2019 Nissan Sentra transmission and drivetrain problems
54 of the 222 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 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: 27 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 database1 of the 54 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 3
Half of the 19 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 36,000 and 134,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
222 complaints in all about the 2019 Nissan Sentra, 3 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.
TRANSMISSION-shifting delays, grinding or jumping during acceleration noises and a burning smell coming from under the hood. OFF AND SINCE 10/21
I bought my Nissan Sentra in February of 2019 and its now january 15 2022 with 98,000 miles and the transmission is done, i have to pay money to get the transmission fixed on my car when its only been 2 years since i got the car and now i already have to fix it, this seems unfair, i have done the standard Maintenance on it and i cant…
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and depressing on the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not fully accelerate as desired. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact activated the hazard lights and pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road.
When driving at speeds above 70 mph, the RPM’s start to surge. Going from 2.5 RPMs to 5 RPMs without any acceleration in speed from the driver. I have video of it when the cruise control was being used and the rpms surged and fell back. The fuel efficiency screen also shows a decrease in efficiency when the rpms go up.
When I try to get a quick acceleration it doesn't want to move it has trouble climbing hills like I had to put it to the floor to make him go anywhere and sometimes when I'm driving to RPMs goes up in the middle of driving without me hitting the gas I also noticed sometimes the buttons on the steering wheel don't always work I have to…
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications27 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- NTB12-103I Service bulletinJun 7, 2024
- CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
The 1 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
P0868 P17F3 P17F4 P0846 P17F0 P17F1 P17F2 P188F
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Nissan Sentra names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Nissan Sentra
Source: the same files- electrical problems 65 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2019 Nissan Sentra?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 54 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (24% of everything owners filed about it), and 27 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 2019 Nissan Sentra?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 2 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 2019 Nissan Sentra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 62,000 miles; half of them between 36,000 and 134,000. 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.