Premature CVT failure. On XXX the CVT transmission in my vehicle was replaced at 95,126 miles. I paid $4,754.00 for the repair. On XXX while traveling out of [XXX], the replacement CVT transmission failed suddenly on the highway. The vehicle lost power without warning, forcing me to immediately move onto the shoulder with hazard lights to avoid being struck by traffic. The mileage at the time of failure was 151,226. The vehicle was towed to the nearest Nissan dealership, where I paid $212.25 for a diagnostic. I was informed that the transmission had failed again and that I needed another replacement. The estimate for the new transmission and related services was $9,756.32, with the transmission replacement alone listed at $8,464.07. This would be the third CVT transmission for this vehicle. The second transmission lasted only 1,026 days (approximately 35 months), which is far below normal transmission lifespan. Nissan Consumer Affairs and Nissan Corporate both stated they could not offer any assistance, despite the premature failure and the safety risk created by the sudden loss of power on the highway. This is a repeated premature CVT failure that created a hazardous situation and appears to be consistent with known issues involving Nissan CVT transmissions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2017 Nissan Sentra problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission76
- Engine49
- Electrical33
- Acceleration32
- Airbags26
- Brakes22
- Lights15
- Steering14
- Body9
- Driver assistance7
- Fuel system7
- Wheels5
- Seat belts3
- Seats2
- Suspension2
- Visibility2
Specific symptoms reported on the 2017 Nissan Sentra
CVT failure 29Transmission failure 21Jerking 18Check engine light 16Won't start 16Loss of power 14No deployment 12Hesitation 12Stalling 11Slipping 7Warning lights 7Adaptive cruise 5Airbag light 5Key fob 5
Recalls 3
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.
- Risk
- The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
Recall number 21V135000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition
- What is wrong
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
- Risk
- If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669.
Recall number 18V551000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 17V253000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2017 Nissan Sentra 184
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Wiring harness repair information
- Certification label and VIN plate replacement service information
- Intelligent cruise control inoperative and AEB/feb warning light on or radar obstruction message displayed...
- DTC B00A0-00 stored
- CVT/TCM calibration data “write” procedure
- CAN communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines
- CAN communication – network diagnostic flow chart
- Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
- Windshield cracking
- Removing foreign material from the window glass
2017 Nissan Sentra fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4‑cyl | FWD | 27-29 | 35-37 | 30-32 |
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 25-27 | 30-33 | 27-29 |
What 2017 Nissan Sentra owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My 2017 Sentra is suffering from the exact silicone outgassing defect detailed in Recall 21V135000. My replacement switches keep failing because the car requires the updated protective grommet, but Nissan is excluding my VIN from receiving the campaign kit.
My car was legally parked on the street near my apartment, and was hit about a month ago that left my car totaled and my trunk completely crushed in, and the back seat caved in. My car was then hit a 2nd time two weeks ago, from the back, and both times, my car ricocheted and hit the car parked in front of mine. Both times. Police said first driver had to be going at least 80 to 90 mph, and would definitely killer someone if anyone was sitting in my back seat. 2nd car was going just as fast. Not as much damage to his front fender and minor side damage, but his air bag deployed. Why did my Nissan Sentra not deploy ANY airbags for EITHER of those accidents? Luckily I was not in or driving the car. But my safety all the other times I was driving?! Unacceptable. The air bag lights were working and on too. I no longer have the car since it has been towed away to a salvage yard. I only have pictures and videos of the damage with no airbag in sight. I bought the car in 2020 at Gardena Nissan, which is later found out and realized they gave me the wrong car fax report for my car, I think intentionally. I only have the accepted police report from 2nd accident. I’m still waiting for the 1st accident police report with the case number listed below on this form. I had to request by mail since it involved a criminal case now. Is been a few weeks now and I’m still waiting for them to mail it to me per my request. But there is still an ongoing court case going on against the 1st suspect.
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving the vehicle he could tell the vehicle gears were slipping, on a different occasion the vehicle downshifted on its own suddenly almost causing a crash. The contact stated there were times where the vehicle would downshift suddenly and would slow all the way down causing the vehicle to come to a stop, having to shift into neutral then back into drive, and the contact stated he could hear very loud grinding noise from the gears. The vehicle was towed to a residence, and the dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,600.
I have been experiencing the cvt transmission slipping the last two weeks. I contacted Nissan so see if my vin was a vehicle affected by 2017 cvt transmission recalls. They advised me it was not affected because my vin did not match their systems affected vehicles. Today my vehicle transmission broke down completely on my way home and had to get towed home. This could have been prevented had Nissan honored my vehicle cvt transmisson recall since it is a 2017 model as the ones affected. Now i have a vehicle i cant drive.
The CVT transmission on my 2016 Nissan Sentra is failing. This seems to be an ongoing issue with Nissans CVT that I have researched. Dealerships are saying they are not replacing the transmissions because it is outside the warranty. The CVT issues started shortly after the warranty ended. Funny. The fact that the failure of transmission is causing potential life threatening accidents and nothing is being done to resolve the issue. My car will stop accelerating while on an interstate where traffic is traveling 70-80mph. Nissan is an 8 billion dollar company and is building and selling cars risking the safety of families. To get the transmission replaced would cost more than the value of my car currently. My 2016 Nissan Sentra has right under 120,000 miles. I do hope that Nissan Company has a tad bit of integrity and helps their customers resolve these issues.
Unknown
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted later. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake light switch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
When driving in the highway my hood opened up it hand unhinged on its own.
CVT transmission losing power
Compare the 2017 Nissan Sentra
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2017 Nissan Sentra
Is the 2017 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Owners have filed 231 complaints about the 2017 Nissan Sentra, 1.3 times a typical Sentra model year.
What is the 2017 Nissan Sentra year score?
The 2017 Nissan Sentra scores 63 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Nissan Sentra: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Nissan Sentra?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 76 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles. Next is engine (49).
How many recalls does the 2017 Nissan Sentra have?
3 recalls, covering exterior lighting, electrical system and air bags.
What year does the Nissan Sentra have bad transmission?
The Nissan Sentra model years with the most transmission complaints are 2013 (311 complaints), 2014 (183 complaints) and 2015 (173 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2017 Nissan Sentra get?
Official estimates for the 2017 Nissan Sentra range from 27 to 32 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.8L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 27-29 city and 35-37 highway.
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