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.
Electrical system, Mar 18, 2019
2018 NISSAN SENTRA 22K MILES. FRONT RADAR WARNING MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON. DEALER STATED THERE IS NO FIX FROM NISSAN AT THIS TIME AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THEY CALL US BACK. DEALER STATED IT COULD BE TWO DAYS OR TWO MONTHS. OWNERS MANUAL STATES THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE OPERATED AND TOOK TO THE DEALER IF THIS OCCURS. LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE A COURTESY CAR UNTIL THE REPAIR COULD BE MADE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR US AS OUR SON IS DRIVING THE CAR TO COLLEGE DAILY. DEALER STATED THE CAR DOES NOT APPLY THE BRAKES WITH THIS SYSTEM, THE VIDEO FROM NISSAN STATES OTHERWISE. CAR CANNOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE THIS WAY.
Other or unspecified, Mar 18, 2019, crash
MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AXSINGKE CAR ACCIDENT THAT COST HER LIFE. THE FRONT END COLLISION SENSORS WERE NOT WORKING AT THE TIME OVATE ACCIDENT. LAST YEAR WHEN THE SENSOR LIGHT WENT ON, WE MADE AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT REPAIRED. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER M'LADY NISSAN IN CRYSTAL LAKE IL THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR HIS PROBLEM YET. ABOUT A MONTH AGO [XXX] AND I TOOK HER CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND I DEMANDED THE FRONT SENSORS GET FIXED. WE RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER AND TOLD WE WOULD RECEIVE A POSTCARD WHEN THE REPAIR WAS MADE. MY DAUGHTER HIT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE AND THE BRAKES WERE NEVER APPLIED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD HAVE SAVED HER LIFE BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DEFECT THAT MUST BE REPAIRED. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING MULTI BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY CANNOT COME UP WITH A FIX FOR A $5.00 SENSOR. MY DAUGHTER WAS 28 AND I DO NOT WANT ANY OTHER FAMILY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH. WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WILL NOT BE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE WOODSTOCK POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE REPORT #[XXX]. PH # 815-338-2131 WOODSTOCK, IL POLICE DEPARTMENT. I DO NOT HAVE A PHOTO OF THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND IT WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NW HERALD IN CRYSTAL LAKE IL INFORMATION REENACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT *DT *DT *DT*JB *DT*JB POLICE REPORT SUBMITTED.*JB *DT *DT *DT PHOTOS ATTACHED *JB *DT COMMUNICATION WITH NISSAN ATTACHED.*JB
Forward collision avoidance, Feb 8, 2019
JUST BEFORE I HIT 1000 MILES, THE FRONT COLLISION SENSOR STARTED BEEPING AT RANDOM TIMES WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR IN MOTION AND ULTIMATELY, IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN A LOT ON THE 2018 MODEL SENTRAS. ALSO, THE GUARD IN THE INSIDE TRACK OF THE DRIVER DOOR CAME OFF TWICE AND I HAD TO FASTEN IT BACK ON. I DID BUY IT OFF THE SALES FLOOR SO A LOT MORE PEOPLE WERE IN AND OUT OF IT BUT I STILL DO NOT FEEL LIKE THAT SHOULD HAPPEN ON A BRAND NEW CAR. LAST, MY 2017 NISSAN NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BLUETOOTH BUT THIS ONE CONSTANTLY KICKS ME OFF OF CALLS BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL DEALERSHIP CATCHES IT IN THE ACT. OVERALL, I LOVE THE SAFETY, COMFORT, AND FEEL OF MY CAR, JUST WISH THE BLUETOOTH WOULD WORK RIGHT.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Dec 18, 2018
FRONT RADAR SYSTEM TURNS OFF AND THEN RESETS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DASH MESSAGE IS 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION'. IT IS TIED INTO THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM AND INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON VARIED ROADWAYS. THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION. *DT CONSUMER STATED HE IS CANCELLING REQUEST.*JB
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 30, 2018
MY 2018 NISSAN SENTRA STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/WIRE PROBLEMS AFTER HITTING A SMALL PUDDLE GOING UP TO MY TIRES. DAYS LATER THE CAR GOT IT OIL CHANGE HAVE FAMILY OIL COMPANY ON RIDGE AVENUE IN NORRISTOWN PENNSYLVANIA VERY NEXT DAY HAVE TO WORK MY CAR STOP MOVING I JUST STILL RAN I TOOK IT TO NISSAN SO THAT THEY CAN SEE WHY THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRES THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR THEY HAD IT FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT.
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 29, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED TORSO AND RIBS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK AND LACERATIONS TO THE LEFT ARM, WHICH ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (PELTIER NISSAN, 3201 SSW LOOP 323, TYLER, TX) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Other or unspecified, Aug 23, 2018
I WORK IN A SHOP AND OVER THE LAST MONTH, WE'VE SEEN 10 SENTRAS UNDER 15000MILES COME IN WITH SNAPPED DRIVE BELTS. ALL OF THEM HAVE PULLEYS THAT SPIN FREELY SO THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE. THE BELTS SEEM TO BE COMING APART AT THE SEAMS
Other or unspecified, Aug 16, 2018
WHILE DRIVING SLIGHTLY OVER 80 MPH IN UTAH WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 80 MPH, THE GASKET HOLDING DOWN THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO COME OFF AND HAD TO BE HELD IN PLACE BY CLOSING THE WINDOW ON IT. THIS HAPPENED TO THE GASKET ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR. FOR FUTURE DRIVING I WAS ABLE TO HOLD IT DOWN IN PLACE WITH DUCT TAPE WHICH I HAPPENED TO HAVE.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Forward collision avoidance, Jul 31, 2018
THE FRONT SENSOR KEEP SHOWING THE "FRONT SENSOR UNAVAILABLE" FOLLOWED BY THE CRASH ICON AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, AND ALL SPEEDS INCLUDING IN THE STOPPED POSITION. THE SENSOR GOES OUT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES NEAR THE CAR.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 19, 2018
WITHIN ONE WEEK OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED AS I ENTER ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE ALSO FEELS AS IF IT'S OUT OF BALANCE AND SHAKES AT SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MPH. AND THE FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT DISPLAY/ UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION WARNING LIGHT ALSO DISPLAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME. AS YOU CAN SEE BY JUST A FEW OF THE MANY PHOTOS BELOW IT IS HAPPENING ANY GIVEN DAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME EVEN AT ZERO SPEED *TT