Is the 2017 Nissan Sentra a bad year?
231 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 76, 7.6× a quiet Sentra year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 42k–92k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Sentra owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 76 (33%) | 42k–92k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 49 (21%) | 28k–70k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 33 (14%) | 24k–61k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 32 (14%) | 16k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 26 (11%) | 16k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 22 (10%) | 24k–48k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 14 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 231 complaints: 29 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 31 say the car was towed.
21 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I can be driving and maintaining the speed limit when all of a sudden my speed will drop almost like I am hitting the brakes.
Code P2135 keeps showing. Bought a new throttle pedal positioning sensor from Nissan, had it installed. After 2 weeks the same problem shows back.
While driving the vehicle, noticed the vehicle start to sporadically jerk. Engine RPM would jump and the accelerator was non responsive at times.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Nissan Sentra: 3
The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating. The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 78
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Nissan Sentra. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
For fuel gauge inaccurate with DTCs stored in ECM
EVAP leak DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 information
DTC P0456 caused by EVAP leak at vent control valve o-ring
Neighbouring years
2016 Sentra: 270 complaints, consider selling · 2018 Sentra: 185 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Nissan Sentra year
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Questions
Is the 2017 Nissan Sentra a bad year?
231 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 76, 7.6× a quiet Sentra year. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 42k–92k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Nissan Sentra?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (76), engine (49), electrical system (33), speed control (32), air bags (26). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 42k–92k miles.
How many recalls does the 2017 Nissan Sentra have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 21V-135), Electrical system (NHTSA 18V-551), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-253). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.