2008 Nissan Sentra

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Air bags is the leading concern among 167 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 167

Of the 2008 reports, 20 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags53 reports · 32% of complaints
Owner complaints167Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags53
  2. Service brakes21
  3. Power train20
  4. Engine15
  5. Steering15
  6. Suspension14
  7. Hydraulic13
  8. Tires13

Recalls and investigations

  1. Equipment, electrical, navigational system(global positioning system)Sep 10, 2010

    NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

    OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

    NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    Campaign 10V401000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderNov 3, 2009

    NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SENTRA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH MASTER CYLINDERS. BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. IF THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES TO BELOW THE MINIMUM LEVEL, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE AS DESIGNED AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.

    IF THE WARNING LAMP IS CONTINUOUSLY IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    Campaign 09V431000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderJul 11, 2008

    NISSAN IS RECALLING 169,202 MY 2007-2008 SENTRA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. DUE TO THE MACHINING IRREGULARITY BY THE SUPPLIER, THE INTERNAL SEAL GROOVE IN THE BODY OF SOME BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP IN THE GROOVE CONTACT AREA OF THE SEAL. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.

    IF THE WARNING LAMP IS IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MASTER CYLINDER/BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY AND IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE IS DETECTED, THE MASTER CYLINDER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    Campaign 08V311000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: air bags

53 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Air bags, Other or unspecified, Mar 20, 2023

    The car's airbag dashboard light has been on and blinking for about a month now- indicating an issue. I have not been in any recent accidents and it appeared on its own. Subsequently, the car horn does not work. Airbags and car horn are necessary to prevent accidents and serious injury, including death in the event of an accident. I advised my local Nissan dealership who stated there are no current recalls and the car would need to be inspected- which will likely be costly. No inspections have been made at this time.

  2. Air bags, Jan 5, 2023, crash

    The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle in front abruptly depressed its brake pedal causing the driver to crash into the rear of the vehicle. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but no air bags were deployed. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.

  3. Air bags, Dec 30, 2022

    Driver Air bag sensor light came on. The dealership reset it several times but it continues to come on. We paid the money to have them put the car on the diagnostic system. They are saying after review, the airbag needs to be replaced. It costs $1500 to replace the airbag. Which makes zero sense. The car has never been wrecked. Reports have shown issues with airbags in hundreds of thousands of Nissans. The 2008 Nissan Sentra needs to be reviewed for an airbag recall. This is extremely dangerous.

  4. Air bags, Sep 6, 2020

    AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON DASH WON'T GO OFF. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE... OVER 10 IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM

  5. Air bags, Jul 12, 2020

    THE AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY WARNING THE OWNER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE UNIT. OTHER YEARS AND MODELS ARE AFFECT BY RECALLS AND I BELIEVE THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL SHOULD ALSO BE.

  6. Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Mar 29, 2020

    MY AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF IT WAS IDLE WHEN IT CAME IN BUT IT IS CONSTANTLY BLINKING , THE HORN COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS TURNING THE CORNER, I GENERALLY REPLACED IT TWICE BUT IT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AS I WAS SITTING IDLE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON EVEN AFTER I HAVE BEEN KEEPING THE MAINTENANCE UP ON IT.

  7. Air bags, Mar 21, 2020

    AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IT SOMETHING TO DO WITH A 'COIL' THAT WENT BAD

  8. Air bags, Other or unspecified, Dec 30, 2019

    VEHICLE AIR BAG BEGAN FLASHING AND HORN STOPPED WORKING WHEN PRESSED.

  9. Air bags, Other or unspecified, Sep 14, 2019

    AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AND BLINKING CONTINOUSLY. THE HORN ALSO STOPPED WORKING. FEELS VERY UNSAFE DRIVING WITHOUT A HORN. SINCE BOTH THE AIRBAG AND HORN ARE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND READING THROUGH SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I WOULD ASSUME THEY ARE RELATED. SHOULD BE RECALLED AS MANY OTHER NISSANS HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

  10. Air bags, May 22, 2019

    AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY ON DASH PANEL. CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT GO OUT. HAS BEEN RESET BUT COMES BACK ON AFTER DRIVING WITHIN SHORT DISTANCE. CAR HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED IN FRONT AND I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY AS WE ARE AFRAID AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. WE DO NOT BELIEVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD FAIL SO QUICKLY. ALSO SEE ONLINE WHERE MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCEING SAME PROBLEM. WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.

