Nissan Sentra fire or smoke problems

Filed Sep 13, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · KY · fire

I was driving on the highway at about 75 mph with the cruise control set and suddenly heard a small pop noise. The check engine light then began to flashing so I pulled over immediately I put the car in park and the car started smoking smoke was filling the cab through the air vents I didn’t even have time to pop the hood and check once I got out the car exploded and I do not exaggerate when I say it exploded the entire front end went boom and was engulfed in flames the car was brand new I just got it 3 months ago with 9 miles on the dash it only had 4k st the time of the incident. My safety was put at risk because I could have died and been burned alive other people would see smoke panic and still sit in the car i however deal with cars and know signs to check for and what type of smoke means what plus it explo Who’s to say one won’t explode while someone is driving! Had the roadway been filled with heavy traffic I wouldn’t have been able to pull over in time the car was engulfed within 30 seconds of the check engine light coming on and me getting out the car after parking. The car had yet to be inspected by insurance but it’s literally burned to the frame I don’t know what much they will be able to find. There was no warning of this happening whatsoever the car was driving perfectly fine with no issues up until it exploded. Not a single light ever came on in the car it never drove irregular or anything the car hasn’t even had its first oil change. Something definitely malfunctioned and is not safe in these cars

Filed Aug 29, 2025 · Body, Electrical · MO · fire

While driving, I noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. Within moments, flames appeared in the engine area and spread quickly, causing severe damage to the front portion of the car including the engine, electrical system, and body. No warning lamps, error messages, or unusual behavior were observed prior to the incident. The fire started suddenly without any indication of mechanical or electrical issues. My safety and the safety of others nearby were put at risk as the fire escalated rapidly. The problem has not been reproduced or inspected by the manufacturer or dealer yet, but the vehicle was completely disabled and is no longer operable due to the fire damage. Cause of the fire is UNKNOWN at this time.

Filed Jul 9, 2025 · Electrical · OH

I was trapped in my vehicle when my door would not open. I attempted to unlock the door with the key fab, manually, and from reaching through the window and trying from the outside. Despite the lock mechanism showing that the door was unlocked, the door would not open. I attempted to restart the vehicle, but that did not help. I tried several combinations of tactics with no success. I finally had to climb out of the passenger side. I took the car to the dealer where I was informed that the door actuators on both driver's side doors were faulty. All I can think of is what would have happened if the car was on fire or in rising water, and worse, if my children were in the back seat. Or what if I was disabled in some way or elderly? This situation could've been much, much worse. When I contacted Nissan consumer affairs, they refused to take any responsibility for this dangerous design flaw, and I was stuck with a $1500 repair. I hope they are urged to issue a recall.

Filed Jan 28, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TN

Started having problems within first two months of purchase, bought new in April 24. Charge ports stopped working. Also reported to dealer electric burn smell. Hesitate to start/stop with push button. Feels like loses power while driving. Rpms revs unexpectedly. Almost wrecked a few times due to this. Happens during continuous driving, not stop and go traffic. Sometimes when put in park, it will jerk hard. Sometimes when put in park and turn off, doors don’t unlock automatically. Car will jerk when starting at times. Forward collision light comes on often. Sounds like front rotors or something in the front rubs while driving. Auto engine off/on sometimes doesn’t work. The first time I took it to the dealer, they didn’t record their visual inspection. They blamed a lot of stuff on rodent nests. The second time I took it to the dealership, I made it a point to have the visual inspection recorded and sent to me. Surprise, no rodent nests found! Both inspections were completed in less than two hours even though I told them I could stay as long as needed. Since then, the burning smell has worsened.

Filed Mar 27, 2024 · Engine · TN · fire

Feb 26th, 2024 i drove my car for the first time since having surgery on Jan. 11, 2024. I was going about 35 mph when extremely fast the car radio turned off it felt as if the engine was also turned off but within a blink of your eye the car was turned back on , all by itself, a tiny jerk, nothing major. I instantly looked at the temp gauge, made sure the key was in ignition correctly. There was nothing to signal a problem. The next day i didnt leave my home. On Feb. 28, 2024 i drove the car about 7 miles and it did this same glitch twice .Again all gauges read normal, i got out of the car this time popped the hood. No smoke , no burning smell or any smell at all. I checked the fluids, the belt, the battery connections everything was fine. Later that night a family member had someone try breaking into their home. Very upset i decided to leave my home and drive over to be if some comfort. I drove a total of 21 miles, as i was turning into the driveway the car fid it again however this time i had to get it in park and restart my car. Again no over heating no smoke no burning or fuel smells. I parked the car went inside. About 7 minutes later , definitely no more than 10 minutes, i heared a loud bang. I look outside and my entire motor was on fire and the tire had already blown!! In under ten minutes!! I tried putting the fire out with the water hose but 911 dispatch heard the second tire blow and repeatedly asked me to stop and go inside the home that fire fighters were on their way . I had let my insurance go since i had emergency surgery and was unable to drive or work and pay for it. I bought this car in aug. 2020 and had to replace the cvt transmission nov. 2022. And now no car. This could have been a tragedy if anyone had small children and had ran back inside because they forgot a coat or a book bag, please look into this for other customers safety. Firefighters said it was so burnt they couldn't begin to tell how or where the fire started.

