I WAS DRIVING AND HIT A SPOT OF ICE AND HAD GONE OFF THE ROAD TAKING OUT TWO SIGNS AND HEAD ON INTO A TREE. I WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE TRAUMA UNIT AT THE HOSPITAL. I HAD A BROKEN FEMUR, SHATTERED KNEE, BROKEN ANKLE, BROKEN FOOT, LACERATED LIVER, PUNCTURED LUNG AND BROKEN RIBS. MY AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
2008 Nissan Sentra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sentra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
125 reports with mileage · 42 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
53 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND SLIGHTLY CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS SEIZED AROUND THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS HAD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND SLIGHTLY CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS SEIZED AROUND THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING FOR NO REASON AT ALL JUST BEFORE THE CAR HIT 60,000 MILES. IT CONTINUES TO BLINK AND I NOW HAVE TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP $75 TO DETERMINE WHY IT IS BLINKING. TO ME THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE GIVEN THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT TRIGGERED THIS EVENT. *TR
THE DRIVER OF A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA WAS STATIONARY IN A LEVEL PARKING LOT. WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WAS THE DRIVER AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND NO SIGNS O…
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THE DRIVER OF A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA WAS STATIONARY IN A LEVEL PARKING LOT. WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WAS THE DRIVER AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE VISIBLE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT COLLISION BUT HAS ISSUED VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN ID # PM952 THAT ADDRESSES SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS THAT MAY BE INCORRECTLY POSITIONED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER PENDING SERVICE WORK AND NISSAN USA HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DRIVER TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED ON THE ROOF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ASIDE FROM THE MASSIVE IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE REAR PASSENGER SUFFERE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED ON THE ROOF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ASIDE FROM THE MASSIVE IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE REAR PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE RIGHT LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, AND TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, SHE ENDED UP GOING OVER A CURB. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LONGER WORK. A CHILD WAS SEATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER?S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IN A SAFETY SEAT SECURED BY THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, AND TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, SHE ENDED UP GOING OVER A CURB. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LONGER WORK. A CHILD WAS SEATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER?S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IN A SAFETY SEAT SECURED BY THE VEHICLE SEAT BELT HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND CAUSED THE CHILD SEAT TO FLIP OVER UPON IMPACT. THE CHILD WAS THROWN FROM THE SAFETY SEAT. THE CHILD SUFFERED NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED. THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000....UPDATED 01-16-14 *BF
THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE, LAST ONE WAS ONE YEAR AGO. THE AIRBAGS SENSOR CAME ON ALL OF SUDDEN FOR NO REASON AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME A BUNCH OF MONEY JUST TO CHECK IT (NOT TO REPAIR IT, JUST LOOK AT IT FIRST). AFTER THEY CHANGED OUT THE TRANSMISSION IT MAGICALLY FIXED IT SELF? THE TIRE SENSOR IS DISPLAYI…
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THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE, LAST ONE WAS ONE YEAR AGO. THE AIRBAGS SENSOR CAME ON ALL OF SUDDEN FOR NO REASON AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME A BUNCH OF MONEY JUST TO CHECK IT (NOT TO REPAIR IT, JUST LOOK AT IT FIRST). AFTER THEY CHANGED OUT THE TRANSMISSION IT MAGICALLY FIXED IT SELF? THE TIRE SENSOR IS DISPLAYING THAT IT'S FAULTY / NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE TWO OTHER VEHICLES CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AREAS. THE POLICE REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE TWO OTHER VEHICLES CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AREAS. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING AND VARIOUS FRACTURES TO HER CERVICAL BONES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TR UPDATED 05/15/13*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE FOUR AIR BAGS EQUIPPED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. IN MAY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE FOUR AIR BAGS EQUIPPED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. IN MAY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Official recalls
310V401000 · 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.