  11. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Mar 5, 2019

    AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHING, THEN HORN DIDN'T WORK; NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. I SEE SEVERAL SIMILAR PROBLEMS NOTED IN THE DATABASE. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITHOUT THE HORN.

  12. Air bags, Oct 8, 2018

    MY SRS INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON IN MY CAR WHEN I'M DRIVING IT, OR IT COULD BE SITTING RUNNING.CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIRS

  13. Air bags, Jun 22, 2018

    THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING. MY GRANDMOTHER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED TO BE RESET, SHE DROVE OFF AND A MILE LATER THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER YET, BUT I SEE OTHER DRIVERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I GOOGLED HOW TO RESET IT, DID IT MYSELF, BUT AS SOON AS YOU START DRIVING IT COMES BACK ON.

  14. Air bags, Jun 22, 2018

    AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY BLINKS ON AN OFF.

  15. Power train, Air bags, Feb 7, 2018

    AIR BAG STARTED FLASHING AND HAS NOT STOPPED. I NOTICED THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE AIRBAGS IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND I AM WAITING TO SEE THAT THIS IS INVESTIGATED AND HELP WITH A RECALL DUE TO THE COST OF ATTEMPTING TO FIX THIS WHEN IT COULD WELL BE A FACTORY DEFECT. I ALSO HAD TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY STARTED HAVING ISSUES ENDING IN THE NISSAN DEALER IN UTAH SHORT OF $3500 LATER AFTER THEY DETERMINED IT HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION DUE TO A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM, WHICH NEEDED A COOLING DEVICE OF SOME SORT IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM OVERHEATING, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR.

  16. Air bags, Engine, Dec 6, 2017

    THE DRIVER AIR BAG FLASHING RED LIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND NEVER GOING OFF ALSO THE HORN DOESN'T WORK.ALSO THE ENGINE BURN A LOT OIL AND I DON'T SEE ANY LEAKS

  17. Air bags, Oct 23, 2017

    AIRBAG LIGHTS FLASHING SO AIRBAG WONT WORK IF THERE IS AN ACCEDENT NEED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ANYTIME

  18. Air bags, Sep 7, 2017

    HAVING ISSUES WITH MY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. THE ONLY CORRECTION THE DEALER ISSUED WAS TO REPLACE THE SEAT WITH A NEW OR USED SEAT. A NEW SEAT WOULD BE OVER $3,000 AND A USED ONE WELL OVER $700 PLUS LABOR TO CHANGE SEAT COVERS. ERROR CODE B1018. THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND WARRANTY HOWEVER, BECAUSE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING FAULTY HARDWARE, I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD GRACIOUSLY ADDRESS THIS WITHOUT CHARGE. THERE ARE AIRBAG RECALL CAMPAIGNS OPEN FOR OTHER NISSAN MODELS REGARDING THIS VERY ISSUE BUT IT UNFORTUNATELY DOES NOT INCLUDE MY 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE RECALL OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED! AT THIS POINT I MAY BE FORCED TO ACQUIRE A USED SEAT AT A LOCAL JUNK YARD, BUT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO VERIFY THE SENSOR IS WORKING IN THE USED SEAT PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. AGAIN, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED PROMPTLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

  19. Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2017

    AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, INCLUDING RADIO AND CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORK AND HAVEN'T FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE "WHEELS" OR "HUBCAPS" PEELED OFF AND LOOK TERRIBLE. WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH THE CAR SHAKES. ONE OWNER - 142,000 MILES

