Vdc light check engine light car jerking and have to pull over

Asked by GuruBQBSP Jan 08, 2019 at 11:52 AM about the 2011 Nissan Sentra 2.0

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My cars check engine light come on it says mass
air flow so I changed the air filter reset the light
took it to the shop and they changed the o2
sensors reset check engine light now the check
engine light is back on reads the same thing mass
air flow but now the vdc light comes on and when
it does the car will not go when you push the gas it
jerks it want go over 20mph I have to pull over cut
the car off and wait a few seconds then I start the
car again and it's fine besides check engine light
and it maybe fine for the rest of the day or for 5
mins the shop says abs module and give me a
1000$ price to fix it but I already paid 300$ for the
other any advice thanks

26 Answers

280

I'm having the exact same problem on a 2011 Sentra. Did you ever find out the solution to this problem?

28 people found this helpful.
180

Wow, I am having to exact same problem on my 2011 Sentra as well. Everything you wrote is identical to what’s happening to me. Scary and frustrating.

18 people found this helpful.
180

i am going through the exact same thing - I was told vacuum leak and mass air flow sensor. After being ripped off by troy auto pros, I brought my car to my regular mechanic, and they are redoing the mass air flow sensor. I am hoping this resolves the issue. I have not heard abs module, but I am thinking in your case you are probably needing that since the vdc light is directly connected to the brake system.... they told me I had corrosion in my wiring caused by weather elements to my main harness. I guess we are all in this together to figure it out. I will let you know what happens on my end! You keep me posted as well!

18 people found this helpful.
50

Same problems are happening with my 2015 nissan sentra. Did anyone find out what is causing this? I have already replaced the mass air flow three times in the last 15 months so I know its not this part. Any help??

5 people found this helpful.
110

Having same problem. First it was the MAF sensor, my mechanic chgd it out and it didn't fix the problem, took it back out so he wouldn't charge me the $400+ part and labor, told me to take it to Nissan cause it was on a recall. Nissan said no. Never fixed it so now the VDC light comes on and will happen at a speed of 55. Just pulling over to turn off is all i do. You'd think Nissan would correct this at their expense. 2011 Nissan Sentra with 58k miles. Not right!

11 people found this helpful.
580

Have a mechanic inspect your ABS/wheel speed sensors and the wires connecting them. If something is wrong with wheel speed sensor system it will send a false signal to the VDC telling the car that your tires are slipping. This triggers the VDC light and sudden shuddering of the car as it attempts to "correct" the nonexistent "tire spin" by activating the Anti-Lock Braking system. Symptoms that make this more likely the situation are ABS/Check Engine lights illuminating.

38 people found this helpful.
130

I am having the same issue with my 2015 Nissan Sentra SV. I had to drive in the slow lane in order to make it home. Turning my car off for a few seconds but the light continues to come on and the hesitation/delay in the engine output is still happening. Anyone have a solution that doesn’t cost an arm and leg?

13 people found this helpful.
10

I have the same problems too, so I been checking my engine and also online related problems. I don't know if it's helpful but can a bad spark plug cause it or a damaged oil valve. Idk if it helps but it's kind all I have.

1 people found this helpful.
60

if anyone figures it out LET ME KNOW!!!!! i have a customers car doing same thing and we have replaced MASS sensor twice and still doing it. her VDC light is now on but engine light is off...... dealership wants 900 bucks for the harness

6 people found this helpful.
60

My 2011 Sentra is doing the exact same thing that everyone else is describing. Has anyone figured out what the problem is? I was told to change out the drums, shoes, rotors and pads... this did not fix the problem. What is going on?

6 people found this helpful.
150

havd the same problem changed alot o parts but what helped and ssolved problem air intake tube goes from throttle body to air box runs great but cant get service light off

10 people found this helpful.
100

My shocks and strout was bad I replace and never had no more problems with them VDC light coming on I would go down the road and it would start shaking and come on so I pulled over and shut the motor off and started it back up it only did it ever once in awhile replace the shock and strout and it quit

10 people found this helpful.
580

Recently had another 2011 Nissan Altima with the exact some problem. The fix for this one was the air intake hose between the air box and the throttle body. It had cracks and holes in it. Symptoms along with the VDC shake were a check engine code showing Mass Air Flow Sensor Fault and difficulty reversing. Car would shudder when put in reverse and had no power to reverse. Occasionally the car would die when coming to a stop after driving at highway speeds. 14 days since replacing the air intake hose and the VDC shudder that used to occur daily has not returned. Check engine light stayed on after fix, but was later cleared at Nissan dealership.

