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
167 reports, newest first.
Fuel system, Other, Jan 22, 2009
NO ACCIDENT. *TR
Suspension, Tires, Seats, Jan 14, 2009
WITH 12000 KM ON MY 08 SENTRA WAS INFORMED MY REAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER MUCH FIGHTING WITH MY SERVICE MANAGER, DEALERSHIP MANAGER, AND DEALERSHIP OWNER THEY AGREED TO INSPECT THE COMPONENTS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND THEY COULD NOT BRING IT TO WITHIN SPEC. THE FIX WAS A TOTAL REAR SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT...I NOW HAVE A FRONT STRUT BEARING GONE AND HAVE BEEN WAITING 2 MONTHS FOR PARTS...WITH MY FRONT END ALIGNMENT OUT BECAUSE OF THIS, AND NO WORD ON PART ARRIVAL. *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
Steering, Dec 19, 2008
POWER STEERING FAILURE. DROVE CAR AND THEN PARKED. RETURNED TO CAR AND UPON STARTING NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD NO POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING. (SYSTEM IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) DROVE CAR TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING. FOLLOWING DAY, WHEN DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM CORRECTIVE SERVICE AND DIAGNOSE PROBLEM THE POWER STEERING IS WORKING. THEREFORE THEY HAVE RELEASED THE VEHICLE AS NOT HAVING ANY SERVICE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Steering, Dec 11, 2008
STEERING IS DRIFTING. *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.
Power train, Tires, Nov 22, 2008
TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *TR
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
Visibility, Oct 25, 2008
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL AUTO DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR. WHILE EXITING 95 SOUTH ONTO 528 EAST I WAS BLINDED BY THE EARLY MORNING SUN AND AUTOMATICALLY REACHED FOR MY SUNVISOR. WHEN I TRIED TO PULL IT DOWN IT HIT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND STOPPED IN A POSITION THAT BLOCKED MY ENTIRE FORWARD VIEW EXCEPT FOR A FEW FEET. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO ASCERTAIN WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. IT WAS NOW THAT I DISCOVERED A DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THIS MIRROR. IT WAS SO WIDE IT BLOCKED BOTH VISORS FROM GOING THROUGH FULL TRAVEL TO THE DOWN POSITION. I WENT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THESE AUTO DIMMING MIRRORS WERE 10.5 INCHES WIDE AS OPPOSED TO THE STANDARD DAY/NIGHTS 9.5 INCHES ON OTHER 2008 SENTRAS. I ADVISED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THIS AND HE AND OTHERS VERIFIED THAT ALL THE SENTRAS WITH THIS OPTION HAD THE SAME TOO LARGE MIRROR. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SEE IF THIS WAS JUST A BATCH A WRONG MIRRORS BUT AFTER ORDERING A REPLACEMENT IT TURNS OUT THESE ARE IN ALL SENTRAS AND THERE ARE NO AUTO DIMMING 9.5 INCH MIRRORS ACCORDING TO NISSAN. I HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE THIS BUT THEY JUST REFER IT TO NISSAN. SEEMS LIKE NO ONE AT NISSAN WATCHED THE GENE HACKMAN MOVIE "CLASS ACTION". I REFERENCE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A NISSAN TITAN AND IT HAS THE SAME EXACT MIRROR ONLY WITH DIFFERENT PART NUMBER. SEEMS THE TERM "BEAN COUNTERS" COMES TO MIND. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY/DEATH TO AN UNSUSPECTING DRIVER OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SIMILAR 2007 AND 2009 MODELS. *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
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 16, 2008
AT 700 MILES, CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP-CAR STARTED-COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. AT 1700 MILES, CAR WOULDN'T START-HAD TOWED--COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. 9/15/08 (2480 MILES) CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC, WOULDN'T START. POLICE PUSHED ME TO A SAFE AREA--HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP-NO RESPONSE YET. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE, NOT KNOWING WHEN I'M GOING TO BE RANDOMLY LEFT ON SOME STREET CORNER WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. AM PLANNING A TRIP OUT OF STATE--DO I DARE? I DON'T THINK SO. *TR
Suspension, Jul 30, 2008
THE DAY OF DELIVERY OF MY 2008 NISSAN SENTRA, I NOTICED THE REAR WHEELS TILT IN AT THE TOP, ESPECIALLY THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, AT LEAST 5 DEGREES NEGATIVE CAMBER (I AM AN INSURANCE AUTO APPRAISER ). IT ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE SLIGHT TOW IN. THIS IS A FIXED NON-ADJUSTABLE BEAM AXEL, THAT WAS SET UP WRONG IN THE ASSEMBLY JIG AND WELDED UP WRONG. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THIS AFFECTS 07 AND 08 MODELS. THE TIRES WILL WEAR OUT QUICKLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD (NOT TOO NOTICEABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR), AND MAY BLOW OUT. AT BEST I WILL BE REPLACING REAR TIRES ALL THE TIME. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER 7/29/08 THE WEEK AFTER DELIVERY AND HE SAID NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS WORKING ON IT. THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS IN 2007 AND HAVE DONE NOTHING SO FAR, AND ARE STILL SHIPPING CARS WITH DEFECTIVE REAR BEAM AXLES. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP SOMEHOW. I COULD GET BETTER MILEAGE IF THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WAS FIXED ALSO. THANK YOU. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jul 19, 2008
CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL IN A 25MPH ZONE AND THE CAR STAYED AT 2,000RPM'S. HAD TO TURN OFF CAR TO STOP IT, NEVER WENT DOWN TO IDLE SPEED. DEALER RESET PARAMETERS ON COMPUTER AND RESET IDLE LEARN. *TR
Tires, Jul 9, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT, WHICH INDICATED THAT THERE WAS LOW TIRE PRESSURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR INSPECTION. ON ONE OCCASION, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A NAIL IN THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED LOW PRESSURE AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER INSTALLED A SENSOR AND THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT DIMMED AFTERWARDS. TWO TO THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,272 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 3, 2008, crash
WHILE DRIVER WAS PARKING VEHICLE AND HAD FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD STRIKING A STRUCTURE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 1, 2008
2005 SENTRA 1.8 S. HEATER WOULD BE HOT THEN COLD, HAVE REPLACED THERMOSTAT 5 TIMES. CAR NEVER OVERHEATED. GAUGE WOULD GO JUST UNDER 3/4 OF WAY AND THEN SUDDENLY DROP TO NORMAL. 69,000 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, READING MULTIPLE MISFIRES. BRINGING TO DEALER FOR FUEL TANK RECALL. RUNNING VERY ROUGH, RPMS 2000 BEFORE VEHICLE WILL MOVE MAX OUT AT 5000. AS SOON AS YOU REMOVE FOOT FROM GAS, SUDDENLY DROPS TO ALMOST 0 RPMS. DEALER SAID BLOWN HEAD GASKET, OIL PAN GASKET BAD. HAD TO HAVE HEAD IN MACHINE SHOP DUE TO 2 PLUGS STUCK. WHEN I PICKED UP VEHICLE, MECHANIC SAID HEAD WAS WARPED. I ASKED WHAT I NEEDED TO WATCH FOR BEING THAT IT NEVER DID OVERHEAT. THE RESPONSE WAS, WITH THIS GAUGE GOES JUST OVER HALF, IT IS OVERHEATING. ENDED UP COSTING 2,000.00 FOR A 3 YR 4MONTH OLD VEHICLE THAT NEVER OVERHEATED. *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.