2013 Nissan Sentra: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jun 25, 2025 · Transmission · AR

The CVT transmission has a serious problem it does this jerking movement and could lead to an accident or serious bodily injury to occupants in the vehicle I am filing a complaint regarding the CVT transmission failure in my 2013 Nissan Sentra (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle began showing symptoms such as jerking, hesitation, and loss of power while driving. These are serious safety concerns, especially when merging or accelerating. After researching the issue, I discovered this is a well-documented and widespread defect in Nissan CVT-equipped vehicles from this generation. Many other owners have experienced premature transmission failure, and Nissan has issued extended warranties in the past on certain models. However, despite clear signs of defective transmission design, my vehicle has not been covered under any warranty or recall. I believe this defect poses a serious safety hazard and should be addressed by Nissan through a recall or formal investigation. Transmission failure while driving could easily lead to a crash. I urge the federal safety agency to open an investigation and compel Nissan to take accountability for this widespread transmission failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 2, 2023 · Transmission · MO

The vehicle will hesitate and stall when I am pulling out until traffic, causing me to almost get hit if there are any cars coming. When I go over 50mph on an incline, the RPMs will jump way high and the car will lose power in the middle of the highway. I will have to pull over and turn it off for awhile to get it to run again. There are no lights on at this time, but if I have the cruise control going, the Cruise light will flash and cruise will not work. Hitting Accelerate on the steering wheel cruise menu will move the car, but the gas pedal will not, and cruise control will not work.

Filed Oct 2, 2021 · Transmission · FL

The transmission is failing. The car is slipping, hesitating when accelerating . Also jerks like it punches into gear when driving and wants to stop at times. The car just now is getting 75,000 miles. I see this problem is the same among everyone else, this problem should be fixed as it seems pretty common. The Car sometimes wants to stop while I’m driving. I brought it to a mechanic and he said it’s the transmission is failing

Filed Mar 15, 2021 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan sentra. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle started to hesitate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she decided to drive the vehicle that way. The contact stated while driving up a hill at 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to move forward and started rolling backwards. The contact used the parking brake to park at the bottom the hill. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to nielsen nissan (59 us-206, stanhope, nj 07874, (973) 347-2200) where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Filed Jan 31, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · 80,000 miles · LA

The vehicle hesitates significantly when acccelerating... Axts like it doesn't shift out right.... And bogs down when accelerating at normal speeds.

Filed Sep 23, 2020 · Transmission · 95,345 miles · IN

Transmission started failing, out of nissan's class action settlement extension to 84,000 miles as my car had 95,000 miles on it. I bought this car brand new and maintained it for my daughter to drive and was hoping it would last her through college. I drove it last friday, traded it in on sunday as cost to repair exceeded the value of the car. Was not informed of recall which is odd as only owner of car but regardless the vehicle not safe due to known issues of CVT drivetrain. Car would jump, hesitate, no power then it would catch and lunge when gas applied. Going downhill seemed to cause loss of power and would actually slow car down causing me to have to accelerate to go downhill and thus pull off road to stop and let the car seem to rest prior to interstate driving. Thankful weather not bad when this happened or that my daughter not in a wreck because of this known issue. Will boycott nissan products rest of my life. Spoke with nissan rep who informed me nothing can be done by nissan to help me. I helped myself and bought a honda.

Filed May 16, 2019 · Transmission · 67,411 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan sentra. While driving 20-25 MPH, the odometer displayed incorrect readings and the transmission slipped then the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle hesitated while in traffic and the gear shift would not go into the proper gears. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that a transmission range performance was needed. The vehicle was repaired two months later. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,411.

Filed Feb 11, 2019 · KY

My car would start to jerk as I was driving, I went and got it looked at and the auto zone guy said it was the voltage regulator in the alternator so I had that fixed, then the motor mounts had to be replaced. After allthat it was still jerking and it is my alternator. I drove my nissan off the lot with 298 miles on it and the transmission is slipping. I called nissan and they said they would not cover it because im at 101k miles even though I have the security +plus contract and there is a stipulation with kentcuky. There should be absolutely no reason as to why a 6 year old car is having so many issues all of a sudden. It literraly started a month ago and is due to be paid off in july. When I pull off from stationary sitting it jerks, once I coast to a good speed around 50mph and up then it wont jerk but hesitates and my RPM gauge jumps up and down.

Filed Nov 12, 2018 · 105,366 miles · KY

Transmission is acting like it wants to not shift on time. It hesitated and will even revup without me accelerating on the highway

Filed Jun 18, 2018 · Transmission · 87,900 miles · AL

My 2013 nissan sentra began having problems with acceleration as well as shuddering hesitating, down shifting above 50mph.,whining sound followed by the check engine light. Carried the vehicle to the dealer ship to be checked out. I was told the transmission was failing. I would need a new one. I have enclosed the invoices as well as my different steps to try to resolve this as a warranty issue.

Filed Aug 2, 2017 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · MA

My car had been "soft stalling" for a couple of weeks - it would keep running, but at just about any speed/driving condition, would either experience a struggle to accelerate/maintain speed (rpms up to 6,000 with no warning/reason), start to drop speed, or hesitate/kick back at me. I took it to my mechanic on wed, 7/28, and on thurs, 7/29, he told me that the transmission had failed completely, that it was cycling through gears, and dropping gears randomly. He said that he spoke with nissan, and because I was out of warranty by miles (72k vs 60k), there was nothing they could do. They don't issue repair kits for their CVT transmission, and a re-manufactured CVT would be $3900, with parts and labor. I owed $6000 on that car, and was forced to junk it. Nissan should not be allowed to deny warranty claims on their CVT transmissions, as they're an acknowledged problem in other models.

Filed Apr 2, 2017 · Brakes, Transmission · 90,000 miles · KY

Been driving the car and notice I was hearing a bad roaring noise soon I heard a loud pop in the back of the car and went to look at the drum on passenger side the adjusters screw had completely broke in peace 94k miles been doing this noise on and off and transmission has tendency to feel like it starts to really hesitate badly.