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.
Of the 2008 reports, 20 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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: service brakes
21 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Mar 14, 2022
JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (NO BRAKES APPLIED) AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT BAD AND LOST POWER BRAKES.
Vehicle speed control, Wheels, Service brakes, Mar 20, 2021
I PURCHASED THE CAR DROVE IT HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. 2 DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE IT DRIVES VERY SLOW AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED.
Service brakes, Jul 24, 2020
MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING AND BRAKE LIGHT IS COMING ON
Service brakes, Jul 10, 2018
MASTER CYLINDER RECALL
Service brakes, Engine, Jun 1, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED ORR NISSAN (3131 E BEEBE CAPPS EXPY, SEARCY, AR 72143, (501) 268-5333) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
Air bags, Wheels, Service brakes, May 5, 2016, crash
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. BRAKES MAY HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO FULL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHEN SERVICED WHICH RESULTED IN NOT BRAKING IN TIME AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP THE VEHICLE ON A NISSAN RECALL WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT'S ONE OF THE ONES ON THE RECALL LIST.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 5, 2015
PETITION FOR DEFECT INVESTIGATION AND RECALL EXPANSION FOR MY 2007-2008 NISSAN SENTRA VEHICLES EXPERIENCING MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKAGE. *SMD A COMPLAINT WAS SENT IN TO THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL, BY A COMPLAINANT. THE COMPLAINANT STATED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK WAS DUE TO A LEAKING REAR SEAL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ORIGINAL MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER THAT WAS NEVER SERVICED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH NO EXTERNAL SIGN OF A LEAK. UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE HAD A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF BRAKE FLUID ACCUMULATED IN THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER, LOCATED TO AND ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONDITION WAS DESCRIBED IN RECALLS 08V311000 AND 09V431000. *JB
Service brakes, Sep 24, 2014
I HAVE NOTICED THE MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I ADDED A BRAKE FLUID AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. MY MECHANIC HAS EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE CYLINDER IS UNDER RECALL. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THAT THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKE CYLINDER FEW YEARS AGO AND THAT IT WASN'T AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE AFFECTED MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS BOSCH, AND THE SAME BRAND IS INSTALLED IN MY CAR. TWO DAYS LATER MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, JUST LIKE THE RECALL STATES MAY HAPPEN. NISSAN REFUSED TO CHANGE THE AFFECT BRAKE CYLINDER!!!! *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 27, 2014
PER NISSAN RECALL 169.202, MY 2008 SENTRA IS EQUIPPED WITH ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION WAS MADE KNOWN TO ME, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL. ALL INFORMATION AND THE LINK TO THIS FORM WAS SUPPLIED TO ME BY FIRESTONE, NOT BY THE DEALER. THIS RECALL AND REPAIR OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD BE HONORED.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 23, 2012, fire
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE LOST POWER AND VEHICLE SLOWED. WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE OBSERVED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE BECAME FULLY INVOLVED WITHIN 3 MINUTES. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EXTINGUSH FIRE. CAUSE UNDERTERMINED. FIRES POINT OF ORIGIN WAS IN THE AREA OF THE ECM/BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, NO FLUID LEAKS,MECHANICAL ISSUES OR WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Feb 25, 2011
2008 NISSAN SENTRA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED ON HIS FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE NEXT THE DAY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE FRONT PADS REPLACED AND THE REAR PADS CLEANED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE SINCE. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 31, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED VERY OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER AND THE TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WOULD BE REPLACED WHEN THEY WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 14, 2010
2008 NISSAN SENTRA, SO FAR HAD TO REPAIR AND REPLACE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER 3 TIMES ALREADY SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 25, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THEY VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. SINCE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE DIRECTION OF A BUILDING, SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY CRASHING INTO A HANDICAP SIGN AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE "BRAKE" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,100.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 2, 2009
