2013 Nissan Sentra: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Jun 14, 2023 · Transmission · VA

I own a 2013 Nissan Sentra SR with only 69,000 miles. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained with all recommended services being performed. The vehicle has had the factory/dealer recommended CVT reprogramming as well as CVT fluid exchange and coolant flush services. On May 25, 2023, my daughter was driving home from work when without warning the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway causing it to decelerate rapidly, swerve and almost cause an accident. The vehicle would not accelerate over 40 mph and was taken to the dealership. There were no warning lights on the dash and no performance issues prior to the incident. The dealer ran diagnostics & code P17FO came up for a faulty CVT Transmission. The transmission was replaced at a cost of $6186.00. This is a Nissan CVT that has been dealer serviced following all preventive maintenance recommended by Nissan and the Dealership. Two days after the new CVT was installed, the exact same thing occurred, with the car again going into limp mode on a hill of a two-lane road with heavy traffic. The car this time was almost rear ended and would not accelerate above 15 mph. The vehicle is now at the dealership awaiting "transmission number three." Nissan Corporate was notified, and a case number was issued, 48966982. The arbitrator essentially washed their hands of the CVT issue and advised they would not take any action other than acknowledging the very long CVT failure history and that the issue was mine to resolve through my dealer. I filed a previous the federal safety agency complaint documenting the initial CVT failure, 11524137. The CVT failures is an issue Nissan has known about for twenty years, been sued for, yet continues to refuse to accept any responsibility for a flawed component known for failures, thus screwing countless Nissan consumers out of thousands in out of pocket expenses. Nissan should accept responsibility and recall all of these transmissions or be forced to reimburse consumers who have had to replace one.

Filed May 27, 2023 · Transmission · VA

I own a 2013 Nissan Sentra SR with only 69,000 miles. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained it's entire life with all recommended services being performed and then some. The vehicle has had the factory/dealer recommended CVT reprogramming as well as CVT fluid exchange services. The vehicle was purchased for my daughter who drives carefully, ensures the car is clean and well maintained. We have a stack of dealer service records showing an impeccable service history. On May 25, 2023, my daughter was driving home from work that evening when without warning the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway causing it to decelerate rapidly, swerve and almost cause an accident. The vehicle would not accelerate over 40 mph and was immediately taken to the dealership. There were no warning lights on the dash and no performance issues prior to the incident. The dealer ran diagnostics and code P17FO came up for a faulty CVT Transmission. The transmission now has to be replaced due to failure. This is a Nissan CVT that has been dealer serviced following all preventive maintenance recommended by Nissan and the Dealership (Priority Nissan of Chantilly, Chantilly, VA). The vehicle ran perfectly prior to the failure and there were absolutely no warning signs of a transmission issue before the incident. As part of the preventive maintenance recommended for the vehicle we did the anti/freeze coolant flush at 51K , the CVT reprogramming and transmission flush at 52K, to ensure continued reliability. Despite the car being well maintained and having very low mileage for the model year, the CVT failed with an out of pocket repair of $5,900. The CVT failures is an issue Nissan has known about for twenty years, been sued for, yet continues to deny the problems or accept responsibility for thus screwing thousands of consumers. Nissan should accept responsibility and recall these transmissions or be forced to reimburse consumers. Repair invoice is pending. Car remains in shop.

Filed Jul 17, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

Was driving to work busy road car basically shut down to limp mode could not accelerate very close call two cars nearly side swiped me had to creep at 2mph to curb. Called tow truck took vehicle home where it sat proceeded to try and fix car overtime. Has never been the same since.

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 Aug 16, 2020 · Engine · FL

Purchased our 2013 nissan sentra sv in may, 2016. It came with a 7 year cpo, expiration may 30, 2020. Within 3 months of purchase I had what I thought was a shifting/transmission related issue. When going from 1st to 2nd gear the car tachometer would rev to 4500 RPM but nut go any faster, then shake/thunk, and go into 2nd gear. From that time until april, 2020, I went in to 4 separate nissan dealerships in 2 states with this problem. Each one said they would not look at the vehicle because nissan said they would not fix the problem until the transmission stops working. In april, 2020, my last visit, I explained a new problem occurred. The car could not maintain 65 miles per hour without going into overdrive or a higher gear, and was shifting multiple times into multiple gears. But still nothing would be done by nissan as the transmission did not fail. Then, on july 22, 2020, the transmission stuck in 2nd twice. I contacted nissan consumer affairs and explained my situation. A case sheet was developed and I sent in information to them. 8 days later they called me back and said my cpo warranty ended end of may, 2020, so there was nothing they would do. By the way, my case sheet number was 40830236. Transmission was replaced this week costing us over $4000. Very, very frustrated. I know our cpo ended end of may, 2020. But nissan refused to look at transmission until total failure. I am sending you copies of our transmission replacement bill, a copy from nissan noting transmission needing replacement, and our cpo warranty. Thanks for any help you can give us.

