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2011 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

116 reports with mileage · 26 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports6 fire reports11 injury reports

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2024
Air BagsEnginePower Train

I was in the highway at about 60 mph and the air bag light came on also the check engine light and I heard a sound and my car lost power I was able to get to the side lane then when it stopped all the way I started the car but would not go pass 30 mph and would barely go on reverse took it to mechanic they said it was the transm…

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I was in the highway at about 60 mph and the air bag light came on also the check engine light and I heard a sound and my car lost power I was able to get to the side lane then when it stopped all the way I started the car but would not go pass 30 mph and would barely go on reverse took it to mechanic they said it was the transmission tried to charge me $ 4,700 haven’t drove it since

NHTSA ODI #11601912

92,000 miles · Feb 9, 2021
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 92K MILES. STARTED TO "KICK" ON THE HIGHWAY AND BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME IT'S TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11395370

91,458 miles · Mar 28, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND NO INVESTIGATION OR ACTION HAS BEEN DONE BY THE NHTSA YET. AS OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED BEFORE, I HAVE HAD MOMENTS WHERE MY CAR WOULD HAVE THE VDC LIGHT GO OFF AND THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO NOT ACCELERATE OVER 2,000 RPMS AND WOULD SHAKE THE CAR …

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IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND NO INVESTIGATION OR ACTION HAS BEEN DONE BY THE NHTSA YET. AS OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED BEFORE, I HAVE HAD MOMENTS WHERE MY CAR WOULD HAVE THE VDC LIGHT GO OFF AND THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO NOT ACCELERATE OVER 2,000 RPMS AND WOULD SHAKE THE CAR IN A VIOLENT MANNER. I HAVE HAD ERROR CODES P0101 AND P0725 COME UP AND DISSAPEAR THROUGH A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS. I HAVE HAD TO INSTALL A NEW OEM MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TO TRY TO FIX P0101 AND IT HAS RETURNED ON AND OFF. THE CAR HAS BEEN ACTING MUCH WEAKER THAN BEFORE AND WOULD HAVE LOTS OF HESITATION WHENEVER YOU WOULD GIVE IT ANY GAS. I HAVE TRIED TO SEARCH ONLINE TO FIX THIS BUT HAVE COME UP WITH NO DEFINITE ANSWER. I JUST WANT MY CAR TO BE RELIABLE AND THAT IS WHAT I EXPECTED WHEN THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED YET FOR IT TO START FAILING BEFORE THE 100K MARK, IT SHOWS HOW DEFECTIVE NISSAN PRODUCTS ARE. I HAVE PUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX IT ONLY TO FIND OUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED.A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS. GUARANTEED LAST TIME I WILL BUY A NISSAN FOR SURE.

NHTSA ODI #11192235

87,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Power Train

CVT TRANSMISSION WHINES AND APPEARS TO BE SLIPPING WHEN GOING UPHILL - THE RPMS INCREASE BUT THE CAR IS NOT GOING FASTER. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSIONS. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/120K MILES FOR 2004-2010 CVTS. UNFORTUNATELY, MINE IS A 2011.

NHTSA ODI #11123900

110,000 miles · Aug 19, 2018
Power Train

DURING A TRIP FROM WIS. TO FLORIDA MY SON'S USED 2011 WITH APPROX. 110.000 MILES DEVELOPED A WHINING NOISE THAT FLUCTUATED AS THE CAR ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED. CAR ALSO SEEMS TO LOSE POWER.

NHTSA ODI #11120872

125,000 miles · Jul 23, 2018
Power Train

VEHICLE LOSES POWER AFTER COUPLE OF HOURS OF DRIVING ON RELATIVELY HOT DAYS. HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED BY DEALER ADVISED I NEEDED A "TRANSMISSION COOLER" BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR. ADVISED VEHICLE COMPUTER REGISTERED OVER 82 INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS VEHICLE EN…

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VEHICLE LOSES POWER AFTER COUPLE OF HOURS OF DRIVING ON RELATIVELY HOT DAYS. HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED BY DEALER ADVISED I NEEDED A "TRANSMISSION COOLER" BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR. ADVISED VEHICLE COMPUTER REGISTERED OVER 82 INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS VEHICLE ENTERS "LIMP" MODE. VEHICLE WILL NOT PRODUCE MORE THAN 2500 RPMS. RECENTLY OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TN. CLIMBING LARGE HILL CAR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. DEALER ADVISED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION AND ADVISED BY NISSAN TO FIX PROBLEM INSTALL A TRANSMISSION COOLER WHICH COSTS $1,400.

