2011 Nissan Sentra: hesitation when accelerating

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 Mar 28, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 91,458 miles · CA

It is ridiculous that so many people with the same car have had the same exact problem and no investigation or action has been done by the federal safety agency yet. As others have complained before, I have had moments where my car would have the vdc light go off and the car would begin to not accelerate over 2,000 rpms and would shake the car in a violent manner. I have had error codes p0101 and p0725 come up and dissapear through a period of six months. I have had to install a new oem mass air flow sensor to try to fix p0101 and it has returned on and off. The car has been acting much weaker than before and would have lots of hesitation whenever you would give it any gas. I have tried to search online to fix this but have come up with no definite answer. I just want my car to be reliable and that is what I expected when this car was purchased yet for it to start failing before the 100k mark, it shows how defective nissan products are. I have put a thousand dollars trying to fix it only to find out nothing has changed.a recall needs to be done to fix this. Guaranteed last time I will buy a nissan for sure.

Filed Apr 26, 2018 · Engine · 95,000 miles · GA

The transmission is slipping, jerks, and hesitate when accelerating. The RPM jumping up and down what is going on had to take it to the dealership before about the whining noise and the RPM...

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 Sep 23, 2015 · 65,476 miles · CA

When driving from a stop position the car will appear to hesitate upon acceleration. Some hesitations are longer than others. It's scary as if the car doesn't want to move but as of yet will then go.not sure of the problem components related to the hesitation. It is intermittent as this time and new to my possession of the car. I fear the car will at some point not go when pressing on the gas. Scary.

Filed Mar 19, 2015 · Electrical · 133,032 miles · CA

While driving to work headed towards the altamont pass on highway 580 west.just past grant line rd at 6:15 a.m. On 03/17/2015, my car started to hesitate, then immediately lost all power with no prior warning to be able to pull over. I was stranded in the second lane over from the fast lane. The vehicle behind me came so close to hitting me. I could have been seriously injured in an automobile crash driving this speed during heavy commute conditions. I had no prior warning, such as a check engine light prior to this. Highway patrol and the tow service received notification from aaa and towed my car to a safe location until aaa arrived . My vehicle was towed to the nissan dealer. I regularly take my vehicle fto the nissan dealer for service. I am afraid to drive my car to work any longer being I commute 54 miles to and from work on a daily basis. The nissan dealer did not perform all of the necessary steps for code p0101 which is the mass air flow sensor they simply reset the code.the mileage remained the same so how did they test drive it?

Filed Sep 13, 2014 · Engine · 4,500 miles · TN

Actually less than a year from purchasing the vehicle, a ticking started in the engine even after routine oil changes. Before it hit 50000 miles, when starting the car it would hesitate and when it was checked out a cell in the battery burned out and it was a little over a year old. When I looked up recalls there was something concerning the battery and when I contacted the dealership they stated since it was just over the 50000 mark it wasn't covered. As for as the engine they stated stated " that's just the engine, they all have a tick."

Filed Dec 20, 2011 · Engine · 14,700 miles · NJ

On dec. 11, 2011, the car would not start in the morning. Went back in the afternoon and started fine. On dec. 12, 2011, the car hesitated to start in the morning. Took to dealer and they replaced battery. On dec. 19, 2011, the car would not start at first and only started when brake was pumped several times, and still hesitated to start. The car would not go faster than 40 MPH, with the gas pedal to the floor, and the rpms would not go past 2. After every stop the car took 2 minutes to get back up to 40 MPH. Took to the shop, they could not find anything wrong.