Filed Jan 24, 2020 · Engine · 87,511 miles · FL

The car goes into a limp mode. Cannot accelerate past 20mph. Mechanic determined my transmission is bad. Quoted $4,000 to repair. Car has 87, 511 miles. Should not be an issue. I was on the highway and almost got hit by other cars.

Filed Sep 1, 2019 · Airbags, Transmission · 30,500 miles · CA

Transmission doesn't shift smoothly. Jerks at high or low speeds. Rpms rev up past 5 which requires me to release the accelerator for vehicle to shift. As of jan 3 2019. Air bags were fixed during recall. In 2016. However lights came on immediately and never went off. Dealer continues to want me to pay for repairs.

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Transmission · 96,000 miles · AZ

I took my 2013 nissan sentra in to my auto mechanic (who has been my mechanic for 25 years) because it was shifting roughly and slipping. My mechanic informed me that the CVT transmissions have had problems and recommended I take it to the nissan service department and hopefully, nissan would either cover the cost or cover part of it. I had the car towed to pinnacle nissan, who has serviced kit in the past. They updated some codes but said the transmission was still slipping (this was on a friday). They said they would drive it and see if they could determine the problem. I got another call monday morning, saying everything was fine. I could not get a straight answer as to why it was slipping friday afternoon but "fine" monday morning. I tried calling nissan corporate for some help with the cost to replace the transmission and was told it was my problem. So, the car was still driving exactly the same and, at one point, would not shift! I was nearly rear ended and, fortunately, happened to be close to my auto mechanic. The transmission finally "caught" and shifted so I was able to get it to my mechanic's. He replaced the transmission but it cost me $4200!!! Thanks, nissan, for the faulty transmission and for lying to me and for not helping me at all! So, after paying $4200 to replace my faulty transmission, I asked my mechanic to also look at my AC, which was not working well. I live in phoenix, where it is 115 in the summer, so the AC is pretty crucial. I was hoping I just needed a little freon. Nope. Yet another design flaw from nissan, I had to replace the compressor, the condenser, and switch. So, I have poured $5300 into a car that's worth about $5700! I bought this car in good faith, believing that nissan is an excellent, reliable brand. I am so disgusted I can't stand it!

Filed Feb 28, 2019 · Transmission · GA

Car does not shift correctly, looses speed engine revs high.

Filed Feb 19, 2019 · Transmission · 77,000 miles · AL

Cvt transmission problems car won't shift correctly went to nissan who advised me that it is the transmission and would cost $4011.10 to replace also went to holmes motor who is leasing me the vehicle for $17000 +$ 2000 buy out option at the end of lease and was told 18000 mile warranty would not apply because I have put 32000 miles on vehicle since start of lease..nissan also stated it's a 60000 mile warranty on vehicle but my vehicle has 77000 miles which I started leasing at 44259 miles. Also this situation occured while I was driving past the 900 block of decatur street montgomery alabama 36104 when I made it to red light I realeased my foot off gas slightly because light changed car jumped in gear and slammed into back of another vehicle which didn't do any damage to other car but knocked my bumper loose.

Filed Feb 14, 2019 · Brakes, Transmission · 62,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift out of park. When the transmission returned to normal, the brakes seized and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when depressed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to hanlees davis nissan (5009 chiles rd, davis, ca 95618, (530) 231-3000) where it was diagnosed that new cylinders and brake boosters needed to be installed. The transmission was also repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.

Filed Dec 12, 2018 · Transmission · 117,543 miles · AL

The vehicle will be stuck in park when being put in reverse. When going down the interstate. It would go from 70mph to 0 MPH all of sudden. Almost caused an 18 wheeler to rear end the car because of the instant drop in speed. The RPM needle jumps up and down. The car began slowing down in second gear and then jump into gear and take off. If you can get the car into fifth gear it will slow down again then jerk into gear and take off. Almost rear ended 3 people just trying to get home. There are recalls for CVT transmissions in that year make and model but when you type in the VIN number in there are no recalls. Do not know how deciding which models deserve a recall and which don't? I feel that almost be smashed in the rear should be considered serious enough for a recalll. I will not recommend anyone buying a 2013 nissan sentra. It occurred trying to put the car in reverse, drive, on the highway, in city street and parking lots trying to park.