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
185 reports, newest first.
Power train, Jan 28, 2020
THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT I WAS ONLY ABLE TO USE REVERSE, MY CAR HAS 46000 MILES I HAVE NEVER BEEN LATE ON CHANGING MY OIL AND GETTING THE CAR SERVICED, WOULD NOT RECOMMEND BUYING A SENTRA
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jan 21, 2020, crash
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MPH, BEFORE I EVEN APPROACHED ANOTHER VEHICLE MY SENSORS BEGAN BEEPING QUICKER AS IF I WERE ABOUT TO HIT ANOTHER CAR. NO VEHICLE NEAR ME CLOSE ENOUGH FOR SENSOR TO BEGIN ALERTING ME. AS I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN , THEY BEGAN BEEPING VERY FAST AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, I WENT AROUND A CAR THAT WAS SITTING AT THE STOP SIGN TO AVOID REAR ENDING THEM, AND STILL REAR ENDED A PARKED CAR. POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION
Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2020, crash
WHEN BRAKING, IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL YOUR FOOT MAY BE ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING CAR TO EXCELERATE. GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND GO TO BRAKE IS WHEN IT HAPPENS, ANYWHERE.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 13, 2020
MALFUNCTIONING ICC RADAR SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING. I'M RECEIVING A WARNING MESSAGE "FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION". DEALER REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE MY MILEAGE IS TOO HIGH
Service brakes, Dec 28, 2019
ON 12/16/19 I REPORTED AN ISSUE WITH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING IT'S UNAVAILABLE. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE IN 3 TIMES TO FIX THE ISSUE AT METRO NISSAN IN MONTCLAIR CALIFORNIA. THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND KNOW ABOUT IT FROM OTHER VEHICLES. THEY HAVE NOW CHOSEN TO BLAME ME FOR THE ISSUE. THIS DEALERSHIP IS THE WORST POSSIBLE. NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DOESN'T HAVE A FIX. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE SENSOR HAS BEEN CALIBRATED, ETC. PROBLEM IS THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY MORE. NISSAN WAKE UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY OF YOUR CAR OWNERS. BUY THE CARS BACK IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. KEEP OUR SAFETY PRIORITY #1. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 3 WEEKS AND IT'S BEEN AT METRO NISSAN THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AND STILL BROKEN. SINCE THE DEALER CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM I'M CONTACTING NISSAN CORP DIRECTLY. LOUSY DEALERSHIP. STAY AWAY FROM THEM.
Other or unspecified, Dec 21, 2019
THE FRONT RADAR IS NOT WORKING. WE GET AN ERROR SAYING 'THE FRONT RADAR IS UNAVAILABLE OBSTRUCTION'. I'VE CHECKED WHAT I THINK IT THE RADAR MODULE AND IT'S NOT OBSTRUCTED. I'VE ALSO SEEN A TON OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
Service brakes, Dec 16, 2019
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM SENSOR FREQUENTLY LIGHTS UP WITH A WARNING RADAR UNAVAILABLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREETS. I JUST GOT THIS CAR AND AFTER ONE DAY I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. FIRST THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SENSOR. AFTER FOUR DAYS IN THE SHOP THEY SAID THEY CLEANED THE SENSOR AND CLEARED THE CODES. THEY ALSO CALIBRATED THE SENSOR. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWICE. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN TWO DAYS. IN READING THE NHTSA WEBSITE THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL CAR, WITH THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE. NISSAN HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL OR FIX THE PROBLEM. THESE CARS ARE LEMONS. THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING A LOT MORE SERIOUS. ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.
Other or unspecified, Dec 14, 2019
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING, DISPLAYING THE WARNING MESSAGE 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION.' THE WARNING WILL CLEAR AND REAPPEAR MULTIPLE TIME WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INTERVENTION DURING A SINGLE TRIP.
