SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the driver is resting their left foot on the brake pedal while accelerating. Advise the customer not to rest their foot on the brake while accelerating. * Use CONSULT-III plus in Engine Data Monitor to check operation of the brake lamp circuit signal. Monitor the brake switch during the incident; it should be "OFF". Please see this bulletn for further details.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Nissan Sentra powertrain problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report catastrophic CVT transmission failures starting around 60,000 to 125,000 miles on 2007 Sentras. Failures begin with hesitation from a dead stop, whining at highway speeds, or grinding noises during acceleration. Within weeks or months, transmissions lose responsiveness, overheat (foul odor from engine), and stop working entirely. Speedometer and odometer stopped in one case. One owner reports needing two transmission replacements by 125,000 miles; another reports a third replacement was needed.
Nissan extended the transmission warranty to 120,000 miles in response, but owners report dealers only partially cover replacements—one paid $1,500 out of warranty and received a remanufactured unit with refurbished parts instead of new. Transmission fluid pressure sensors triggered check engine lights (P0840, P0845) in at least one case. One owner's transmission fluid was contaminated with coolant, turning purple; the dealer refused warranty work claiming non-certified fluid despite proof the fluid was never changed.
Manual transmissions also fail: one clutch pedal stopped working at 100,000 miles, leaving the car unable to shift. One manual clutch and flywheel were replaced at just 1,700 miles yet chatter recurred; dealer said it was normal. A throttle body unit failure caused loss of power on city streets. Owners universally report Nissan offered no assistance outside warranty coverage and some faced denial despite extended coverage.
Same Nissan Sentra powertrain reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
CVT transmission thermal failure and loss of function
CVT transmission overheats and fails, resulting in complete loss of power, erratic RPM behavior, and non-responsive acceleration. Speedometer and odometer stop working simultaneously. Engine compartment develops foul odor.
When: 3 weeks of hesitation before complete failure; one case at 80,000 miles, another at 125,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation from dead stop over multi-week period; Whining noise at highway speeds; Erratic RPM behavior; Loss of acceleration; Speedometer and odometer stops working; Foul odor from engine compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement; one case required 2 weeks for dealership to source part; owner reports transmission failed after 5 years; another case required second replacement after first one failed; third case required second replacement at 125,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended 120,000-mile transmission warranty; owner reports Nissan offered no help with stranded vehicle; Nissan refused coverage on out-of-warranty failure at 133,000 miles; replacement units were remanufactured with refurbished parts, not new
CVT transmission fluid pressure sensor failure
Transmission fluid pressure sensor or switch malfunction triggers check engine light and transmission failure diagnosis. Dealer reports transmission going out.
When: 5 years old, 133,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Vehicle slowing down on highway
Codes mentioned: P0840, P0845
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement quoted at $3,600 for parts only, labor additional; owner could not afford repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan Consumer Affairs refused to cover repair
CVT transmission grinding noise and repeated failure
Grinding sound from transmission during acceleration that persists after brakes applied. Transmission replacement per unknown recall did not resolve issue; failure recurred.
When: 110,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding sound when accelerator depressed at 15 MPH; Sound continues when brakes applied; Failure occurs at various speeds; Failure recurs after transmission replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced per unknown manufacturer recall; failure recurred and vehicle was not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall mentioned but details not specified; manufacturer notified of recurrence
CVT transmission jerking, hesitation, and stalling
Transmission jerks and hesitates during normal operation, particularly in reverse. Vehicle stalls at stop signs and while reversing regardless of gear selection. Whining noise reported.
When: No mileage stated; extended warranty to 10 years / 120,000 miles mentioned
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking during stop acceleration; Hesitation in reverse; Vehicle stalling in drive and reverse; Whining noise; Overheating concerns
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; owner states CVT warranty extended to 10 years/120,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty to 10 years / 120,000 miles
CVT transmission hesitation, stalling, and clicking noise
Transmission hesitates during stop and reverse operation for months before loud clicking noise appears during braking. Vehicle jerks abnormally and cannot accelerate above 20 MPH. Later: vehicle stops on hill, won't shift into gear, rolls backwards in manual transmission variant.
When: 4 months of hesitation before diagnosis; one case at 120,815 miles; another at 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation at stop; Hesitation in reverse; Loud clicking noise during braking; Jerking at various speeds; Loss of acceleration above 20 MPH; Clutch pedal failure (manual variant); Vehicle will not shift into gear (manual variant)
Repairs/costs cited: CVT replacement required; manual transmission required checking master and slave cylinders for fluid leaks before replacement; 50% of CVT transmission replacement cost ($1,500 paid by owner) covered under extended 120,000-mile warranty; replacement unit was remanufactured with refurbished parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended 120,000-mile transmission warranty; only covered 50% of replacement cost; manufacturer notified on manual variant, offered no assistance
Transmission fluid contamination from coolant
Transmission fluid becomes contaminated with coolant, changing color to purple. Dealership refuses warranty repair, alleging non-Nissan certified fluid despite owner having proof transmission fluid was never changed.
When: No mileage or timing stated
Symptoms owners cite: Purple discoloration of transmission fluid; Fluid contamination (coolant in transmission)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership refused to repair under warranty due to fluid color claim
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claimed to be valid but dealership refused repair based on fluid certification allegation
Transmission fluid leak and incompatible replacement
Transmission fluid completely leaks out during highway driving. After adding fluid, transmission remains unresponsive. Dealer reports transmission fluid spilled onto engine and transmission incompatible with vehicle.
When: 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No transmission fluid in vehicle; Jerking at 60 MPH; Will not accelerate over 20 MPH; Hesitation during acceleration after fluid refill; Transmission fluid spilled onto engine
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None stated
CVT loss of power and throttle body unit failure
Vehicle loses power unexpectedly while driving on city street, with all warning lights illuminating on dashboard. Loss of power recurs after restart. Issue identified as throttle body unit failure.
When: No mileage stated
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power three times while driving; All warning lights illuminate on dash; Vehicle cuts off; Loss of power recurs after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; owner identified issue as throttle body unit failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None stated
Manual transmission clutch chatter and flywheel defect
Clutch chatter and steering vibrations occur when turning, as if something is rubbing. Clutch and flywheel replaced at 1,700 miles, but chatter recurred. Dealer claimed repetition was normal.
When: 1,700 miles for first replacement; recurrence timing not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch chatter; Steering vibrations when turning; Rubbing sensation when turning
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch and flywheel replaced at 1,700 miles; chatter recurred and was not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed repetition was normal
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2007 Nissan Sentra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2007 Nissan Sentra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 50,000 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Nissan/Sentra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.