20 people found this helpful.
30

I'm having the same issue on my 2012 Sentra. It usually happens after I take a turn, and we're pretty sure its due to the strut mounts needing to be replaced.

3 people found this helpful.

All: Just like everybody else in this blog, I have a Nissan Sentra with same issues (like Justin) When driving and then turning after a stop, starts to jerk like if its only firing two cylinders, can't go more than 2500 rpm, so I have to pull over and turn the engine off, then on. This jerking happens only when the alarm is on. the alarm resets turning the engine on/off. I took the car to the dealership, and they say it is the transmission and differential... and to repair it is $4,100 (parts and labor).... I went to two Autozone to connect their diagnostic tool, but there is no alarms/indications... I think it is the car computer giving false indications and triggering safe modes; I mean the car it supposed to work that way when slippery roads (i.e snow,icy roads, etc). let me know your thoughts.

270

Please check air intake tube. I have nissan that had the same jerking with vdc light on. I checked air intake tube it was cracked. Check this video from youtube https://youtu.be/imjoeoTo_cI I will replace it and report back.

27 people found this helpful.
220

This was Caseys answer and it is identical in all 3 aspects, car shutters without warning, car has problems in reverse, and car randomly shuts off if you have to stop even modestly quick. I looked up the video for replacing the air intake hose on a Sentra and it is super easy to do. Here is what Casey said originally. Recently had another 2011 Nissan Altima with the exact some problem. The fix for this one was the air intake hose between the air box and the throttle body. It had cracks and holes in it. Symptoms along with the VDC shake were a check engine code showing Mass Air Flow Sensor Fault and difficulty reversing. Car would shudder when put in reverse and had no power to reverse. Occasionally the car would die when coming to a stop after driving at highway speeds. 14 days since replacing the air intake hose and the VDC shudder that used to occur daily has not returned. Check engine light stayed on after fix, but was later cleared at Nissan dealership.

8 people found this helpful.
30

My 2008 Nissan has the same problem: jerking, black smoke, and could not go over 10 miles. The local mechanic fixed it by replacing catalyst converters and O2 sensors.

3 people found this helpful.
220

The Answer is simple. Replace the air intake hose. I had read an earlier post that matched mine exactly, the shuttering, the trouble backing up, and the silent stall occasionally. I took the car to my mechanic and told him what I found. He smiled thinking another self made mechanic. Then he changed the Air Intake hose and all 3 things have totally gone away, the light is out. The air intake hose has cracks you cant see until you take it off. Mine actually broke in 2 when he took it off. The part was like a 40 dollar part. And total I paid 100 dollars. If you are remotely handy its loosening 3 screw clamps, pinching on clip together, removing the part and installing new. There is a great Youtube video on it. Hope this helps all of you.

14 people found this helpful.
140

It's not the sensor. Check the AIR INTAKE HOSE. EXACTLY IN THE SPRING LOOK ALIKE AREA. THE RUBBER ITS ROTTEN AND CRACKS. CHECK ALL FRONT AND BACK

14 people found this helpful.
70

It is your air intake that needs replaced. There will be a rip or holes in the fluted rubber. My Sentra ran fine and then check engine light and vdc light along with barely running. You will probably have to replace mass air flow sensor. Less than $200 and 20 minutes.

7 people found this helpful.
90

The Same thing just happened to my wife's sister's 2011 Sentra. MAF errors for quite some time, even after cleaning and then replacing MAF sensor, and then this week the engine shutting off and VDC acting up, exactly like the first post here and many others. I found this thread and had her mechanic check the air intake hose and sure enough it had "minor" cracks. Well, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MINOR CRACK IN THIS HOSE!!!. After having the hose replaced it seems to be fine. Interestingly, my 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood has air intake hoses, and NONE of them are cracked / broken and it is more than Twice the age of a 2011 Sentra, My two 2011 Cadillac CTSs do Not have these issues either, and all three are well past 100,000 miles. A BAD choice of materials by nissan in this case. -Cadillac Mike, Cadillac owner but helpful relative when need for inferior car makes.

9 people found this helpful.

i got a maxima 2010 and shakes my fillings out if i don't self shift to a lower gear. changed coils plugs still doing the same. any help

20

I had a 2015 Nissan Sentra SV and had the same issue. I first cleaned the Mass Airflow senor and it seemed to run good for a week, and then the same problem happened. I replaced the MAS, and got 200 yards down the road and VDC light came on, started jerking and lost a lot of power. I finally had enough of that piece of crap and traded it in. I am glad its gone and I never have to deal with it again. I will NEVER buy another Nissan after this fiasco.

2 people found this helpful.

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