Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Nissan Sentra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
i got thiz note couple weeks late you guys dinr warn me its was defective i crashed for this recal reason the lights war having problems when iwas driving and of and on and the emgine started to rev and the saftey to turn steering wheel locked and i crashed veichle turn of while that happen then slamed into side walk and firehidrant frip me over i lost my car becausebof thiz now tjat i got this recal youguys destroid my confort now i panic and lost my car
on acceleration to 60 mph or more noted moments of jerky/hesitation as if shifting gears- evaluation by dealership x2- they noted the same thing....could not fix the problem was told to bring back once engine light comes on or sensor code is generated in their computer system which checks the transmission. Awareness that this is a transmission problem. a month later car fails to increase speed to 50mph going up a small incline...driving over a mountainous pass.....then as got to a straightaway it had to shift down to 20-30 mph due to weather conditions and traffic- then the RPM keep wavering would not be steady at this lower mph....then within 10 miles of this....intown at stop lights RPM would acelerate at complete stop and then it didn't want to move- was able to get up to 10 mph yet could not get through the intersection without the traffic light turning red before I could make it …
I was driving on the highway and saw that my RPM was fluctuating a lot even though on cruise control, it was losing its power. It started slowing down and even though cruise control was off, I was indeed in drive and not neutral. when I fully pressed the gas it did absolutely nothing. I was close to home 10 minutes so I had to just put emergency lights on and keep going but at the stop signs and lights sometimes it would stop completely and get stuck at 0 even though i was pressing the gas pedal all the way. Once I was going - it let me go, seemed like it allowed it. Then but never past 25 But anytime I slowed it almost shut off or did shut off. This is a safety issue since I am not able to drive the speed limit. I risk getting rear ended. There were no warning messages on my dash when this happened. I took the car to a mechanic, who stated I needed a new transmission. …
On Friday October 22, 2021at about 320pm I was driving between the Ca central valley to the San Fernando Valley area over the grapevine. My vehicle began to surge with the rpm's reeving with little to none forward thrust. There were no warning lights, messages, alerts that illuminated. The vehicle seemed to be stuck in a high gear since driving at freeways speeds didn't appear have any issues, however getting up to freeway speed was something else. When I got to my destination in Agoura Hills, I was not able to drive up hill in any forward gear. I will have the vehicle looked at by a certified mechanic or a local dealership. I am aware that there are some Nissan Sentra models have had the same issue and recalls have been made, in reading the cvt recall information I believe my 2017 Sentra has experienced the same issues of the known recall. …
Pressing on the gas pedal would not accelerate the car. This was intermittent. With cruise control set, the car would no longer maintain the set speed. Both of these occurred repeatedly and while going different speeds. This lasted for 2+ weeks until the dealer was able to find the defect. Nothing was recorded on the car's error messages. The dealership was unable to find the cause and eventually called Nissan's engineering department at corporate. They were aware of the issue in other vehicles that would also stop accelerating and provided a possible solution to the Nissan dealership. The dealer charged us to replace a "brake switch" which was randomly triggering a braking event even though the brake pedal was not touched or engaged.
Steering wheel went unsteady. All warning lights went off. Speedometer failed. Unable to shut off the engine and unable to detect key while having the key in place. My safety and others are at risk each time this happens due to not been able to have control of the vehicle speed while having unsteady steering wheel and not knowing of the possibility of breaks failing while trying to drive to a safe place. This has happen about 5-8 times this year. Nissan replaced the IPDM and has continue to failed multiple times after. They have not been able to detect the cause. I have records of each time it has happen and one of those times was while driving on highway. My life and others have been at risk.
My 2017 Nissan Sentra S has a very serious problem whenever my RPM reach 3.5 to 4.It starts jerking and I can't accelerate anymore,in one occasion after the jerking stop I couldn't drive no more than 5 miles per hour.i have checked for any visible issues but none. No warning lights come on, I carry a scanner with me OBD2 but it doesn't have any codes. I have gone online to find a solution but I'm coming across hundreds of people with the same issue but no solution.i called the dealer and I was told that since the car is salvaged there is nothing they can do The car still jerking I just to keep it under or at 3rpm but I can never get on the freeway due to this issue
CONCERN: This is the second time the engine does not shut off. All warning lights go off, unsteady steering wheel and odometer/odograph failed. This is not just a malfunction issue it is a severe safety concern. Back in January of 2023 it happen for the first time and was told Control Unit IPDM, Engine Room needed to be replaced and it was. But once again while driving the steering wheel went unsteady, all warning lights went off, odometer/odograph failed while on the road. This is an extremely safety concern. I bought the car brand new and as of now it has not been in any car accidents.
I have called nissan usa and the nissan in newburgh to schedule an appointment for lamp switch recall and have not recieved any calls or communication back. At this point im scared that the lamp switch is affecting my transmission and I'm just getting the runaround from nissan so they don't have to take care of it. My car has episodes where is now doesn't start and I need to get a jump. My car also shifts out of gear while driving which is incredibly dangerous especially since I take the highway to work. Please let me know how to proceed
While traveling at highway speeds, the rpm's would rapidly jump. As of the vehicle was confused at what gear it should be in. This would cause unsteady driving and also made it feel like the transmission was about to fail. This has happened multiple times. While using and not using cruise control. I have video evidence of it happening on another occasion.
Acceleration complaints in other Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2017 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2017 Nissan Sentra, 14% of the model year's 231 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2017 Nissan Sentra acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2017 Nissan Sentra, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Nissan Sentra acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 32,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.