  20. Power train, Air bags, Aug 8, 2017

    TRANSMITION IS NOT RESPONDING. WHEN IS HOT LOSES ALL THE POWER TO 30MPH. A WHYING NOISE

  21. Air bags, Seats, Aug 7, 2017, crash

    AIRBAG BLINKING ON DASHBOARD DUE TO PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND/OR FAILURE. MY WIFE HAS PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, AND WE HAPPENED TO HAVE ACCIDENT HIT BY OTHER CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHILE I HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET BACK HOME ON THE WEEKEND AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING TRIP WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY AT 02/05/2017. IT HAPPENED AT THE SERVICE ROAD OF SH 121 TX. WHILE I WAS TURNING LEFT ON THE STRAIGHT/LEFT LANE ON GREEN LIGHT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED BUT SOMEHOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON THE DASH BOARD, OF COURSE WE TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE SERVICE ADVISER HAS EXPLAINED THAT AIRBAG SENSOR ON PASSENGER SEAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT FIXED. SO WE THOUGHT WE GOT IT FIXED, AND DROVE IT AROUND FOR A FEW MONTHS. AND SOMEWHERE AROUND JUNE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH BOARD CAME AGAIN AND WE'VE TRIED TO SUMMIT THE SUPPLEMENT FOR THE AIRBAG ISSUE, AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY AUTONATION NISSAN AT LEWISVILLE TX AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DENIED THE SUPPLEMENT REQUEST BECAUSE THE AUTONATION NISSAN HAS STATED THAT "AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONING ON NISSAN SENTRA IS A COMMON PROBLEM" AND FOR THAT REASON THE SUPPLEMENT WAS DENIED, AND IT GOT ME THINKING THAT IF IT'S THE COMMON PROBLEM AS THE SERVICE ADVISER OF THE NISSAN STATED, THEN WHY WON'T NISSAN ISSUE RECALL ORDER FOR SUCH AN CRITICAL ISSUE THAT MAY CAUSE CATASTROPHIC EVENT IF IT KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING? I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO HAVE PROPER INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER... BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION IS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT I HAD, THEN NISSAN IS NOT CARING ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO DRIVES THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE AS MY SENTRA...

  22. Air bags, Apr 12, 2017

    TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING AND WHEN IT WAS DIAGNOSED AT PATPECK NISSAN OF MOBILE THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WASNT PART OF THE RECALL BUT IT IS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT AND WAS TOLD IT WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH.

  23. Air bags, Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 19, 2016, crash

    I WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE BREAKS DID NOT STOP THE CAR FORCING ME TO HIT SOMEONE. I ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BREAKS WITH FORCED ME TO CHANGE THEM EVERY SO OFTEN. THIS TIME WAS TOUGH.

  24. Air bags, Aug 18, 2016

    AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED RANDOMLY BLINKING WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID "FAULTY CLOCK SPRING AND DRIVERS AIRBAG ASSY - REPLACE (B1049 DRIVERS AIRBAG OPEN)". THE COST WAS $1,468.32 NO INCLUDING TAX, ETC AND SAID IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR BOTH PIECES TO BE FAULTY.

  25. Air bags, Jul 30, 2016

    MY 2008 NISSAN SENTRA AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE PAST AND I HAD IT RESET BY THE DEALER. IT STAYED OUT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. LATER WHEN IT CAME ON AGAIN, I LEARNED HOW TO RESET IT MYSELF USING THE IGNITION KEY AND I DID SO WITH SUCCESS. THE LIGHT WOULD STAY OUT FOR AT FIRST A MONTH OR TWO, THEN IT BECAME A WEEK OR TWO, BUT NOW THE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY RESETTING IT WILL ONLY LAST FOR LESS THAN A DAY. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK. THE DEALER ADVISED ME THAT IT IS A FAULTY AIR BAG. THE DEALER DID A DIAGNOSIS/INSPECTION AND FOUND CODE 81134. THE DEALER ADVISED ME TO REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLY AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $3,400 TO DO SO. IS THIS POSSIBLE FOR A 2008 NISSAN WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT? THE AIR BAGS FOR THIS MODEL ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT I'M QUESTIONING IF THEY SHOULD BE.