Nissan · Sentra · 2017
3
Recalls
224
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2017 Nissan Sentra has 3 recalls and 224 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: power train (45 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Frontal Crash Test

Side Crash Test

Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
11.8% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
CVT failed after only 94K miles.
My 2017 Nissan Sentra is experiencing CVT transmission problems. The vehicle hesitates when accelerating, slips between gears, and sometimes loses power while driving. This creates a dangerous situation when entering traffic or driving at highway speeds. I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs, but they stated there was nothing they could do because the vehicle is slightly over the 84,000-mile extended CVT warranty. Many owners are reporting the same CVT transmission failures with this model. This issue creates a safety risk because the vehicle struggles to accelerate properly and may unexpectedly lose power while driving. I believe this CVT transmission defect should be investigated for a potential recall.
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the brake pedal was stiff. The contact stated that the message "Put Foot on Brake Pedal" was displayed. While standing on the brake pedal, the vehicle started. The failure recurred while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that there would be a charge for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that after investigating the failure online, the contact learned that the failure was a common failure and could be related to a sensor malfunction. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed; however, the contact was later referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer indicated that the mileage was 92,000. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact's wife purchased the Carfax report and stated that the odometer reading was 179,070 on April 22, 2025.
Car just lost power in highway. Car starts but will barely move as pushing down on gas.
The fabric drivers side seat belt is frayed. At least 1/2 of the width of the fabric is not intact. The warranty on the seat belt is 120 months and the dealer said it is not covered by the warranty. No incident has occurred yet, but I am concerned for my safety in the event of an accident. The car has 32,073 miles on it so it is obviously a defect. The belt is available for inspection. Yes the Dealer was notified and did inspect the belt. There were no warning lamps.
While reverse parking into a single parking space at my apartment complex, the driver-side airbag deployed unexpectedly without any collision or impact. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was moving at a low speed and there were no warning lights, messages, or alerts prior to the airbag deployment. The airbag deployment struck me in the face and right arm, creating an immediate risk of injury. Following the deployment, the vehicle became non-drivable. The vehicle would not accelerate and would not move forward or in reverse when the accelerator pedal was pressed, indicating a possible electronic or powertrain safety system failure. There were no prior incidents, accidents, or modifications to the vehicle before this event. The vehicle was operating normally immediately prior to the airbag deployment. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning. The vehicle and deployed airbag are available for inspection upon request. At the time of this report, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer. Inspection by insurance and/or authorized service personnel is pending. This unexpected airbag deployment and subsequent loss of vehicle control posed a serious safety risk, both due to the physical injury caused by the airbag and the sudden inability to operate the vehicle.
the transmission has failed with hardly any warning. Stops without warning, while driving down the road. The car will start just fine but will not rev. or respond to the accelerator. When it stops will driving, it will rev way up but will not have any power to move.
The contact owned a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH and coasting to the right around a curve, after completing the maneuver, the accelerator was depressed, the cruise control was set at 48 MPH, and the steering wheel was turned to the left but independently turned all the way to the right. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced a failure with the steering position sensor. The contact let go of the steering when and the vehicle left the road and ran into a pile of leaves. The vehicle struck an unknown object on the ground, the vehicle then went airborne, and the roof of the vehicle struck a tree. The contact stated that the vehicle spun around and ended up in the South bound lane with the passenger’s side quarter panel still on the roadway. The vehicle flipped over approximately six times and ended up on the road where the vehicle came to a stop. The contact recalled seven impacts before the vehicle came to a rest. The seat belt failed to function as intended; the contact struck the driver’s side air bag several times that by the time the vehicle came to a stop, the air bag had deflated. The contact stated that the side curtain air bags deployed, preventing his head from striking the window and exiting the vehicle. All the other air bags were also deployed. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The contact sustained injuries. The contact had a broken nose, fractured ribs, and a traumatic brain injury. The contact also lost the ability to speak but has since regained partial ability to speak. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact stated that he was neglectfully released from the first hospital he was transferred to but then checked himself back into the ER of another hospital, where most of the injuries were discovered. There were no other passengers in the vehicle. A Police report was filed but was not available. The vehicle was towed to a Copart location in Shreveport, Louisiana. The insurance company was notified of the failures, inspected the vehicle and declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact stated that several days before the accident, the steering wheel and vehicle was vibrating abnormally, and the tires were rotated and that was why the vehicle was being test driven when the failure occurred. The contact stated that the vibration stopped for several days prior to the crash but returned excessively on the day of the crash. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
It will be investigated by my insurance company, but this is what happened. I was taking a leisurely drive on a country road. Not much for shoulders and the trees aren't cut back far enough. I was going straight. The vehicle decided to take a 45 degree turn the right. Into the trees then flipping several times before finally coming to rest. The shoulder strap failed to lock, therefore my upper body took quite a beating including broken ribs because the side curtain doesn't cover the armrest. And the console took care of ribs in my right side. Full upper body whiplash. This is an issue unknown to most of the general public. Wish I had known. I have witnesses and police reports. I was driving normally. People who saw me when I drove past their houses said they were surprised to hear the crash. And we're very surprised that I was alive and had managed to ooze out right beside the vehicle. I didn't walk away. There was misdiagnosis at the hospital that the ambulance decided on their own to go to. And I was released. No wheelchair, nothing. No medicine. Just go away. I went to the ER in my hometown. Where the obvious injuries were diagnosed. The public needs to be aware just how dangerous electric steering is. The technology isn't ready. Just like phonebot answering service.
