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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

Wheels complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2021
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlWheels

I PURCHASED THE CAR DROVE IT HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. 2 DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE IT DRIVES VERY SLOW AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11404021

139,000 miles · Sep 14, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemSuspensionWheels

BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY MY AXEL AND BALL JOINT. THE CONTROL ARM DISCONNECTED FROM MY TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE SIDE PANELING IN FRONT MY TIRE. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE EVEN WHEN PUT IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I GO IN REVERSE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED MY CAR WOULD PUTTER AND THEN DIE. THE CAR WILL NOT REVERSE UNLESS I PUT THE CAR…

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BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY MY AXEL AND BALL JOINT. THE CONTROL ARM DISCONNECTED FROM MY TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE SIDE PANELING IN FRONT MY TIRE. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE EVEN WHEN PUT IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I GO IN REVERSE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED MY CAR WOULD PUTTER AND THEN DIE. THE CAR WILL NOT REVERSE UNLESS I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL OUT FROM WHERE I AM.

NHTSA ODI #11354821

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2018
Wheels

THE TPMS SENSORS ARE ACTIVATED WITHOUT ANY AIR DROP, WHEN CHECKING THEM THEY APPEAR TO WORK CORRECTLY, IT IS RESET AND AT 20 MILES THEY ARE ACTIVATED AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11079047

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2016
Air BagsService BrakesWheelsCrash

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. BRAKES MAY HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO FULL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHEN SERVICED WHICH RESULTED IN NOT BRAKING IN TIME AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP THE VEHICLE ON A NISSAN RECALL WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT'S ONE OF THE ONES ON THE RECALL LIST…

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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. BRAKES MAY HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO FULL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHEN SERVICED WHICH RESULTED IN NOT BRAKING IN TIME AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP THE VEHICLE ON A NISSAN RECALL WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT'S ONE OF THE ONES ON THE RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ODI #10863459

106,751 miles · May 2, 2016
Air BagsWheels

AUGUST 13, 2014 I TOOK MY NISSAN TO DEALER BECAUSE OF AIR BAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE FLASHING. IT STARTED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS CAUSED BY RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILURE, THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT ASSY. UNDER A WARRANTY. OCTOBER 20, 2014 TOOK BACK TO DEALER DUE TO AIR BAG LIGHT AGAIN F…

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AUGUST 13, 2014 I TOOK MY NISSAN TO DEALER BECAUSE OF AIR BAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE FLASHING. IT STARTED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS CAUSED BY RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILURE, THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT ASSY. UNDER A WARRANTY. OCTOBER 20, 2014 TOOK BACK TO DEALER DUE TO AIR BAG LIGHT AGAIN FLASHING. INFORMED IT WAS COST $975 TO INSTALL A NEW CENSOR. I DECLINED WORK BECAUSE OF PRICE. TO DATE, 5/2/16, THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH. I ALSO HAVE A FLASHING LIGHT ON MY DASH FOR A TIRE CENSOR. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $135 TO FIND WHICH TIRE OR IF IT WAS A MAIN CENSOR THAT WAS CAUSING THIS. I DECLINED TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE COST -$135 TO FIND IT THEN ANOTHER COST TO FIX IT. THIS HAS BEEN FLASHING FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE FLASHING STARTED.

NHTSA ODI #10862453

60,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014
EnginePower TrainWheels

WHEN PURCHASING MY USED VEHICLE FROM EL MONTE TOYOTA, NOTICE SENSOR FOR TIRE ON, WAS TOLD BE FIXED, MONTHS LATER LEARN RIM MISSING SENSOR. LIGHT IN CAR ALSO DON'T WORK. DRIVING CAR IMMEDIATELY WAS STALLING OUT SHUTTING OFF WHEN IDOL. TOOK CAR BACK WEEK LATER SINCE WITHIN 30 DAY WARRANTY SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE ON RECORDED CALL…