09V431000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Nov 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
08V311000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Jul 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP16002 · Scope Of Recalls 08V311 And 09V431
Opened Dec 20, 2016 · Closed Oct 2, 2017
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Nissan conducted safety recalls 08V-311 and 09V-431 to remedy leaking master cylinders on certain MY 2007 and 2008 Nissan Sentra vehicles.The recall populations were determined based on production changes to the master cylinder which were fully implemented into production on April 18, 2008.NHTSA utilized vehicle owner questionnaire (VOQ) reports and did not request field information from Nissan.ODI identified two MY 2008 Nissan Sentra VOQs including the petitioner?s vehicle, which were not covered by the recalls and reported a leaking master cylinder.Both of these incidents occurred 6 or more years into the service life of the vehicle.ODI also identified three VOQs which reported a leaking master cylinder after receiving the recall remedy.While one of these failures occurred within 36 months of the recall remedy, the other two occurred at a later time.ODI notes that the original recall addressed failures which occurred early in the life of the vehicle, typically during the first 36 months of service.Master cylinders are generally expected to experience wear and thus will display a finite service life.After a thorough review of the available data in NHTSA's VOQ database, the agency has not identified a trend that would call into question the scope or adequacy of Nissan's recalls.Accordingly, and in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, ODI is denying the petition.A detailed summary of ODI's analysis of this petition is available in the investigative file for this action, and will be published in the Federal Register also.The agency reserves the right to revise this assessment should future circumstances warrant.The VOQs cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 10299791 10330891 10449038 10567372 10638813 10805749 10839357
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Nissan conducted safety recalls 08V-311 and 09V-431 to remedy leaking master cylinders on certain MY 2007 and 2008 Nissan Sentra vehicles.The recall populations were determined based on production changes to the master cylinder which were fully implemented into production on April 18, 2008.NHTSA utilized vehicle owner questionnaire (VOQ) reports and did not request field information from Nissan.ODI identified two MY 2008 Nissan Sentra VOQs including the petitioner?s vehicle, which were not covered by the recalls and reported a leaking master cylinder.Both of these incidents occurred 6 or more years into the service life of the vehicle.ODI also identified three VOQs which reported a leaking master cylinder after receiving the recall remedy.While one of these failures occurred within 36 months of the recall remedy, the other two occurred at a later time.ODI notes that the original recall addressed failures which occurred early in the life of the vehicle, typically during the first 36 months of service.Master cylinders are generally expected to experience wear and thus will display a finite service life.After a thorough review of the available data in NHTSA's VOQ database, the agency has not identified a trend that would call into question the scope or adequacy of Nissan's recalls.Accordingly, and in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, ODI is denying the petition.A detailed summary of ODI's analysis of this petition is available in the investigative file for this action, and will be published in the Federal Register also.The agency reserves the right to revise this assessment should future circumstances warrant.The VOQs cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 10299791 10330891 10449038 10567372 10638813 10805749 10839357
Service Brakes
Nissan conducted safety recalls 08V-311 and 09V-431 to remedy leaking master cylinders on certain MY 2007 and 2008 Nissan Sentra vehicles.The recall populations were determined based on production changes to the master cylinder which were fully implemented into production on April 18, 2008.NHTSA utilized vehicle owner questionnaire (VOQ) reports and did not request field information from Nissan.ODI identified two MY 2008 Nissan Sentra VOQs including the petitioner?s vehicle, which were not covered by the recalls and reported a leaking master cylinder.Both of these incidents occurred 6 or more years into the service life of the vehicle.ODI also identified three VOQs which reported a leaking master cylinder after receiving the recall remedy.While one of these failures occurred within 36 months of the recall remedy, the other two occurred at a later time.ODI notes that the original recall addressed failures which occurred early in the life of the vehicle, typically during the first 36 months of service.Master cylinders are generally expected to experience wear and thus will display a finite service life.After a thorough review of the available data in NHTSA's VOQ database, the agency has not identified a trend that would call into question the scope or adequacy of Nissan's recalls.Accordingly, and in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, ODI is denying the petition.A detailed summary of ODI's analysis of this petition is available in the investigative file for this action, and will be published in the Federal Register also.The agency reserves the right to revise this assessment should future circumstances warrant.The VOQs cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 10299791 10330891 10449038 10567372 10638813 10805749 10839357
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