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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 →

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.

20 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2015
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PETITION FOR DEFECT INVESTIGATION AND RECALL EXPANSION FOR MY 2007-2008 NISSAN SENTRA VEHICLES EXPERIENCING MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKAGE. *SMD A COMPLAINT WAS SENT IN TO THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL, BY A COMPLAINANT. THE COMPLAINANT STATED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK WAS DUE TO A LEAKING REAR SEAL RESULTING IN A …

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PETITION FOR DEFECT INVESTIGATION AND RECALL EXPANSION FOR MY 2007-2008 NISSAN SENTRA VEHICLES EXPERIENCING MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKAGE. *SMD A COMPLAINT WAS SENT IN TO THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL, BY A COMPLAINANT. THE COMPLAINANT STATED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK WAS DUE TO A LEAKING REAR SEAL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ORIGINAL MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER THAT WAS NEVER SERVICED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH NO EXTERNAL SIGN OF A LEAK. UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE HAD A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF BRAKE FLUID ACCUMULATED IN THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER, LOCATED TO AND ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONDITION WAS DESCRIBED IN RECALLS 08V311000 AND 09V431000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10805749

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PER NISSAN RECALL 169.202, MY 2008 SENTRA IS EQUIPPED WITH ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION WAS MADE KNOWN TO ME, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL. ALL INFORMATION AND THE L…

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PER NISSAN RECALL 169.202, MY 2008 SENTRA IS EQUIPPED WITH ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION WAS MADE KNOWN TO ME, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL. ALL INFORMATION AND THE LINK TO THIS FORM WAS SUPPLIED TO ME BY FIRESTONE, NOT BY THE DEALER. THIS RECALL AND REPAIR OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD BE HONORED.

NHTSA ODI #10567372

47,751 miles · Feb 23, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicFire

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE LOST POWER AND VEHICLE SLOWED. WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE OBSERVED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE BECAME FULLY INVOLVED WITHIN 3 MINUTES. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EXTINGUSH FIRE. CAUSE UNDERTERMINED. FIRES POINT …

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE LOST POWER AND VEHICLE SLOWED. WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE OBSERVED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE BECAME FULLY INVOLVED WITHIN 3 MINUTES. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EXTINGUSH FIRE. CAUSE UNDERTERMINED. FIRES POINT OF ORIGIN WAS IN THE AREA OF THE ECM/BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, NO FLUID LEAKS,MECHANICAL ISSUES OR WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449038

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

2008 NISSAN SENTRA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED ON HIS FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE NEXT THE DAY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE FRONT PADS REPLACED AND T…

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2008 NISSAN SENTRA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED ON HIS FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE NEXT THE DAY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE FRONT PADS REPLACED AND THE REAR PADS CLEANED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE SINCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10385069

40,000 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED VERY OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER AND THE TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEAL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED VERY OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER AND THE TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WOULD BE REPLACED WHEN THEY WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10353073

24,300 miles · Jan 14, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2008 NISSAN SENTRA, SO FAR HAD TO REPAIR AND REPLACE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER 3 TIMES ALREADY SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299791

5,100 miles · Sep 25, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THEY VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. SINCE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE DIRECTION OF A BUILDING, SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY CRASHING INTO A HANDICAP SIGN AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THERE WE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THEY VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. SINCE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE DIRECTION OF A BUILDING, SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY CRASHING INTO A HANDICAP SIGN AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE "BRAKE" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,100.

NHTSA ODI #10285252

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

GAS PEDAL TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE, TOE HITS ACCELERATOR WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED WHY CAR WAS LURCHING WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264013

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY MAIL OF A RECALL ON OF MY BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN DOESN'T SEND RECALL NOTICES BY US MAIL ANYMORE....ONLY BY EMAIL. WHAT IF I HADN'T TAKEN IT IN FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE? MY BRAKES COULD HAVE FAILED AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260229

6,767 miles · Jan 5, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 A…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10253805

Official recalls

3

10V401000 · 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

1

DP16002 · 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