The 2013 Nissan Sentra only lasts around 125,000 miles with serious transmission failures and brake system issues. At $7,896 to $8,683 it’s cheap but not worth the money since you’ll spend thousands repairing it as it ages.
Is the 2013 Nissan Sentra a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 4/10 – 2013 is one of the worst years for the Sentra making it deserve a low rating as it’s developed a reputation for being extremely unreliable. Owner reviews complain about transmission failures, electrical issues, and computer problems.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – Interior materials are nice for an economy car, the seats are comfortable with plenty of legroom, and the trunk is larger than average.
- Reliability 3/10 – 2013 has more complaints than any other year for the Sentra. We recommend avoiding models from 2011–2017. There are improvements for 2018–2020.
- Performance 4/10 – The 4-cylinder engine is weak in the city and almost dangerously slow at highway speeds if you need to pass another car.
- Safety 5/10 – The 2013 Sentra gets an overall rating of 4-stars, yet the front passenger side impact score is an unimpressive 3-stars. There are no advanced safety features available. Base models come with outdated drum brakes in the rear.
- Gas Mileage 8/10 – Fuel efficiency is great at up to 34 MPG giving 448 miles of range out of the 13.2 gallon tank. Gas costs are $58 cheaper than average, at $146 per month.
- Value 5/10 – The 2013 Nissan Sentra is cheap, but it depreciates very fast suffering from mechanical problems, making it a terrible value.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Nissan Sentra?
- Consumer Reports says the Sentra looks good on paper but doesn’t live up to expectations, with awful owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds gives the 2013 Sentra a 2.9/5, praising the spacious interior, but doesn’t like the very weak engine.
- Kelley Blue Book users rate the Sentra 3.7/5 and enjoy the efficient engine, however, owners find ownership costs to be high.
What Common Problems Does the 2013 Nissan Sentra Have?
The common problems found on the 2013 Nissan Sentra include transmission failures, a broken brake system, and the engine stalling while driving. Overall, these problems are more severe than in other compact cars from 2013, repair costs are more expensive, too.
Transmission failures are a widespread complaint from owners at around 90,000 miles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a known weak spot across many Nissan cars, failing easily. There’s no way to easily repair a CVT so it has to be completely replaced, costing around $4,000.
A broken brake system is also reported by owners at around 45,000 miles. The entire brake system wears out, including the master cylinder, booster, and lines. Replacing the complete brake system is an expensive project, costing around $3,000.
The engine stalling while driving is another serious problem mentioned by owners in the first 50,000 miles. Often it’s a problem with the mass airflow sensor, which costs around $300 to replace. Some owners have also reported damaged wiring harnesses, which cost over $1,500 to change.
There are 6 recalls, most of them cover airbags which are not very serious. The most dangerous recall only affects 392 cars, covering a leaking fuel tank. Nissan will replace the gas tank on those cars for free.
How Long Will the 2013 Nissan Sentra Last?
A well-maintained 2013 Nissan Sentra will last around 125,000 miles, which is less than half as long as top-rated competitors like the Toyota Corolla. Regular annual maintenance costs are much higher than average for a compact car, according to Repair Pal, at $669 per year.
Since most used 2013 Sentra models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace the rack and pinion for $1,350, the engine oil pan costing $350, and the radiator fan assembly which costs $700.
Yes the gear shift does not light up during nighttime. Also I had a problem with my transmission. Whenever I got my car serviced it took forever.
Right now the car is almost 7 years old and it has not shown any problems. It seems very reliable to me.
The Nissan sentra is very reliable. I have never had an issue with my car and I have 100,000 miles on it.
Yes it is a very reliable care. I had to change the fuel pump, there seems to be a short with the radio that turns up and down when it wants to but it happens so randomly that it is hard to take it to a place to get fixed.
When I drive it skids to go then after a while it will go. I have to replace the motor mount which I do no we have to change from time to time.
The 2013 Nissan sentra sv is reliable. I haven't had any major problems with my Nissan. Right now I need some new rotors and tires but that is just normal wear and tear from driving the vehicle.
It is reliable if you do not have to drive far distances daily. I have had to replace my transmission only after 6-9 months of owning the vehicle. There has been 3-4 recalls. And now there is news the transmissions were flawed and there's another recall.
It is reliable. The only problem I've found is that the key fob doesn't always work even when you replace its battery.
How Is the Technology?
The entertainment technology in the 2013 Nissan Sentra is good for a compact car with an available 5.8-inch touchscreen, and Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, there’s no advanced safety technology available.
