Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2025 | 1 | 3% | 0 miles |
| 2024 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2022 | 7 | 9% | — |
| 2021 | 6 | 5% | — |
| 2020 | 6 | 3% | 80,000 miles |
| 2019 | 12 | 5% | 5,000 miles |
| 2018 | 19 | 10% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 32 | 14% | 32,000 miles |
| 2016 | 27 | 10% | 50,000 miles |
| 2015 | 50 | 14% | 49,000 miles |
| 2014 | 31 | 8% | 75,000 miles |
| 2013 | 51 | 8% | 71,000 miles |
| 2012 | 22 | 12% | 84,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% | 91,000 miles |
| 2010 | 11 | 8% | 11,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% | 67,000 miles |
| 2008 | 13 | 8% | 21,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 5% | 120,000 miles |
| 2006 | 10 | 9% | 106,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 3% | 89,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% | 138,000 miles |
| 2003 | 6 | 3% | 111,000 miles |
| 2002 | 20 | 7% | 61,000 miles |
| 2001 | 12 | 5% | 40,000 miles |
| 2000 | 10 | 6% | 43,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 7% | — |
| 1998 | 6 | 10% | — |
| 1997 | 9 | 8% | 227,000 miles |
| 1996 | 9 | 6% | — |
| 1995 | 6 | 5% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
At 505 miles vehicle center radio/control display failed to work also suspending the use for sensors for crash prevention. Vehicle has less than 2500 miles on it and doesn't want to accelerate. When driving and attempting to make turns the vehicle fails to go forward with pressing the gas pedal to the ground. Vehicle continues to feel like it is going to stall, shutters at various times and is unstable when driving as the vehicle does what it wants when it wants, driver is not in control. I do not feel safe driving this vehicle.
Vehicle fails to accelerate and breaks for no reason. Driver is not in control of vehicle. Last I checked I have the drivers license not the vehicle, yet I am unable to accelerate when pressing the gas at times. Other times driving 65 on the expressway the vehicle abruptly stops nearly causing me to be rear ended. Nissan isn't addressing safety concerns. I'm traumatized by this vehicle.
Suddenly the battery ran out on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, 18 days after I bought the car. The car did not want to start from the beeper. When I got into the car to start it, my battery was completely drained. A roadside service technician starts the car with a battery booster. On the way to the auto dealership shop, the vehicle would not accept cruise control. I arrive at the auto dealership workshop and they verify the unit. And according to them it did not duplicate any of the problems that the vehicle presented. Claiming that the charging system was fine and the battery was fine.
1. My brakes locked up on my and the warning light came on saying I hit something 2.the only windows that works is the drivers identified 3.my warning lights came on and it started smelling inside the car I shut the car off and the warning light went off so I thought it was OK finished driving home and became sick opened the hood and my battery had smoke pouring out of each side my sinuses were burning, my throat was on fire i was sick the rest of the night i called poison control and they told me what to do
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
I was traveling on a multi lane road at a speed of approximately 45 mph. There were cars directly behind me. Multiple pedestrian crossings were in front of me but the pedestrians had already crossed the road and were safely on the sidewalk. However, the caution lights from the crosswalk were still illuminated from the pedestrians that had previously crossed. As I reached the pedestrian crossing, the vehicle's front collision warning system activated and immediately applied heavy brake pressure. There was nothing I could do to override it and since there was nothing in front of my vehicle, the cars behind me were not expecting a sudden stop. The car behind me was able to stop in time but narrowly avoided a collision with the rear of my vehicle as a result.
To be brief, I had a nissan sentra 2019 leased car from 10/19 to present. About 1 year during its lease (3 year), I noticed that the instrument clock freezes and the other clock on the radio panel/screen does not. I have contacted NIssan company and the dealership that I leased the auto from. NO help at all. I have 6 different videos of this situation on my cell phone. The main reason I am contacting this federal agency is that the last time it happened (01/23), I the control instruments on the steering wheel did not function at all. I will admit I never tried to use the various controls when the clock froze in the past 2 years until by chance I did this past month. This may also involve even the car horn (all in the same area). Thus, all I have been asking is to have AV control ( or whatever else) replaced. …
At 65mph, I hit a tiny bump. The automatic braking system and collision detection warnings triggered and I lost all acceleration ability. I was nearly hit by a semi while coasting off the freeway in traffic. When inspected by Nissan the first time it happened (9/20/2021), the lights turned off and the computer reset. They did a warranty recall for something unrelated and told me they fixed it. On 5/13/2022 it did it again, and on 5/30 I was told it would not be covered under any warranty - all diagnosis and repair would be my own cost. A sensor should never take control of the car away from the driver. The only way to regain acceleration is to turn the car off. Wait. Turn it on. Wait. Use the menu, turn off Automatic Emergency Braking, drive.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Sentra years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (51), 2015 (50), 2017 (32), 2014 (31) and 2016 (27) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Nissan Sentra acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for any Nissan Sentra model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Nissan Sentra acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles; 47% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (23 mentions), followed by the linkages (4).
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.