On Wednesday July 8, 2026 at approx 7:45 AM The powertrain system failed entirely due to a catastrophic malfunction of the Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which completely and instantly failed with absolutely no prior dashboard warning lamps, check engine lights, or symptoms. While traveling at approximately 40 MPH on a public road, this unexpected defect caused an immediate and total loss of vehicle propulsion in active traffic, forcing following vehicles to brake aggressively to avoid a high-speed rear-end collision. With zero throttle response or engine acceleration, my safety was severely compromised as I was forced to blindly coast across active lanes of traffic to reach a gas station with barely enough power to get into the station lot to escape the hazard. This is a highly busy area and gas station, making it even harder. The vehicle is currently sitting at an authorized Nissan dealership service department, where technicians formally inspected the vehicle, confirmed a total internal failure of the CVT unit, and issued a $5,800 replacement quote. The vehicle and the failed transmission component remain fully available for inspection upon request.
2018 Nissan Sentra transmission problems
46 complaints (25% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 80,000.
- owner complaints
- 46
- of this car's complaints
- 25%
- typical mileage
- 80,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Nissan Sentra transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Nissan Sentra transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
CVT failure 19Transmission failure 12Jerking 10Shudder 6Hesitation 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2018 Nissan Sentra owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
At right under 67,000 miles, the car made a loud pop when I went to accelerate from a stop light. The car would only work in reverse at that point. I'm being told that the CVT needs to be replaced. The car isn't even worth the cost of a new transmission.
Transmission Replacement - The transmission system requires replacement due to issues identified during inspection, including judder in the CVT and auxiliary gearbox. Replacing the transmission can help address these concerns and improve the smoothn
Transmission has already been replaced with a new CVT transmission and the Nissan dealership has also had to put something back in the transmission because it came out and then last night when driving I went to turn and it wouldn't go and now it won't go into gear and it rolls even in park
Driving down the road with a lot of traffic then my car didn't want to shift into gear the it went into gear real hard then I hear load noise under the the car then I was no longer moving. So me and some friends push it out of the road and I call tow truck to take to my house I know a lot of people have the same issue with cvt transmission
Vehicle has a faulty CVT Transmission.
I am writing to express my deep concern and frustration regarding the transmission issues in my 2018 Nissan Sentra. It is widely known, including to the past recalls of similar models that Nissan has an ongoing problems with its continually very reliable transmission CVT. Despite this, no recall has been issued for 2018 Sentra, even though the many customers myself include our experienced significant transmission problems. I had my transmission replaced in 2023 not knowing it was already a problem with Nissan. It was covered through my extended warranty. Now 2 years later I am having the same problem again.
When I connect an OBD 2 meter. It cannot read the powertrain and it’s not the first time that I haven’t been able to diagnosed the car. I’ve taken it to a dealership. I’ve been used scan tools from a dealership and mechanics shop. The powertrain isn’t readable it spiders when I drive as in like it feels like the transmission is skipping or going out. It stopped while I was driving by itself like the car brake, and then kept going like it was skipping a gear or had a hard time going to the next gear as well as when we were pulling into a driveway, the wheel on the passenger side went underneath the car like it was only attached by the upper control arm because the lower arm came out of the joint. I’m a driver side a tire is at an angle. The tire is about to fall off or the lower control arm is about to come out of socket impacts the safety of my children and myself when driving down the road is not safe or structurally stable to go down a highway even.
CVT Transmission is giving up on Sentra.
My 2018 Nissan Sentra has under 60,000 miles on it and is on its 3rd set of brake rotors, as well as had both front and rear brake pads replaced 2 times. The vehicle has always given the warning , front radar not detected alert, until the last 12 months where I began receiving a malfunction warning. My car has been brought to 2 different Nissan dealerships to work on this issue. The current one stating my front sensor is failing & will need to be replaced however there is no warranty on it. I am the only owner of my vehicle and it has not been in any forward collisions. As for the power train/transmission, I received a transmission flush in May of 2023, and now 15 months later was told by a different Nissan dealership it needed a flush as it appeared the transmission was going bad. The vehicle has stalled several times, continuously has a high RMP when accelerating and the AC has gone out a couple of months ago.
Questions about the 2018 Nissan Sentra transmission
Does the 2018 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 46 complaints about the transmission of the 2018 Nissan Sentra, 25% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2018 Nissan Sentra transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 80,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Nissan Sentra transmission?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
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).
Other 2018 Nissan Sentra problems
Brakes 40Electrical 32Driver assistance 30Engine 22Acceleration 19Lights 15Airbags 9Fuel system 7Steering 6Seat belts 5Body 3Suspension 3Locks 2Seats 2
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2018 Nissan Sentra?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history