NHTSA ODI #11113116

103,000 miles · May 24, 2018
Power Train

THERE IS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHEN DRIVEN IN EXCESS OF 2 HOURS. IT APPEARS TO OVERHEAT AND WILL NOT DRIVE IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND I DID OPEN A CASE WITH NISSAN WHO REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR. NISSAN CASE # 31337703. NISSAN DOUBLED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON MODELS 2…

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THERE IS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHEN DRIVEN IN EXCESS OF 2 HOURS. IT APPEARS TO OVERHEAT AND WILL NOT DRIVE IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND I DID OPEN A CASE WITH NISSAN WHO REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR. NISSAN CASE # 31337703. NISSAN DOUBLED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON MODELS 2003 - 2010 AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE BUT IS REFUSING THE STAND BEHIND THIS ONE WHICH WAS PRESUMABLY MADE IN 2010. PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED A YEAR AGO AND 2 MECHANICS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AS IT HAS TO BE DRIVEN A LONG TIME TO HEAT UP. IT IS ONLY ON LONG TRIPS THAT THIS HAPPENS. NISSAN REQUESTED WE TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND AFTER 6 HOURS (AND $150 CHARGE) THEY SAID IT HAD THE INCORRECT TRANSMISSION FLUID. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND NEVER CHANGED OR AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO CHANGE IT SO THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT. I WAS CHASTISED FOR NOT VISITING A DEALER IN 5 YEARS... MY RESPONSE WAS IF IT IS NOT BROKE WHY FIX IT? THIS VEHICLE IS NOW USED FOR PRIMARILY LONG ROAD TRIPS TO SCHOOL AND IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT NISSAN KNOWS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTED ISSUES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ONE. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO NISSAN AND ESCALATED MY APPEAL AS HIGH AS THE EXECUTIVE SPECIALIST WHO WOULD NOT CONSIDER STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. SENT A FEW E-MAILS TO MANAGEMENT (CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE) WHICH HAVE GONE IGNORED. WILL BE DISPUTING THE CREDIT CARD CHARGE FOR 'DIAGNOSIS' AS THAT WAS A 6 HOUR WAIT FOR THEM TO DO NOTHING MORE THEN LOOK AT THE FLUID AND ACCUSE US OF CHANGING IT TO AN UNSUPPORTED FLUID. GIVEN THE KNOWN DESIGN AND RELIABILITY ISSUES WITH THIS PART I SIMPLY REQUEST NISSAN TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT TO WHICH THEY REFUSE, CAUSING A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THIS CAR IS DRIVEN. IN CITY DRIVING IT WORKS WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11097756

110,000 miles · Jan 8, 2018
Power Train

NISSAN CLAIMS THAT THEIR CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES WERE FIXED FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2011 SENTRA BUT THAT IS A LIE. THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND THEN THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT LOOSES ALMOST ALL POWER. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR MODEL YEARS 2006-2010 TO 120,000 MILES BECA…

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NISSAN CLAIMS THAT THEIR CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES WERE FIXED FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2011 SENTRA BUT THAT IS A LIE. THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND THEN THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT LOOSES ALMOST ALL POWER. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR MODEL YEARS 2006-2010 TO 120,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY KNEW THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUES THAT STILL EXIST WITH THE 2011 MODEL. I LIVE IN FLORIDA WHICH HAS A WARM CLIMATE AND THE ISSUE NORMALLY MANIFESTS ITSELF AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WHEN THE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED AROUND SEPTEMBER 2015 WHILE GOING ON A 500 MILE TRIP, WE TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN OF POMPANO BEACH UPON OUR RETURN AND THEY TOLD US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM AT THE TIME BECAUSE WE HAD JUST DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 350 MILES AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL WORKING. THE ISSUE SEEM TO ONLY MANIFEST WHEN THE WEATHER WAS REALLY WARM AND THE CAR WAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES. THEREFORE, WE INSTRUCTED THEM TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND WENT ON OUR WAY WONDERING IF THAT WOULD FIX THE ISSUE. SINCE THEN, THE CAR HAS GONE ANOTHER 15K MILES WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. SINCE WE HAVE BEEN TAKING SHORTER TRIPS WITH THE CAR THE ISSUE HAD NOT MANIFESTED ITSELF AGAIN UNTIL NOW SO WE TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN IN MIAMI AND AGAIN THEY TOLD US THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. GIVEN ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION, I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD EITHER EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON 2011 MODELS OR AT LEAST MAKE SURE THAT DEALERSHIPS TRY TO INSTALL A TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER TO SEE IF THE CUSTOMERS ISSUE GOES AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11061289

126,000 miles · Jul 26, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 50 MPH AND MADE A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER VARIOUS RESEARCH, THE FAILURE WAS TRANSMISSION RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SWOPE TOYOTA OF ELIZABETH TOWN, …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 50 MPH AND MADE A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER VARIOUS RESEARCH, THE FAILURE WAS TRANSMISSION RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SWOPE TOYOTA OF ELIZABETH TOWN, KENTUCKY WHERE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #11010829

85,699 miles · Apr 27, 2017
Power Train

I BOUGHT A USED 2011 NISSAN SENTRA THAT WENT THROUGH A VIGOROUS INSPECTION. 3 DAYS LATER TRANSMISSION STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS. HAD METRO NISSAN REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AND COOLER ASSEMBLY AND MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THESES ISSUES

NHTSA ODI #10981152

Official recalls

2

11V579000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Dec 15, 2011

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MR20 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2010, TO MAY 22, 2010, AND JULY 8, 2010, TO OCTOBER 25, 2010. THE ZINC COATING APPLIED TO THE TERMINAL STUD BOLT WAS THICKER THAN SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER IT STOPPED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND COVER, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JANUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V555000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Nov 12, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED WITH A DIFFICULT OR NO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN PN NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.