The Sentra has been one of Nissan’s most popular family cars since it debuted in 1982. But every vehicle has its quirks, and if something goes wrong during the production of a model, it can lead to a safety recall from federal regulators.
Have there been any shift lock recalls for the 2013 Nissan Sentra?
As of August 2020, the answer is “No,” and it’s unlikely that there will ever be a recall related to the 2013 Nissan Sentra’s shift lock controls.
In this article, we’ll mention some of the major safety recalls that have impacted the 2013 Nissan Sentra. We’ll also clue you in on a quick fix to the common shift lock problem, referenced in the Nissan owner’s manual.
Fuel Tank Leaking When Full
NHTSA Complaint ID: 13V068000
The 2013 Nissan Sentras built between September 11 and October 4, 2012 had a manufacturing defect in the fuel tank. This problem causes a small amount of fuel to slosh out of the tank when it is topped off. Leaking gasoline is always a potential safety hazard that can lead to a vehicle fire.
Nissan dealerships will replace the fuel tank in these vehicles free of charge.
Deformed Seat Belt Bracket Impacting OCS Function
NHTSA Complaint ID: 16V242000
Using a Child Restraint System (CRS) in the front seat of a 2013 Nissan Sentra can cause the seat belt bracket to become deformed. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) is supposed to turn off the front passenger airbag when a CRS is in use.
However, a deformed seat belt bracket could cause the OCS to not function properly when a child is restrained in the front seat. This can result in the airbag deploying during a crash (when it should not do so with a child present).
Nissan corrects this issue by reinforcing or replacing the seat belt bracket, in addition to reprogramming the software in the OCS.
Passenger Airbag not Functioning Due to OCS Error
NHTSA Complaint ID: 16V244000
This was another issue with the software governing the Occupant Classification System (OCS) in the front passenger seat of the 2013 Nissan Sentra. The OCS was classifying short-statured adults as children and shutting off the passenger airbag or not registering a passenger in the seat at all.
Nissan corrects this issue with an OCS software upgrade, free of charge to vehicle owners.
There were three additional recalls on the 2013 Nissan Sentra, which were related to issues with the front passenger airbag and the vehicle’s OCS.
2013 Nissan Sentra Shift Lock Problems
Numerous 2013 Nissan Sentra owners have complained about the shifter becoming locked in the Park position so that the vehicle cannot be driven. While there has not been a safety recall related to the shift lock issue, this explains one possible fix for this problem.
While these instructions are for shifting into Neutral to push it to a new location when the battery is dead. Some owners report having success in getting the shifter to unlock by using the Shift Lock Release.
The Shift Lock Release is located just to the right of the shifter in the center console. With the parking brake on and the key removed from the ignition, a small screwdriver can be used to depress the Shift Lock Release button. This allows the driver to shift the vehicle into Neutral.
The key can be inserted into the ignition, and the vehicle can be turned on. This might correct the shift lock issue in your Nissan Sentra.
However, if that doesn’t fix the issue, you may have to take your car to a Nissan dealer to have the transmission inspected.
How Should You Handle a 2013 Nissan Sentra Safety Recall?
There are two simple ways to check whether your 2013 Nissan Sentra has been impacted by a safety recall and needs repairs.
Both methods require your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). You can either check your VIN on the NHTSA Recall website or on the Nissan Vehicle Recall Lookup page.