Filed Sep 28, 2023 · Suspension, Transmission · VA

Catastrophic failure today. Car was towed with special tow truck to dealer after hours. Will know more tomorrow. While driving Passenger right front tire: upper tie rod broke, lower control arm broke, trans-axel broke, smoke came out of hood. Right before this happened the car experienced a shimmy in the steering wheel and to keep car driving straight I had hold steering wheel at angle to the right (40mph). Next the anti-lock brakes engaged then disengaged. Four or so miles later I got a dashboard warning that had “malfunction” on almost every system (all amber lights). I pulled over at gas station immediately called dealer and was advised to bring in it ASAP. I put the car in reverse attempted to back out of parking spot, got 4 feet out and a horrible clanking/popping noise happened maybe 3 times and smoke came from engine compartment. I tried to put car back in gear to pull back into parking spot - but car would not move forward or backward. Got out and visual inspection showed front right tire had torn away from car and was hanging and car body was sitting imbedded into tire causing a dent in the panel. First tow truck driver said damage was so bad, they had to call a different kind of tow truck. Car then towed to dealer tonight after hours. Don’t know full extent of damage yet, tow truck driver thought transmission damaged when axel pulled away. What happened preceding this: I had just got off I-95 after a 7 hour drive from Myrtle Beach. Was 2-3 miles off freeway when this happed. Had it happed just a few minutes earlier, it would have happened on freeway at 70mph. There would likely have been multiple fatalities. Dealer replaced both left and right trans axels within last 2 months a week apart (car was making clunking sound). Tie rods inspected (told they were fine). Ten days ago clunking again (sounded like it was coming from engine compartment near center console.) took back to dealer they inspected it, changed oil and could not duplicate noise

Filed Aug 16, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · DE

Transmission. Up and down idling when accelerating, high RPM but not accelerating in speed, jerking, whining sounds while driving, thumping into gears, bad burning smell, no type of warning lights

Filed Jul 9, 2023 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL · 1 injury

1. My brakes locked up on my and the warning light came on saying I hit something 2.the only windows that works is the drivers identified 3.my warning lights came on and it started smelling inside the car I shut the car off and the warning light went off so I thought it was OK finished driving home and became sick opened the hood and my battery had smoke pouring out of each side my sinuses were burning, my throat was on fire i was sick the rest of the night i called poison control and they told me what to do

Filed Apr 20, 2023 · Suspension · CA · fire

My name is [xxx] I had a nissan sentra 2017 my car malfuctioned the doors had locked on my I was finally able to exit the car but my car went up in flames was a total loss. Someone please call me I need answers and help information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 1, 2023 · Brakes, Engine · NE · crash

We bought this vehicle brand new in 2016, and it seem to be a nice vehicle until it hit 30,000 miles. When we hit 30,000 miles in April 2020, the brake system failed, causing a passenger side collision, however, there were no injuries. Then in November 2020, the transmission went out. At that time we had to have the front brakes replaced as well. Then in May 2021 at 40,000 miles, we had to replace the front brakes again. In September 2021 at 50,000 miles, the front and rear brakes started grinding and needed replaced, which ended up having the ABS system, ABS module, brake lines, brake rotors, brake calipers, brake drums, and pads replaced. In February 2022 at 58,000 miles, while driving home, there was a loud bang from the front of the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered violently, had very little acceleration, and there was a large amount of white smoke coming from the back of the vehicle. Had the vehicle towed into the service shop, where they stated the engine block had thrown a rod through the engine. Had the engine replaced. Four days after the vehicle was returned, the front suspension collapsed on the tires. Had the front suspension replaced at 58,000 miles. August 2022, the transmission failed once again at 69,000 miles, and also had to replace the front brakes again. At 76,000 miles, in March 2023, had to once again replace front brake pads, rotors, and passenger caliper. No rear drums and pads need replaced. Vehicle ABS system is nonresponsive, ABS light is on once again, when, pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle does not stop just like when ABS system and module was replaced prior. Emergency brake does not work as well. I have contacted Nissan several times, to which I was told they would no longer service my vehicle. Now I am wondering what to do at this point.