Power train, Dec 2, 2019
TRANSMISSION OVER HEATS. TRANSMISSION HAS A LOUD NOISE AND DRAGS SINCE 60,000 MILES
Service brakes, Nov 23, 2019
EMERGENCY BREAKING SYSTEM SENSOR SEEMS TO SAY THERE IS SOMETHING OBSTRUCTING FRONT CAR ITS FAULTY/BAD SENSOR JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE.
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Nov 17, 2019
I BOUGHT A 2018 NISSAN SENTRY IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. IN THE PAST MONTH THE BRAND NEW CAR HAS NOT BEEN STARTING. IT HAS BEEN LEAVING ME STRANDED AT WORK AND AT THE STORE. I KEEP TAKING IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND BATTERY. HOWEVER THE CAR IS STILL NOT STARTING ON ME. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AGAIN BUT NOW THEY ARE WAITING FOR ANOTHER PART. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT'S A NEW CAR AND TO ME EVERYTHING IN THE CAR SHOULD BE NEW. THANK YOU [XXX] ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).') *JB
Service brakes, Oct 30, 2019
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING BROKEN WITH SENSOR & RADAR PROBLEMS. THE SENSOR FREQUENTLY DEACTIVATE ITSELF, DISABLING CRUISE CONTROL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. A WARNING FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM: 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION.'
Seat belts, Oct 23, 2019, crash
I HIT A DEER HEAD ON. MY PASSENGER 16YR OLD. HAD HER SEATBELT ON. IT DIDNT LATCH AND KEEP HER FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAG WENT OFF AND IT DIDN'T STOP HER FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD EITHER. WE WAS ON AN INTERSTATE DOING 70MPH. IN A 70MPH ZONE. SHE HAS ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION AND I FEEL LIKE BOTH THESE SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HER FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS.
Electrical system, Sep 21, 2019
PURCHASED CAR NEW AND ONE WEEK INTO OWNERSHIP HAD THE FRONT PROXIMITY SENSOR GO BAD, WHICH DISABLES VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INCLUDING CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER WAITING A MONTH ON A BACK ORDERED PART IT WAS INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. 1 YEAR LATER THE SENSOR AGAIN WAS DIAGNOSED AS BAD AND ONE WAS ORDERED , THE NEW PART CAME IN DAMAGED AND WHEN REORDERING THE PART, IT AGAIN WENT TO BACK ORDER. IT HAS NOW BEEN A MONTH, AND STILL NO PART. NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE WAS CONTACTED AND THE "ESCALATED" THE COMPLAINT TO A "REGIONAL LEVEL". ALL THAT HAS ACCOMPLISHED IS AN OCCASIONAL PHONE CALL FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE TELLING ME THAT THE PART IS NOT IN AND HE HASN'T EVEN GOT A TIMEFRAME FOR IT. ALSO THAT THERE ARE 1000 VEHICLES AWAITING THAT PART AND MINE IS AT THE HEAD OF THE PACK. THIS IS A SAFETY SENSITIVE PART AND THEY ARE NOT MAINTAINING AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS , AND ARE RETURNING VEHICLES TO CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE WHILE AWAITING THE REPLACEMENT.
Service brakes, Sep 20, 2019
EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN, THE AEB WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND IT BEEPS SAYING THAT THERE'S AN OBSTRUCTION. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION PRESENT. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Sep 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE "UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR SENSOR" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM KERAS NISSAN (2080 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128, (901) 373-2800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT RADAR SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 37101150. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,300.