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting), and the recall repair was performed. Approximately 4 years after having the recall repair completed, the traction control warning light was illuminated, and the brake lights failed to illuminate while the brake pedal was depressed. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer confirmed the recall repair was completed, and the VIN was no longer included. The dealer confirmed that the repair had exceeded the 12-month Extended Warranty coverage for additional repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and the manufacturer confirmed that the warranty coverage had been exceeded. The manufacturer opened a case for the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
The 2017 Nissan Sentra is part of a recall due to significant transmission issues, including sudden loss of power and jerking motions while driving. Overview of the Recall Nissan has issued a recall for certain 2013 to 2017 Sentra models due to problems with their continuously variable transmissions (CVT). Owners have reported various issues, including: Sudden loss of power while driving, which can occur without warning, posing a serious safety risk. Jerking or shuddering motions during acceleration, making the vehicle feel unstable. Transmission slipping out of gear, which can lead to loss of control. this has seriously affected my vehicle VIN number is [XXX] , 2017 Nissan Sentra. I called the local dealership and was told that since it was a 'rebuilt' title recalls didnt apply. My research shows that this is not true. The damage that occurred to my vehicle that affected the title was not even in the area of the recall of transmission. It was in the rear of the vehicle. Can you help me with this problem please? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving home from work. Transmission started hesitating and not pulling up a hill. I was almost hit on the interstate due to the malfunction of the transmission. Now vehicle is parked and I can no longer drive it.
CVT transmission losing power
I have called nissan usa and the nissan in newburgh to schedule an appointment for lamp switch recall and have not recieved any calls or communication back. At this point im scared that the lamp switch is affecting my transmission and I'm just getting the runaround from nissan so they don't have to take care of it. My car has episodes where is now doesn't start and I need to get a jump. My car also shifts out of gear while driving which is incredibly dangerous especially since I take the highway to work. Please let me know how to proceed
My car is an automatic 2017 with 58,000 miles. The car is having trouble shifting gears, trouble accelerating (it jerks and doesn’t speed up), leaks every fluid possible (oil, windshield wiper fluid, coolant), etc. I have taken it to two different mechanics to have a diagnostic performed (one specializing in transmission issues), both which said it was an internal transmission issue. The codes: P0846 - transmission fluid pressure sensor / switch B, C1130 - engine signal 1, and C1116 - stop lamp switch show up. I had an oil change performed and the very next day a leak was under my car (it was oil and a mix of another fluid - probably coolant). I also have had the O2 sensor fixed twice and the check engine light still throws the code that that sensor is not working. My transmission among with other internal systems are failing with only 58,000 miles. My car doesn’t accelerating and not shifting correctly is a danger because it could potentially stop on the middle of the road or highway while driving. Prior to this failure, the check engine light appeared but for the O2 sensor that had been replaced twice previously and a tail light out. Only took it in to get looked at because the jerking and lack of acceleration got so bad it was worrisome. The photo attached of the leak is the day after the oil had been changed. I can submit additional evidence as soon as the other diagnostics are available in writing.
When driving in the highway my hood opened up it hand unhinged on its own.
Intermittent ignition switch failure. Presents as little to no power. Vehicle will not crank over. Minimal lights come on dash board, no digital readout, dim lights inside vehicle. Eventually car starts with no problem after several tries. I have excluded battery, alternator, grounding issues, wiring issues, fuses. This is similar to a recall issued for other Nissan Sentras made in the same year.
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the RPMs increased but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact coasted to the side of the road and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to Auto ER with Giaco, where a mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2017 Nissan Sentra has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 224 owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Nissan Sentra.
The 2017 Nissan Sentra received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2017 Nissan Sentra are power train (45 reports), air bags (19 reports), unknown or other (19 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2017 Nissan Sentra. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.