2018 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 185 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 17 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 11 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchMar 3, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.
The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
Campaign 21V135000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraSep 12, 2019
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Campaign 19V654000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
40 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Feb 5, 2026
My brake lights suddenly wouldn’t turn on and my car wouldn’t start. We replaced the brake light switch and it worked for a short while, but it stopped working the same day almost causing several collisions as brake lights won’t turn on. There was a recall on this issue with this year and model, but my VIN number was not included regardless of the symptoms all being there. We had a master mechanic look and diagnose it as a brake light switch issue. The vehicle has been brought to a local Nissan center for similar issues a couple months ago, but it failed several times
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 10, 2024
Car won't start, stranded in parking lots, on road. Have seen hundreds of complaints about the same thing ,saying it's either a brake switch or ignition switch.Very scary to be stranded somewhere.Nissan is aware and said it's common problem? Hard to believe Nissan or the nhtsa does not believe this to be a safety issue.
Power train, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 7, 2024
My 2018 Nissan Sentra has under 60,000 miles on it and is on its 3rd set of brake rotors, as well as had both front and rear brake pads replaced 2 times. The vehicle has always given the warning , front radar not detected alert, until the last 12 months where I began receiving a malfunction warning. My car has been brought to 2 different Nissan dealerships to work on this issue. The current one stating my front sensor is failing & will need to be replaced however there is no warranty on it. I am the only owner of my vehicle and it has not been in any forward collisions. As for the power train/transmission, I received a transmission flush in May of 2023, and now 15 months later was told by a different Nissan dealership it needed a flush as it appeared the transmission was going bad. The vehicle has stalled several times, continuously has a high RMP when accelerating and the AC has gone out a couple of months ago.
Air bags, Service brakes, Feb 1, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra SV. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, she depressed the brake pedal and pressed the push start button but the vehicle failed to start. The warning message "Malfunction Indicator Light" illuminated. The contact stated that as she continued to depress the brake pedal and squeezed an unknown wire under the steering wheel, she was able to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The contact also stated that the brake pedal would make abnormal loud sounds and would intermittently hesitate to respond while driving. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated that she continued to depress the brake pedal but it failed to respond. The contact stated that as she was about to crash into the rear of the vehicle ahead of her, she veered off the road and crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries on the shoulder and her friend who was in the front passenger seat did not sustain any injuries. The contact did not seek medical assistance. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her friend's residence. A police report was filed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact received the recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as her vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Power train, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 26, 2022
I purchased this car October 10th of 2021 and 2 days after I purchased it I called my service department because I was driving on the highway at 65 miles an hour and the malfunction warning light came on for the automatic braking system and it also depressed my brakes so it scared the crap out of me. I was told that because of the weather it was raining that day that that sometimes happens. I didn't think anything of it on December 10th my son got into a car accident with the car and he did some damage to the front axle and the front end of the car it has since been repaired and now everyday several times a day the same thing happens and it is messing with my brakes and it's scaring me and I don't know what to do.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jan 13, 2022
UNKNOWN. however there has been a safety recall about the brake lights not illuminating. I have tried three times to make an appointment with nissan dealership to get this problem fixed but i have had no luck with them helping. Im worrried about my daughters safety. She is not even two years old yet, i dont want her or anyone else on the road getting hurt because of a faulty safety feature.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Sep 20, 2021
I received a recall notice (PM971) (21V-135) on May 4, 2021. I went twice to the dealership to have my car fixed. I called several times asking what to do to get the recall completed. One person said they needed to look at it to get the part. I went to the dealership on May 24, 2021 and I am still waiting for them to call me telling me that they have the part. Meanwhile, I am having lots of trouble stepping on the brake to start the car. Frequently it takes me up to 10 minutes before I can get the car started. Yesterday (9/19), I gave up trying to start the car. Today, (9/20) I had problems each time I tried to use the car, taking 5-10 minutes each time. The first time I went to the dealership, the technician said he didn't know why the notice was sent out because they didn't have the parts. The dealership is Ray Brandt Nissan 4000 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero, LA 70072. I could not evacuate for Hurricane Ida because I could not be sure that I would be able to start my car or that my brake lights would work in stop an go traffice. My car is my only means of getting to work and accomplishing other tasks. I cannot continue to hope that my car will eventually start and hoping that my brake lights continue to work. Your help is appreciated.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine, Jun 28, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The vehicle stopped after the brake pedal was depressed, and the emergency brakes was engaged. The vehicle eventually stopped. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed that the brakes needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was a recall associated with the VIN, which would cover the repair cost for the ABS, rear stop lamp switch, Engine and Cruise Control. The failure mileage was 66,000.
Service brakes, Engine, Jun 21, 2021, fire
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the push to start button and brake pedal was depressed but the engine failed to start. The contact also stated that the RPM's would go to 5 when she depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle had a burning smell when driving. The contact stated the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) on June 11, 2021, at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,127.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, May 28, 2021
When I push the brakes and start button, all lights come on, navi starts, but Car Does NOT start. I am stranded for 6th or 7th time and waiting on tow truck. According to this link, this is a recurrent problem Nissan is aware of, and they do nothing to fix it. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-c27227_ds963428 Being stranded is dangerous-PERIOD. I am enduring a homeless man yelling at me while I sit in my car with doors locked. Nissan should recall this car. 2018 Sentra SV with push start is Not safe.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, May 14, 2021
A TIMELY FIX FOR THIS RECALL HAS NO BEEN ISSUED.