GAS PEDAL TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE, TOE HITS ACCELERATOR WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED WHY CAR WAS LURCHING WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 27, 2009
I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY MAIL OF A RECALL ON OF MY BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN DOESN'T SEND RECALL NOTICES BY US MAIL ANYMORE....ONLY BY EMAIL. WHAT IF I HADN'T TAKEN IT IN FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE? MY BRAKES COULD HAVE FAILED AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 5, 2009
THE WEEK OF DEC 21 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM NISSAN ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN MY BREAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS TO BE HANDLED ON JAN 5, 2009 AT 9:20 AM EST. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO CORRECT THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO PITTSBURGH EAST NISSAN AND WAS GRADED BY DJ, I GAVE HIM THE VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE PAPER AND HE TOLD ME TO HAVE A SEAT IN THE WAITING ROOM. AT 10:30 AM - DJ, CAME OVER TO ME AND TOLD ME WE DON'T HAVE THE PART IN STOCK AND THEY ORDERED IT FOR ME AND I WILL BE ON THE LIST TO CALL ME BACK TO REPLACE THE PART, I WAS LIKE WHAT?, I SAT HERE FOR NOTHING AND YOU DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO MY CAR, DJ TOLD ME THAT'S THE WAY NISSAN DOES IT, I HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THEN THEY ORDER THE PART, THEN I GET CALLED BACK IN TO REPLACE THE PART..... THIS DOES NOT SEEM LOGICAL TO ME FOR A RECALL, I WASTED MY TIME (TWICE) BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE EXTRA PARTS IN STOCK????? HELP ME CHANGE THIS POLICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 2, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. ON NOVEMBER 3, 2008, WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEG, ARM, AND LOWER BACK. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND IS INVESTIGATING THE CRASH. THE PENBROOK PINE POLICE REPORT NUMBER WAS 2008-086387. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 18, 2008
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NISSAN HAS RECALLED 2007 AND 2008 SENTRAS (RECALL # 08V311000) FOR MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THIS RECALL WAS EFFECTIVE JULY 23, 2008. I FOUND THE RECALL QUITE BY ACCIDENT. NISSAN HAS OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT, IT IS MY SON DRIVING THE CAR FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO OHIO. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, Electric, Oct 8, 2008
ENGINE KNOCK, MY CAR HAS A PISTON SLAPPING AROUND IN THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER "SIMS NISSAN IN WARREN, OHIO" TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE BAD ENGINE UNTIL THEY GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD BE AROUND 3-5 DAYS TO RECEIVE. THEY WOULD THEN GET ME A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY PUT THE ENGINE IN. I INFORMED THE OWNER KEN SIMS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HE TOLD ME NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN IF I DID NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM'S THAT WOULD THEN CAUSE THE PISTON TO GO THREW THE ENGINE. I ONCE AGAIN TOLD HIM THIS IS UNSAFE AND IF HE WAS SO CONFIDENT THAT NOTHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO PUT IT IN WRITING. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE A HUGE LAWSUIT ON HIS HANDS IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND NOW KNOWING IF I RUN IT AT HIGH RPMS AND THE ENGINE BLOWS THEN I AM RESPONSIBLE. I TOLD HIM AGAIN THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE FINE. TIRED OR ARGUING, I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM DEALER GOING 20MPH WITH 4 WAYS SO I WOULD NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM'S. THE CAR IS SETTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, AFRAID TO DRIVE SINCE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANOTHER LOANER OR PAY FOR A RENTAL. SO, I AM OUT. DEALER HAS TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND I FEEL AS I AM NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY, WAS DEGRADED LIKE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, HAD TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE COULD HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL AND HARMED ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. AND TO THINK THEY WANT ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS UNTIL A NEW ENGINE COMES IN. I HAVE MORE COMMON SENSE AND WILL NOT PUT MYSELF OR OTHERS AT RISK DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER HAVING A CRACK. DEALER HAS NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT FIXING THAT, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS YET EITHER, IT WAS POSED IN JULY. THIS IS NOW OCTOBER. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Apr 30, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND IS AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.