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2018 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 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

97 reports with mileage · 88 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

32 reports
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42,300 miles · Mar 5, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE THE AEB SYSTEM ERRORS CAUSING THE TCS AND ESP SYSTEMS TO SHUT DOWN. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE MUST BE RESTARTED TO CLEAR THE FAULT.

NHTSA ODI #11316206

41,665 miles · Jan 31, 2020
Electrical System

RANDOM WARNING STATING "FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION," ESSENTIALLY DEACTIVATING THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM FOR FRONT END COLLISION. VEHICLE WILL BRAKE QUICKLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANYTHING AHEAD IN THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSES OTHER VEHICLES TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID COLLISION

NHTSA ODI #11306412

41,000 miles · Jan 21, 2020
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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 SIT…

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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

NHTSA ODI #11300743

7,436 miles · Sep 21, 2019
Electrical System

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 P…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11257073

42,300 miles · Sep 16, 2019
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11255904

10,000 miles · Aug 24, 2019
Electrical System

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 M…

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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

NHTSA ODI #11246156

23,500 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

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 F…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11244354

24,000 miles · Aug 6, 2019
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11242166

10,000 miles · Jun 6, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11218322

14,000 miles · May 22, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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 DEALERS…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11209363

Official recalls

2

21V135000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Mar 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

19V654000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.