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2017 Nissan Sentra Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2017 Nissan Sentra carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering ignition and air bags. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Stop lamp switch failure preventing engine start.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Campaign #18V551000 · Aug 22, 2018

Issue: 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.

AIR BAGS

Campaign #17V253000 · Apr 13, 2017

Issue: 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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Campaign #21V135000 · Mar 3, 2021

Issue: 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 data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2017 Nissan Sentra.

Reported to NHTSA

Stop lamp switch failure preventing engine start

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

26 NHTSA complaints · 2019-06 → 2026-07

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11752475
“The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted later”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11730378
“WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE TO START THE CAR IT DOESN'T START. LIKE THE SWITCH OR SENSOR IS COMMUNICATING TO THE ENGINE FOR IT TO START. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I GOT THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11339722

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Door and hood latch failure

STRUCTURE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2019-05 → 2026-03

“When driving in the highway my hood opened up it hand unhinged on its own”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11725714
“Left side door trim keeps popping off Replaced driver front door handle, on 25 march 21 Same type defect reported for passenger side on 13 December 23 Local dealer refused and charge $520.41 estimated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11573994
“My driver door opens while i'm driving, the first time it happened in feb 2023 had i not have my seatbelt on I would have fell out of car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11542463

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT transmission slipping, hesitation, and power loss

POWER TRAIN

93 NHTSA complaints · 2019-03 → 2026-06

“My 2017 Nissan Sentra is experiencing CVT transmission problems. The vehicle hesitates when accelerating, slips between gears, and sometimes loses power while driving. This creates a dangerous situation when entering traffic or driving at highway speeds”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11724817
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11741244
“WHILE DRIVING ON A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL STREET, MY 2017 SENTRA ACCELERATED FROM 20 TO OVER 100 MPH IN SECONDS. BRAKES NOR EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKED. CAR SPUN OUT AND CAME TO A VIOLENT STOP BEFORE CAREENING INTO A TOWNHOUSE COMMUNITY. WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11245607

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment in frontal and rear collisions

AIR BAGS

11 NHTSA complaints · 2019-06 → 2026-07

“I was involved in a head on collision while driving approximately 30 mph and hit the side of the other vehicle straight on (not at an angle) and the air bags in my 2017 Nissan Sentra did not deploy”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11449438
“Car was involved in a pretty substantial accident and not a single airbag deployed!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11553607
“THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK, AND HEAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11267293

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering lockup and electrical shutdown while driving

STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

11 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2025-12

“The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced a failure with the steering position sensor. The contact let go of the steering when and the vehicle left the road and ran into a pile of leaves”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11704674
“On January 29th 2022, we drove the car on the interstate at about 65-70 mph for over two hours when suddenly, the vehicle completely shut off. We were able to navigate safely into the shoulder while the power steering, dashboard, and engine were all completely off”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11451001
“I had turned my car on after work and i had a light turn on my dashboard marking “PS” indicating there was an issue with the power steering. I turned off my car and turned it back on the light went away so i began driving home”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11498465

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

Rogue AWD, Murano AWD, Pathfinder 4WD: replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

200 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

29

complaints mentioning a crash

6

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2017 Nissan Sentra reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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