harmful. This kind of failure makes life significantly harder for people who are already struggling. I’ve contacted Consumer Affairs. I was disconnected mid-call and haven’t received help opening a case. I now need reliable transportation to care for my child and maintain the progress I’ve worked so hard for. I’m requesting that Nissan review this case and offer some form of goodwill assistance or reimbursement. I should not have to choose between feeding my family and fixing a transmission that should have never failed this early. Please take responsibility. Do better for the people who trusted your brand.

Filed Jul 14, 2024 · Airbags, Engine · IN

I was in the highway at about 60 mph and the air bag light came on also the check engine light and I heard a sound and my car lost power I was able to get to the side lane then when it stopped all the way I started the car but would not go pass 30 mph and would barely go on reverse took it to mechanic they said it was the transmission tried to charge me $ 4,700 haven’t drove it since

Filed Nov 13, 2023 · Engine · 160,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the catalytic converter was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Apr 28, 2021 · 119,850 miles · UT

I went on a road trip that was 240 miles each way. We were about half way when you began to have problems. I realized the car was having problems at that half way point because it was jerking ,clanking, stalking check engine light. My car could only go 60mph on the way home on I-15. People were flashing their lights and riding my ass. I eventually had to get off the nearest exit, in payson utah, just make sure I would be okay. Normally my car gets about 36mpg on the freeway but it was getting about 20mpg on the way home. Initially I took it to a local service mechanic shop and they changed the fluid charged me $286.00 and they recommended a transmission shop to look at the vehicle. The transmission shop mechanic diagnosed bad internal parts in the transmission. With estimated repairs of $3500.00. The car currently has been 120,140 miles. It broke down 04/18/2021

Filed Mar 4, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 138,000 miles · IL

Purchased the vehicle in june 2016, service engine light came on in october (approximately 60,000-70,000 miles) when temp dropped below 55 degrees. Took it to a mechanic, code read p0101. Find nissan has posted a bulletin on this.followed all guidelines. He cleaned the maf sensor. Light went off. Next, day light comes back on. Go back, have sensor replaced. Light comes back on. Checks for vacuum leaks, change air filter blow out air box and surrounding components. Light still on. Take car for a diagnosis every few months to ensure its still the same thing and nothing else. No problem with cars drivability. Fast forward to 2019, vdc/ ABS lights come on. Call nissan, tell me they cant help because my car was out of warranty. Nisan has posted bulletin for this issue follow all guidelines for repairs via their bulletin, all the way down to the $700 wheel speed sensor. Lights go off. But that started a new issue. My vdc/ABS lights will spontaneously come on causing my car to jerk violently at speeds between 20-30mph (or 2,500 RPM) causing me to stop dead in traffic, park the car, take the key out (it must be out!), wait a few seconds, turn it back on. Fast forward to this week (3/2/20) my car stalls out going 70 MPH down the highway between to semis. Everything just shuts down. I literally almost died. Call nissan and they tell me, my car isn't part of the recall, outside of the warranty, nothing we can do. Go to nissan dealer. They want to charge $150 to diagnose. So I went elsewhere, got it diagnosed for free had maf cleaned, new air filter, codes reset. Light goes off. Driving home, car stalls again at 70 MPH. No lights on dash. Have codes read immediately, no codes. Nothing. Wake up, drive to school, service engine light comes on, immediately stalls on highway. Immediately have does read: three p0101 codes in row. I literally fear for my life and have no other choice.

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 116,000 miles · NY

All ignition coils and spark plugs are failing after 2 months of being replaced. $700 was paid back on may 20, 2019 to replace all coils and spark plugs. Engine misfired again the other day and same issue diagnosed with coil/plug failure! There is an underlying issue that nissan needs to have addressed within engine as something is causing the coils to continually misfire! My car was driving straight the other day on sunday when the vehicle started to buck wildly and check engine light flashing on.

Filed Apr 17, 2019 · 103,000 miles · AR

Check engine light is on, when I accelerated on the gas it the car started to jerk and it wouldn't let me get past 40 MPH. After I stopped at a stop sign, the car would not move faster than 20 MPH before it started jerking. I called a mcclarty nissan dealership in north little rock and they told me that the recall listed on this website did not affect my car even though your website does when I look it up by the VIN like they did.

Filed Oct 17, 2018 · Engine · 123,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 nissan sentra. While driving and making a turn, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving, but the failure recurred randomly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the mass air flow sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to vallejo nissan (located at 3287 sonoma blvd, vallejo, ca 94590, (707) 656-4483) where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and informed the contact that the VIN was not associated with a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 140,000 miles · TX

Takata recall I was driving my car and came to a stop sign and the whole car shut off, while I was in drive. My battery was corroded and so we thought that was the issue and changed the battery and the problem worsended up until yesterday while I was riding to work, I arrived at a stop light and before the light even turned red the whole car shut off and locked up. The battery is new, oil had been changed hat same day as the air filter and the mass airflow sensor were changed. The mass airflow sensor was changed because that's what I was told was why my engine light was on. The very day the same issues occurred and the whole car stopped and did not start again. Prior to this, my car sat for a few days, like any car does on the weekend and I needed a jump the following sunday night and after changing the battery, the problems worsened and as I was driving, if I turned slightly or made a left or right turn, my skip control would come on and stay on and I drive routinely so I knew it was a new problem. When I put the car into park, the slip control would come on or in reverse, the slip control would come on or the whole car would shut off in that gear.

Filed Mar 29, 2018 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 76,000 miles · PA

Car runs fine, all of a sudden, skips into the tracton control mode and vehicle slowes to around 10 MPH. Car will not accelerate. Dash check engine light comes on . Car cannot continue. After stopping, shut engine off, car will run fine, then it happens again. Safety issue, traveling at 40 MPH and have your engine shut down. No warning, just happens.

Filed Mar 31, 2017 · 1 miles · CA

The vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly hesitates loses power and stalls. I have been told by two independent nissan repair shops that the ECM needs to be reprogrammed and updated to the newest version. Because other components that are tied in together is causing the check engine light to come on. Ap0101 diagnostic code states that the maf sensor is bad. The maf sensor has been replaced, the gas tank cap has been replaced with an oem, etc. I believe that the ECM is not communicating correctly with the maf sensor signal and is what is causing the engine to stall unexpectedly. This has happened three time and I can have an accident due to the engine sttalling without any warning. I can be severely rear ended in the freeway.

Filed Jun 20, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 12,600 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 nissan sentra. While driving 55 MPH on an incline, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the speed decreased to 25 MPH. The check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission fluid overheated and needed the CVT cooler upgrade service kit and performance of CVT fluid flush. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,600.