2016 Nissan Sentra Problems: 10 Known Issues

On the 2013-2021 Nissan Sentra, the 2013-2019 Sentra (B17) 1.8L uses the Jatco CVT7 (JF015E) transmission which is prone to premature failure, shuddering, and overheating; the 2020-2021 Sentra uses a different Jatco CVT. Class-action settlements extended the CVT warranty to 7 years/84,000 miles on 2013-2017 Sentras and by 24 months/24,000 miles on 2018-2019 Sentras. The transmission can fail as early as 60,000 miles. Common failure modes include belt slipping, valve body failure, and bearing wear.

On the 2013-2019 Nissan Sentra 1.8L MRA8DE I4 with Jatco JF015E CVT, the B17 Sentra's Jatco CVT (JF015E / CVT7, RE0F11A) uses a torque converter with a lockup clutch, and P0741 is set when the TCM sees the converter clutch failing to lock (input-shaft vs converter speed difference exceeding threshold). On these Nissan CVTs the lockup solenoid lives in the valve body, and the Jatco valve-body bores are prone to wear that causes pressure leakage and sticky solenoid/valve movement; degraded or overheated CVT fluid full of clutch material makes it worse. Drivers commonly feel a shudder/judder at light throttle, and on this transmission P0741 frequently appears alongside related lockup/judder codes such as P0744 and P17F0.

On the 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra, the stop-lamp (brake light) switch becomes contaminated by silicone off-gassing from grease used on nearby components. Electrical arcing oxidizes the contacts and builds up silicon dioxide, opening the circuit. The result is brake lights that do not illuminate (a rear-end-collision hazard) and, because the same switch signals the shift interlock, an inability to shift the transmission out of Park. Nissan recalled 807,376 Sentras under campaign PM971 (NHTSA 21V-135).

On the 2013-2019 Nissan Sentra, the A/C compressor on 2013-2019 Sentra models is known to fail prematurely, often within 60,000-80,000 miles. The compressor clutch bearings seize or the internal components disintegrate, sending metal debris throughout the A/C system. When the compressor fails internally, the entire system often needs flushing.

On the 2015-2021 Nissan Sentra, sentras equipped with Nissan's Forward Emergency Braking / Automatic Emergency Braking apply the brakes hard for non-existent obstacles ('phantom braking'). The Bosch radar module behind the front grille (sensor assembly p/n 28438-5UD2A) produces false positives, frequently triggered by overpasses, bridges, railroad tracks, parking-garage walls, and metal grates. Nissan disclosed 1,233 related consumer complaints to NHTSA for the Rogue/Rogue Sport/Sentra, including dozens of minor collisions and injury allegations, and the defect is the subject of class-action litigation.

On the 2013-2017 Nissan Sentra 1.8L MRA8DE, b17 Sentras develop a pronounced clunk, knock, or loud 'bang' from the front suspension when driving over bumps or turning, traced to worn front strut upper mounts/bearings and the struts themselves. CarComplaints logs multiple owners describing 'a very loud banging as if coil springs are loose, metal on metal' and 'front suspension sounds like a bomb hits when hitting any size bump,' with creaking that persists even after dealer strut replacement when mounts are not addressed.

On the 2013-2019 Nissan Sentra, the crankshaft position sensor's internal electronics degrade with heat and fail intermittently. As the engine warms the sensor signal drops out, causing the engine to stall and refuse to restart until it cools, then run normally again. It sets P0335/P0336 and is frequently misdiagnosed. Nissan owners report premature failure of cheap aftermarket sensors, so an OEM/Hitachi unit is recommended; on many Sentras the camshaft sensor is replaced alongside it.

On the 2013-2019 Nissan Sentra, the shift-lock solenoid integrated into the floor shifter assembly fails, leaving the lever physically stuck in Park even with the brake pressed. CarComplaints documents a dedicated 'Shifter Lock Up' pattern with owners forced to use the manual override hole with a screwdriver and ultimately replacing the entire shifter assembly. Failure is commonly caused by spilled drinks/sticky residue corroding the solenoid or by internal wear, distinct from the brake-light-switch recall cause.

On the 2007-2019 Nissan Sentra, the Sentra MAF sensor is prone to contamination and failure, causing driveability issues. Oil from aftermarket air filters (especially oiled cotton filters) or crankcase ventilation can coat the hot wire element, causing incorrect air flow readings. This leads to poor fuel mixture calculations, hesitation, and stalling. Even with stock air filters, the MAF sensor can fail due to age and heat cycling.

On the 2013-2019 Nissan Sentra 1.8L MRA8DE I4, on the Sentra, P0128 is set when the ECM sees the engine failing to reach normal operating temperature within an expected time — almost always a thermostat that has failed stuck open, so coolant circulates continuously and the engine runs cool. The 1.8L MRA8DE cars (2013-2019) use a more complex two-piece setup (a thermostat plus a water/coolant control valve), so it is worth identifying which unit is stuck; a false-low reading from a bad engine coolant temperature sensor can mimic the same code.