The 2017 Nissan Sentra has excellent crash safety ratings, a spacious cabin, and solid gas mileage in a compact package. However, its faulty electronics and transmission problems may be deal-breakers.
Key Points
- The 2017 Nissan Sentra is currently facing three recalls. The recalls cover a faulty key ignition system, a front passenger airbag that may not deploy in an accident, and brake lights that may not activate when the brakes are applied.
- Nissan’s CVT has a history of failing to respond to driver input, which is an issue that affected as many as 1.4 million vehicles, including 2013-2017 Sentras.
- There were no investigations into any of the 2017 Sentra’s reported problems, but the NHTSA has lodged over 100 consumer complaints. Other issues include a fragile ignition system, subpar headlights, and fussy LATCH connectors.
2017 Nissan Sentra is Spacious & Crash-safe, but Unresponsive Brake Lights, Weak Headlights & Testy Ignition Sparked Three Recalls
On several metrics, the 2017 Nissan Sentra excels. The compact car is surprisingly spacious for its size, offers a respectable 30 mpg combined, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick. And, the NHTSA has issued just three recalls for the 2017 Sentra. But skim through the 100+ registered complaints, though, and you’ll notice common flaws, including faulty electronics and a CVT that inspired class-action lawsuits.
NHTSA’s Recalls Affect Major Safety Features like Airbags, and IIHS Rates Headlights as ‘Poor’
The 2017 Nissan Sentra’s three NHTSA safety recalls cover a faulty ignition system, a front passenger airbag that may not deploy in an accident, and brake lights that may fail to activate when the brakes are applied.
The brake lights recall was issued in March 2021 and concerns 807,376 Sentras from 2016-2019. The faulty brake light switch may prevent the brake lights from illuminating when the brakes are applied. Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge.
(Coincidentally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also considers the headlights on select 2017 Sentra trims to be of poor quality. Visibility for the left side of the road and for any potential turns is especially bad. The 2017 model’s LED projector and Halogen reflector headlights garnered the agency’s lowest rating of “Poor” when the SR, SR Turbo, and SL trims were tested. The IIHS also criticized the LATCH connectors for infant car seats, reporting they are located too deep in the seat.)
In an April 2017 recall, the NHTSA notes that on some 2014, 2016, and 2017 Sentra vehicles, due to a manufacturing error within the airbag inflators, the passenger front airbag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash. Nissan dealers will replace the airbag inflator, free of charge.
The ignition system in the Sentra may loosen over time, and if bumped harshly, may cause it to switch to the “accessory” position, turning the engine off. An August 2018 recall concerned 10 different 2017 Nissan models, including the Sentra. Nissan dealers will inspect the ignition switch and replace it free, if necessary.
2017 Sentra’s Unstable CVT Led to Lawsuits Over Complaints of ‘Jerking, Shaking, and Stuttering’
The 2017 Nissan Sentra was part of several class-action lawsuits surrounding its CVT transmission that was used on the 2013-2017 Nissan Sentras, and reportedly causes vehicles to “shudder, jerk, hesitate” or lag during acceleration. Some Sentra owners have mentioned the CVT failing completely, with one recent complaint being registered in April 2021.
In another official NHTSA complaint, a 2017 Sentra owner mentioned stopping at a gas station, and then shifting into drive, but the vehicle wouldn’t move forward. After taking his Sentra to a service center, the techs said it was a common problem and the CVT had to be replaced entirely even though the vehicle only had about 80,000 on the odometer, with a cost of $3,750.
Scrolling through complaints on the NHTSA site, of the 111 registered, 32 mention the powertrain, many of which pertain to the CVT.
In a 2020 report by Chicago’s NBC 5 News, Nissan owners lamented their vehicles began “jerking, shaking, and stuttering” due to the CVT. In Nissan’s response to NBC, it said that in isolated cases, it did pay the full cost of repair. Despite all this, there were no recalls issued by the NHTSA for the CVT on the 2017 Nissan Sentra.
Considering the 2017 Sentra’s Overall Quality, are a Few Flaws Acceptable?
A 2017 Nissan Sentra is a comfortable, compact, affordable, and efficient vehicle. However, buyers of a 2017 Sentra should make sure that its CVT has been reviewed and/or replaced and has a current warranty to avoid costly repairs. Maybe avoid the hassle and find a model with the six-speed manual. The brake lights, ignition, and airbags are all the subject of recalls. But, a Nissan dealership will fix them free of charge if they are faulty and haven’t been serviced already.
Nissan says its Certified Pre-owned vehicles will have less than 80,000 miles and a transferable seven-year/100,000-mile limited warranty from the vehicle’s original in-service date. So, a 2017 Sentra with a Nissan CPO warranty and the proper repairs should be an otherwise sound purchase.
Photos: Nissan