Is the 2013 Nissan Sentra a Good Value?
No, the 2013 Nissan Sentra is not a good value since it’s expensive to own. Blue book prices range from $7,896 to $8,683, making it cheaper than other compact cars including the Honda Civic or Mazda3. When new, the price range was $15,990 to $19,590. Depreciation is worse than average, losing about 15% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Nissan Sentra?
There are four models of the Nissan Sentra offered for 2013 from the base S model all the way up to the top-of-the-line SL.
S is the entry-level model with:
- 16-Inch Steel Wheels
- Cloth Seating
- Manual Driver’s Seat
- 4-Speaker AM/FM/CD Stereo With 3.5mm AUX
SV is a step up, adding:
- Cruise Control
- Premium Cloth Seating
- Upgraded 6-Speaker Stereo System
SR is next in the lineup adding:
- 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Fog Lights
- Lower Body Kit
- Sport Suspension
- Rear Spoiler
SL is the most luxurious model and has:
- Unique 17-Inch Wheels
- Dual-Zone Climate Control
- Wood Interior Trim
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- 3-Inch Stereo System
- Optional Leather Seating
- Available 5.8-Inch Navigation System
- Optional 8-Speaker Bose Stereo
What Engines Come In the Nissan Sentra?
The engine found in the 2013 Nissan Sentra is a weak 1.8L 4-cylinder which only makes 130 horsepower while getting up to 34 MPG. Performance is terrible, taking 9.7 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH, which is slower than competitors.
What Colors Does the Nissan Sentra Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Nissan Sentra?
The 2013 Nissan Sentra is very comfortable for a compact car with seats that are supportive and soft. There’s seating for up to 5 people, the optional leather is high-quality for a car in its price range.
Passenger room is great throughout the cabin, with enough legroom in the backseats to easily fit adults.
How Much Storage Space Does the Nissan Sentra Have?
Cargo space is better than most other compact cars while the trunk is similar in size to midsize sedans. There’s enough space in the trunk for 4-6 suitcases.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The seventh generation of the Nissan Sentra was launched in 2013, and replaced by the 8th generation for the 2020 model year.
2011: More fuel efficient engines, standard ABS and stability control systems.
2012: Optional technology package added to 2.0 S model.
2013: Fully redesigned seventh generation released with roomier interior and more efficient engines.
2014: Suspension improvements, quieter cabin, and smartphone apps available.
2015: Base S model gets cruise control, USB & Bluetooth, front structure modified to be safer.
2016: Minor exterior styling changes, optional adaptive cruise control & automatic braking added.
How Does the Nissan Sentra Compare to the Competition?
The Nissan Sentra is one of the least reliable cars you can buy from 2013 with widespread transmission failures. Buyers should avoid models from 2011–2017 and go with something from 2018 or newer.
The Nissan Altima is another sedan made by Nissan which costs around $2,000 more. Passenger space is better in the Nissan Altima since it’s larger, although the freshly redesigned Nissan Sentra has better technology. We recommend avoiding both the Nissan Altima and Nissan Sentra since they suffer from expensive transmission failures.
The Toyota Corolla is a competitor which costs around $1,500 more. Reliability ratings are much better in the Toyota Corolla, but the Nissan Sentra has a higher-quality interior with more passenger space. We recommend the Toyota Corolla since they last much longer and have lower ownership costs.
Do Owners Recommend the Nissan Sentra?
Yes. It is very good. I like that it can fit into small places and that there is Bluetooth. It also does not need a lot of gas.
Yes. I got my Nissan sentra a few months ago. Very reliable. It is also great on gas. It only takes me about $40 to fill it up.
Yes, the vehicle is safe and runs smooth. It is a beautiful car and the car is very affordable. I love my the turbo option.
Yes it is good. I haven't had much trouble with it sense I got it beside having to replace the fuel pump because the sensor didn't work anymore. The piece alone was $500 dollars not including the labor.
Very much so I love my car it is fully loaded has seat warmers automatic cruise control and a system with base.
The Nissan sentra is good on gas, reliable, and trendy. All in all it's a good vehicle. As a mother of two that drives a lot it's been perfect for my family.
Kind of. It could be better. I have had a lot of repairs since I have owned the vehicle which are not normal wear and tare.
It is a good reliable car. As long as it is well taken care of this car can last you a while without needing major maintenance unless you get in an accident. Its features are great and generally easy to use.
