2017 Nissan Sentra recalls and problems

The 2017 Nissan Sentra has 3 safety recalls and 231 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

231

Crashes / fires

29 / 6

Injuries / deaths

21 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2017 Nissan Sentra vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2017 Nissan Sentra recalls

Recall 21V-135: Exterior Lighting

Reported Mar 3, 2021 · 807,376 vehicles affected · Nissan North America, Inc.

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

Risk: The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

Recall 18V-551: Electrical System

Reported Aug 21, 2018 · 153,047 vehicles affected · Nissan North America, Inc.

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

Risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Recall 17V-253: Air Bags

Reported Apr 13, 2017 · 30,038 vehicles affected · Nissan North America, Inc.

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

2017 Nissan Sentra problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Power Train	76
Engine	48
Unknown or Other	38
Electrical System	33
Vehicle Speed Control	32
Air Bags	26
Service Brakes	21
Exterior Lighting	15
Steering	14
Structure	9
Fuel/Propulsion System	7
Wheels	5

Most reported parts

Structure › Body — 9
Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 1
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline — 1
Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 1
Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
Visibility › Windshield — 1
Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer — 1
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 44,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2017 Nissan Sentra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Unknown or Other · reported Oct 6, 2026

Premature CVT failure. On XXX the CVT transmission in my vehicle was replaced at 95,126 miles. I paid $4,754.00 for the repair. On XXX while traveling out of [XXX], the replacement CVT transmission failed suddenly on the highway. The vehicle lost power without warning, forcing me to immediately move onto the shoulder with hazard lights to avoid being struck by traffic. The mileage at the time of failure was 151,226. The vehicle was towed to the nearest Nissan dealership, where I paid $212.25 for a diagnostic. I was informed that the transmission had failed again and that I needed another…

Service Brakes · reported Jul 23, 2026

My 2017 Sentra is suffering from the exact silicone outgassing defect detailed in Recall 21V135000. My replacement switches keep failing because the car requires the updated protective grommet, but Nissan is excluding my VIN from receiving the campaign kit.

Air Bags · reported Jul 16, 2026

My car was legally parked on the street near my apartment, and was hit about a month ago that left my car totaled and my trunk completely crushed in, and the back seat caved in. My car was then hit a 2nd time two weeks ago, from the back, and both times, my car ricocheted and hit the car parked in front of mine. Both times. Police said first driver had to be going at least 80 to 90 mph, and would definitely killer someone if anyone was sitting in my back seat. 2nd car was going just as fast. Not as much damage to his front fender and minor side damage, but his air bag deployed. Why did my…

Power Train · at 129,600 miles · reported Jun 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving the vehicle he could tell the vehicle gears were slipping, on a different occasion the vehicle downshifted on its own suddenly almost causing a crash. The contact stated there were times where the vehicle would downshift suddenly and would slow all the way down causing the vehicle to come to a stop, having to shift into neutral then back into drive, and the contact stated he could hear very loud grinding noise from the gears. The vehicle was towed to a residence, and the dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer…

Power Train · reported May 31, 2026

I have been experiencing the cvt transmission slipping the last two weeks. I contacted Nissan so see if my vin was a vehicle affected by 2017 cvt transmission recalls. They advised me it was not affected because my vin did not match their systems affected vehicles. Today my vehicle transmission broke down completely on my way home and had to get towed home. This could have been prevented had Nissan honored my vehicle cvt transmisson recall since it is a 2017 model as the ones affected. Now i have a vehicle i cant drive.

Other Nissan Sentra years

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Compare all Nissan Sentra years · All Nissan models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Nissan Sentra: 21V-135 (exterior lighting), 18V-551 (electrical system), 17V-253 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Nissan Sentra?

Owners report power train problems most often (76 reports), followed by engine (48). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 44,000 miles.

Are Nissan recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Nissan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.