Electrical system, Aug 24, 2019
I PURCHASED MY 2018 NISSAN SENTRA WITH 5 MILES (BASICALLY BRAND NEW) THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 10,000 MILES AND THE VEHICLE IS KEPT MAINTAINED. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE NISSAN SENTRA I BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY BACK UP CAMERA SCREEN IN WHICH IT BEGAN BLACKING OUT AND FLICKERING IN AND OFF. SINCE IT HAD BEEN RAINING IN MY TOWN I ASSUMED THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SHORT OR WATER MUST OF LEAKED INTO THE WIRING SYSTEM L, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY TYPE OF ISSUE WITH THE CAR SO I LEFT IT AT THAT I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT GAIN HOWEVER IT HASN'T RAINED EITHER SO I'M JUST WAITING TO SEE. AFTER THAT OCCURRED I BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FRONT RADAR CRASH SENSOR. I GET A WARNING ⚠️ SIGNAL ON MY DASH CONSTANTLY READING THAT I HAVE A FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION WHICH THERE IS NOTHING BLOCKING THE SENSOR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY AC BEGAN BLOWING UP STREAMLINED HOT AIR AND WENT OUT ONE DAY. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN FIND TO FIX THE ISSUES. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND THESE ISSUES HAVE RAISED CONCERN. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND STILL THESE ISSUES CANNOT BE FIXED
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 16, 2019
I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT STATIONARY, ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE THE STORE, AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE BRAKE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING. I DRIVE A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA AND IT IS PUSH START. AT THE TIME IT WAS MID DAY AND THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 102. MY EIGHT MONTH AND A HALF PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND HAD TO WAIT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES IN THE HEAT UNTIL THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. AFTER ONE GOOGLE SEARCH I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THIS ISSUE IS QUITE FREQUENT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS HAPPENED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THIS AND ALL OF THEM HAPPENED BETWEEN 21,500 AND 23,500 MILES. THIS ISUNACCEPTABLE FOR A ONE-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE AND COULD'VE LED TO SOMETHING WAY MORE DANGEROUS IN THE EVENT WE HAD OUR NEWBORN CHILD WITH US.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Aug 6, 2019
2018 NISSAN SENTRA SAFETY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM NOT WORKING WITH ERROR DISPLAYED 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION.'. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN ERROR CODE APEARED ON INSTRUMENT SCREEN. VEHICLE RENTED FROM DOLLAR RENT A CAR LOCATION HONOLULU, HI AIRPORT. NOTIFIED RENTAL LOCATION WITH RESPONSE OF "VEHICLE IS FINE". NOTIFIED DOLLAR CORPORATE AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. DOLLAR IS KNOWINGLY RENTING VEHICLES WITH INOPERABLE SAFETY SYSTEMS TO CONSUMER.
Steering, Suspension, Jun 11, 2019
CAR PULLING TO LEFT CONTRACTION LIGHT GOING ON WHEN DRIVING
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2019
FAULTY RADAR IN THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM IS CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION IN THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATEDLY TRIED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS CAUSING THE CAR TO RANDOMLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND/OR CAUSE THE AUTO EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SIMPLY NOT WORK.
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2019
WHILE CAR IS IN GEAR WHITH BRAKES APPLIED THE THE CAR BEGINS TO ROLL IF ON SLIGHT INCLINE. AS IF IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, May 22, 2019
CAR HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT AND IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE FRONT RADAR CAMERA IS CONSTANTLY ACTING LIKE THE CAR IS IN A WRECK AND IT LIGHTS UP THE DASH WITH VARIOUS CRASH EMBLEMS.. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT IN A NEW RADAR CAMERA AND IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME EXACT THING 2 DAYS AFTER BEING IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 7 FULL DAYS...NISSAN CANT FIX THIS RADAR CRASH SENSOR.... THIS HAPPENS AFTER YOU CRANK THE CAR AND YOU GO ROUGHLY A HUNDRED YARDS.
Forward collision avoidance, May 18, 2019, crash
EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST HAS BEEN ACTING FROM.THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE...THEN I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT THEN IT GOT WORSE, THEY REPLACED THE BRACKET AND SENSOR AND THEY PROBLEM STILL REMAINS... ACTUALLY I WORSE THEN BEFORE EVERYTIME I USE MY SIGNAL OT GOES OFF WHEN I'M APPROACHING A HILL IT GOES OFF.
Other or unspecified, May 13, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WAS REAR ENDED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TWO PEDESTRIANS ASSISTED THE CONTACT IN EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR BACK AND RIGHT CHEST AREA THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE OTHER DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,887. *DT *DT PHOTOS ATTACHED.*JB *JB