The problem with the car is that after a stop sign, the car no longer moved forward, it stayed in the road, this was blocking traffic and it was dangerous to get out of the car, the tow truck arrived to move it from the road, several mechanics examined it and said that the transmission was damaged, the car has only traveled 78,140 miles.
2016 Nissan Sentra powertrain problems
severe 125 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
125
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
6crashes
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 125 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Sentra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 47% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 125 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
When driving on the interstate above 45 miles per hour, the car jerks and does not want to go. The car almost did not make it thru the intersection with another vehicle coming on more than one occasion. Car finally stopped and had to be towed. Informed that a new transmission was needed.
While in motion the car jerks and slips gears while driving it has loss of power when accelerating I feel unsafe while driving my car.
When on the freeway, once vehicle has reached 50-70 MPH, the rpms jump up and down. Super dangerous as I am then unable to maintain control of vehicle and have to cut through traffic to a shoulder. Also on take off and stopping at red lights, car shudders and feels like it is going to stall. I know there is a class action lawsuit out there as many drivers are having this issue but I should not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Nissan sentra. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked violently. The vehicle was taken to Nissan south morrow (located at 6889 jonesboro road, morrow, ga 30260) where it was diagnosed that there was internal damage to the continuously variable transmission. The vehicle was repaired by aamco. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
I have transmission issue
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Nissan sentra. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle started to shake when his wife tried to accelerate. The contact's wife was able to pull off the road and restart the vehicle and safely drive home. The dealer mcdonough Nissan (1775 avalon parkway, mcdonough, ga 30253, (770) 282-5077) stated that the extended warranty was active up to 84,000 for issue…
My 2016 Nissan Sentra malfunctioned while driving on the Highway three separate times. The car suddenly lost its ability to accelerate and seemed to power down while becoming more difficult to steer. It seemed to start shuddering and I thought it may have been a front end flat tire. After pulling off the road and putting the car in park, when I waited a minute or two, I placed the car in drive…
The transmission needs to be replaced at almost 114k on a 3 year old vehicle. Was told it cant be fixed or sealed because of the CVT technology that prevents repairs. Costs about $4k to replace the transmission. Why can't the transmission be repaired? Why isn't the 120k powertrain coverage automatic if you stand behind your product and brand?
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Nissan Sentra?
It's a meaningful issue. 125 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 66 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 58,000 and 109,000 miles, with the median around 91,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 58,000; a quarter make it past 109,000. 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/2016/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.