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WHEN PURCHASING MY USED VEHICLE FROM EL MONTE TOYOTA, NOTICE SENSOR FOR TIRE ON, WAS TOLD BE FIXED, MONTHS LATER LEARN RIM MISSING SENSOR. LIGHT IN CAR ALSO DON'T WORK. DRIVING CAR IMMEDIATELY WAS STALLING OUT SHUTTING OFF WHEN IDOL. TOOK CAR BACK WEEK LATER SINCE WITHIN 30 DAY WARRANTY SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE ON RECORDED CALL AND SHE DIDN'T THOROUGHLY DOCUMENT CONVERSATION. UPON WAITING FOUR HOURS NEXT WEEK, TECH DROVE THE CAR NEVER DO A DIAGNOSTIC. AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED CAR REGULARLY SHUT OFF TRIGGERING TRANSMISSION CODES. OUT OF POCKET I PAID FOR TRANSMISSION FLUSH TWICE, THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT, BRAKES, LEARNING THERE WAS TRANSMISSION RECALL 2010. FALLING BEHIND IN PAYMENTS DUE.TO EXCESSIVE REPAIR EXPENSES TOOK CAR TO FIX AT NISSAN TO GET A LIST MORE OF DEFECTS I COULDN'T AFFORD. I FILED A CLAIM WITH TOYOTA AND WAS DENIED BY THE MANAGER. HAD THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN ALL BE AVOIDED. HOWEVER WAS ADVISED DEALERSHIP'S ARE AWARE OF RECALLS AND SOLD ME THE CAR ANYWAY? AND REFUSED TO FIX WHEN I RETURNED AND DISMISSED A CLAIM DIE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE. NEVER BUY A CAR FROM THAT DEALERSHIP AND WILL LET ANYONE LOOKING KNOW OF MY COSTLY EXPERIENCE. EXPECT THAT FROM A CAR LOT NOT A REPUTATION LIKE TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10666986

56 miles · Jul 31, 2014
SuspensionTiresWheels

SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SENSOR. A WEEK LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN, THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. AS I DROVE OFF THE LOT IT CAME BACK ON. THE ENTIRE RIM AND SENSOR WAS…

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SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SENSOR. A WEEK LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN, THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. AS I DROVE OFF THE LOT IT CAME BACK ON. THE ENTIRE RIM AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IT HAS CONTINUED TO COME ON REPEATEDLY OVER THE YEARS. IN ADDITION I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES YEARLY AS THEY WEAR UNEVENLY, REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND. THE BACK TIRES WEAR IN A WAVE PATTERN, THE FRONT WEAR AROUND THE EDGES EVEN AFTER NEW TIRES ARE BALANCES AND ALIGNED. I CAN NOT DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN BECAUSE OF THE NOISE THE TIRES MAKE. IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. WITH ALL THE OTHER SENSOR LIGHT, TIRE AND SUSPENSION ISSUES OTHERS ARE HAVING I AM SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN ACTION TAKEN. TIRES ARE NOT AN ACCESSORY PART, IT IS A NECESSARY PART AND WHEN THEY FAIL PEOPLE GET HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617892

79,000 miles · Dec 10, 2012
Air BagsWheels

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.

NHTSA ODI #10487895

30,000 miles · Mar 29, 2012
SteeringWheels

I HAVE HAD MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER AFTER PURCHASING A 08 SENTRA FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT AS WELL AS A POPPING IN THE WHEELS. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TURNED THE PRESSURE LIGHT OFF AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN 7 TIMES. THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT BY 30K MILES I COUDN'T BELIEVE I HAD TO REPLAC…

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I HAVE HAD MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER AFTER PURCHASING A 08 SENTRA FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT AS WELL AS A POPPING IN THE WHEELS. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TURNED THE PRESSURE LIGHT OFF AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN 7 TIMES. THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT BY 30K MILES I COUDN'T BELIEVE I HAD TO REPLACE THEM ALREADY. I ASLO HAD THE POPPING NOISE IN THE TIRES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I MOVED TO A DIFFERENT STATE AND TOOK IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY ASKED ME IF I HAD HEARD A NOISE IN THE TIRES. TO MY SURPRISE I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD HEARD IT FOR A LONG TIME BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING! THE OIL CHANGE PLACE TOLD ME THAT THE TOP STRUT MOUNTS WERE SEIZED CAUSING THE SPRINGS TO BIND. NOW I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY OVER $1100 TO REPLACE THEM. I LUCKILY HAVE EXT WARRANTY THAT COVERS IT FOR $50. I ALSO HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE BRAKES SOON AS WELL AS THE PRESSURE VALVES IN THE TIRES. IS THIS ALL RELATED TO THE DEALERS FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND NOW THIS HAS CAUSED MULTIPLE ISSUES AT 30K MILES?? OR CAN THIS BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH FAULTY EQUIPMENT? PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS THANKS

NHTSA ODI #10453411

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