2016 Nissan Sentra transmission and drivetrain problems
127 of the 270 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Sentra name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 41 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 of the 127 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 3 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 18 · 2020: 16 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 17 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2025: 22 · 2026: 4
Half of the 66 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 58,000 and 109,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
270 complaints in all about the 2016 Nissan Sentra, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Nissan Sentra transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Sentra. While driving low speeds, the vehicle would not accelerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000
Transmission is making a whirring noise on acceleration from a green light and is jerking sometimes upon acceleration. Then getting on the interstate it hesitates before it hits 60 MPH I bought this car with 45,000 miles and payment. I made a mistake because form other complaints the CVT is has a ton of issues and needs to be recalled
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 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?
Days before the transmission stopped on me the car would feel like it was changing gears on it's own on the highway,it would shift back and forth really bad and the rpms were going up and down really fast and the car would not accelerate past 40 MPH.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications41 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0965 P0746 P17F0 P0846 P17F4 P2859 P285A P2589
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Nissan Sentra names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 127 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (47% of everything owners filed about it), and 41 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 6 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Nissan Sentra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 89,000 miles; half of them between 58,000 and 109,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.