FaultScore

1996 Nissan Sentra transmission problems

11 of the 177 complaints about the 1996 Nissan Sentra are about the transmission — 6% of everything reported for this model year.

C

11

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 7 63.6%
Power Train 1 9.1%
Manual Transmission 1 9.1%
Column Shift 1 9.1%
Differential Unit 1 9.1%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Nissan Sentra year

1992 11 0.9%
1993 12 1.0%
1996 11 0.9%
2000 11 0.9%
2001 11 0.9%
2002 20 1.7%
2005 11 0.9%
2007 17 1.4%
2008 20 1.7%
2010 18 1.5%
2011 19 1.6%
2012 68 5.7%
2013 311 26.0%
2014 182 15.2%
2015 173 14.4%
2016 127 10.6%
2017 76 6.3%
2018 46 3.8%
2019 54 4.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Sioux Falls, SD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I ONLY RECEIVED A BRUSH OFF AT NISSAN - I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC TO FIX THIS VEHICLE - I KEPT THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC HAS FIXED AT LEAST 10 1996 SENTRAS - BUT HE SAID THE WEAK CASING WAS ODD IN MY CASE. I BELIEVE IT IS A RESULT OF POOR MANUFACTURING. CONSUMERS DESERVE TO BE SOLD GOOD, SAFE PRODUCTS! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NISSAN CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS! PLEASE RESPOND WITH ADVICE - I WANT TO HAVE THIS CASING EXAMINED BY EXPERTS BECAUSE I THINK NISSAN PUTS CUSTOMERS OFF AND OTHER CUSTOMERS JUST "LET IT GO" SO NISSAN KEEPS GETTING AWAY WITH POOR MANUFACTURING.

NHTSA complaint #735086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sioux Falls, SD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WARRANTY RAN OUT 3/00 - MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR NEEDED - CAR IS 4 YR/OLD - NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY OTHER VEHICLES. THEY WON'T EVEN OFFER TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR - TWO OTHER MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION LEAK BEFORE I TOOK IT TO NISSAN - I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S ERROR - WEAK ALUMINUM.

NHTSA complaint #733877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia Heights, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1) WHILE CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY PASSENGER. AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING & HASN'T STOPPED 2) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/ 3RD GEAR FAILED; 1ST & 2ND SLIPPED BADLY AFTER CAR HAS WARMED UP.

NHTSA complaint #731150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Francisco, CA Crash

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #724662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elizabeth, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS NOW, AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND PICKING IT UP ONE WEEK AGO, I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK GEAR TO DRIVE, WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE GETTY GAS STATION AFTER GETTING GAS AS WELL AS TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPACE. I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY PRESS THE BUTTON, TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF, AND STEP ON THE REGULAR BRAKE, BEFORE THE BUTTON SUDDENLY WORKS AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #719360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NISSAN HAS MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE A TRANSMISION AND FAILED ALL TIMES

NHTSA complaint #703821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Barb, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION JERKING AND LUNGED FORWARD WHEN PUTTING INTO PARKED GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #604659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. HAD A PIECE OF METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN MISSING/LOOSE PARTS WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #826413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Mass, NY

POWER TRAIN

AUTOMATIC SHIFT BUTTON FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #530906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenixville, PA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED BY SOMEONE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE MOVED OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO A TREE.

NHTSA complaint #511173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

PROBLEMS WITH REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #503829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Nissan Sentra problems

← Full 1996 Nissan Sentra report