Electrical system, Service brakes, May 13, 2021
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS F AS FAILING MAKING MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT GLOW
Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Apr 17, 2021, crash
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR MY FRONT COLLISION SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS AFFECTED NOW THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND IT'S AFFECTING MY BRAKES MY LIGHTING AND MY SPEED CONTROL BECAUSE I CAN'T BREAK AND THEY HAVE NOT SENT ME A RECALL OR SEND ANY INFORMATION TO ME I FOUND THIS OUT ON MY CARFAX REPORT
Service brakes, Mar 14, 2021
THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO FLUID BUILD UP THAT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKES IN THE CAR I JUST BOUGHT FROM CARVANA. THANK GOD I RESEARCHED THE VIN BECAUSE IT WASN'T DISCLOSED TO ME FROM CARVANA. I COULD HAVE DIED IN AN ACCIDENT IF I NEVER WOULD HAVE DID A VIN SEARCH SO SEE IF ANY RECALLS EVER HAPPENED. HOW CAN I GET THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY?
Electrical system, Service brakes, Oct 21, 2020
MY 2018 NISSAN SENTRA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE (AEB) AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND WHILE IM DRIVING, I GET A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AEB HAS MALFUNCTIONED, FOLLOWED BY A CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE THAT DOESNT GO AWAY UNLESS I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE LOUD BEEP WILL KEEP GOING FOR AS LONG AS IM DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES BRAKES ON ITS OWN, WHICH IS SCARY, AND DANGEROUS. EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHT COMES ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE IM DRIVING, FOLLOWED BY THE ANNOYING BEEP, THERES NOT ONE DAY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, AS FAR AS THE BRAKING GOES, THAT HAPPENS DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES. SOMETIMES OBJECTS WILL MAKE MY VEHICLE BRAKE, OR SOMETIMES IT'LL BRAKE FOR NO REASON, JUST A SLIGHT BRAKE.
Service brakes, Oct 21, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN HER DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE BRAKE WAS STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PAD FROM THE WHEEL WELL WAS SMOKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMOKE STARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES GOT SO HOT THAT THEY MELTED THE WEIGHT THAT WAS ON THE RIMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALSER NISSAN COON RAPIDS, 3300 129TH AVE NW, COON RAPIDS, MN 55448, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO SENSOR THAT WAS NOT COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY WAS TELLING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE BRAKE AND STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,972.*DT*JB
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 19, 2020
EBS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. EVERY DAY. WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION.
Service brakes, Sep 19, 2020
OVER 2 1/2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, I'VE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM: THE BREAK SWITCH HAS FAILED TO ALLOW THE PUSH-BUTTON STARTER TO ENGAGE, WHICH LEAVES ME UNABLE TO STAR THE CAR. THE ISSUE EFFECTIVELY LEAVES ME STRANDED AND HAS RESULTED IN MAKING ME LATE. IT ONLY HAPPENEDS WHEN STARTING THE CAR SO IT'S STATIONARY.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Sep 15, 2020
CAR PULLS TO RIGHT ON THE EXPRESS WAY MAKING VERY LOUD FUNNY NOISES , RPM SHOOTS TO 2 TO 5 AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED A FEW TIMES TAKING ME OFF OF THE ROAD BUT NOT CRASHING OR INTO A ACCIDENT , THE BRAKES ARE ALSO SOUNDING BAD. ON STREETS THE CARS STEERING DRIFTS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO DO ITS OWN THING .
Service brakes, Aug 20, 2020
MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE AEB SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED IT ALL THREE TIMES AND I BRING IT HOME AND ONCE I START DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE SENSOR COMES ON AGAIN. AS I'M DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN EVEN THOUGH I'M PRESSING ON THE GAS. I HAVE TO LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN PRESS THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO KICK IT BACK INTO RUNNING CORRECTLY. I HAVE A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA AND IT HAS 30,000 MILES. THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 36,000 MILES AND I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT IN AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IF THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG. I'VE OWNED SENTRAS BEFORE AND NEVER HAD THIS MUCH PROBLEM!
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 31, 2020
VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND APPLIES VEHICLE BRAKES IN RANDOM INSTANCES. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE COULD BRAKE SUDDENLY WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A CRASH.
Service brakes, Jul 17, 2020
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET PREPARING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY THE MALFUNCTION AND COLLISION SIGN POPPED UP IN THE DASH BOARD..AFTER SO LONG A CONTINUOUS DING SOUND CAN BE HEARD. PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD TO TAP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD EVEN START..ONLY HAVE 30,000 MILES AND I JUST GOT THIS CAR IN APRIL AND ALREADY HAVING ISSUE..
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, May 25, 2020
MY 2018 NISSAN SENTRA HAS ISSUES WITH NOT STARTING AND THE BRAKE SENSOR FAILING AND COMING ON WITH NOTHING AROUND. THE BACK UP CAMERA GOES OUT AND THE RADIO AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL LIGHTS GO OUT. THERE ARE SEVERAL ONGOING DANGEROUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, CORP AND MANAGERS AT SUTHERLIN NISSAN TO NO AVAIL.*DT*JB*DT*JB
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Apr 18, 2020
EVERYTIME I DRIVE IN THE RAIN OR SNOW OR ANY WET CONDITIONS MY FRONT SENSOR FOR THE BRAKES SAYS SENSOR UNDETECTED ERROR MESSAGE AND ALSO MY BRAKES LOOK BRAND NEW AND THEY SQUEAK
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Mar 29, 2020
FORWARD COLLISION SENSOR CAUSING VEHICLE TO BRAKE WHEN NOTHING IS FRONT OF ME WHILE I DRIVE. IT HAS HAPPENED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. NISSAN DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF ISSUES BUT IS CHARGING ME $1300 TO FIX BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY