Owners have reported 17 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries and 1 death to NHTSA for the 2018 Nissan Sentra. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints43
POWER TRAIN
Owners report frequent issues with the CVT transmission in the 2018 Nissan Sentra, often involving slipping, jerking, and failure to engage gears. Common symptoms include the vehicle stalling, revving without acceleration, and abrupt loss of power, sometimes without warning lights. These problems typically arise between 60,000 and 118,500 miles, with some owners experiencing multiple transmission replacements. Safety implications are noted, with several reports of near-accidents due to sudden stalling in traffic or during maneuvers. Used car buyers should be aware of these potential transmission issues and the associated repair costs.
Owner complaints31
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues with the vehicle's electrical system, particularly related to the ignition and braking components. Common symptoms include difficulty starting the car, often requiring multiple attempts or manipulation of the brake pedal, and the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system malfunctioning, which sometimes causes the vehicle to brake unexpectedly. These problems are often reported at mileages ranging from around 51,000 to 180,000 miles. Safety implications are notable, with one report involving a crash due to the car's systems failing to function correctly. Additionally, several owners mention issues with the radar obstruction warning and other electrical components like the gas gauge and interior lights, which could contribute to operational challenges.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues related to the transmission and starting system. Complaints often describe the car failing to start despite dashboard lights being on, attributed to potential stop lamp switch failures, with some mentioning the inability to start the car for extended periods. Transmission problems are also common, with symptoms like jerking, hesitation, loss of power, and burning smells, sometimes requiring costly repairs or replacements. Some owners report concerns about the front radar system, which can deactivate unexpectedly, affecting features like cruise control and emergency braking. Safety implications are noted, including crashes and an injury, with some reports indicating risks of unintended acceleration due to pedal proximity. These issues arise across various mileage ranges, suggesting potential reliability concerns for prospective buyers.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints14
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues related to the brake light switch, which affects the vehicle's ability to start and causes brake lights to fail, potentially leading to near-collision situations. Complaints often mention problems with the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, with sensors falsely indicating obstructions and intermittently disabling cruise control and braking functions. These issues are commonly reported at mileage around 30,000 to 66,000 miles. Safety implications include unintended acceleration, brake failure, and two incidents involving smoke and fire. Prospective buyers should be aware of these recurring issues and their potential impact on vehicle safety and functionality.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints12
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues with the forward collision avoidance system, particularly involving the automatic emergency braking (AEB) and radar sensors. Common symptoms include the AEB system activating unexpectedly, false positives regarding obstructions, and warning lights indicating system malfunctions. Complaints often describe these issues occurring intermittently and at varying speeds, with some reports beginning as early as 1,000 miles. One incident involves a crash with an injury, highlighting potential safety implications. Buyers considering this vehicle should be aware of these reported issues, especially as they could affect driving safety and system reliability.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints11
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues related to the exterior lighting, particularly involving brake lights and headlamps. Symptoms include brake lights failing to illuminate and headlamps experiencing electrical failures, often occurring around 29,000 to 79,000 miles. Some complaints involve crashes due to inoperable brake lights, with one incident resulting in a rear-end collision and a concussion. Additionally, several owners express frustration with delays in obtaining parts for recall repairs related to these lighting issues. These patterns indicate potential safety implications, particularly regarding visibility and signaling to other drivers.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues with the vehicle's speed control, particularly related to the CVT transmission and collision avoidance systems. Common symptoms include the car stalling, shaking, and losing power during acceleration, as well as the vehicle failing to move forward or only operating in reverse. Some complaints involve the automatic emergency braking system activating unexpectedly, causing sudden stops, while others mention forward collision sensors triggering braking without obstruction. These issues are often noted in vehicles with mileage over 80,000, with one complaint involving a crash due to accelerator and collision avoidance failures. Potential buyers should be aware of these reported problems, as they may impact the vehicle's reliability and safety.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints9
AIR BAGS
Owners report that the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently experiences issues with airbag deployment during crashes, with seven incidents involving crashes where airbags did not deploy as expected. Typical symptoms described include airbags failing to activate upon impact, leading to injuries such as head, neck, and torso trauma. Additionally, some owners note problems with the passenger airbag system, where the airbag remains off despite a passenger being present, often linked to a faulty occupant classification sensor. Mileage at the time of these issues varies, with some reports occurring around 13,000 to 70,000 miles. These patterns indicate potential safety implications, including increased risk of injury during collisions due to non-deploying airbags and malfunctioning seatbelt restraints.
Severity signals: 7 crash, 0 fire, 6 injury reports
Owner complaints9
ENGINE
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues related to the CVT transmission, with symptoms including loss of power, shuddering, and difficulty moving the vehicle. Some complaints describe sudden transmission failures that leave the vehicle inoperable, with one owner noting a failure at approximately 61,000 miles. In addition, there are reports of the engine failing to start even after battery replacement and issues with the vent control valve. Safety implications are significant, as one complaint involves a vehicle fire resulting in an injury, and another describes a loss of control leading to potential accident risks. These patterns suggest potential reliability concerns for buyers considering a used 2018 Nissan Sentra.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints6
STEERING
Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra frequently report issues related to steering functionality. Common symptoms described include difficulty turning the steering wheel, audible alarms, and messages indicating a malfunction, often self-correcting after a vehicle restart. Several complaints highlight steering instability, such as the vehicle pulling to one side, and in one case, the steering wheel locking, leading to a temporary loss of control. Reports also mention mechanical failures like a faulty tie rod and a clock spring issue affecting the horn function. Notably, these problems arise at various mileage points, with one report occurring as early as 27,360 miles. Safety concerns are evident, with owners expressing fears of potential wheel detachment and steering loss, which could pose risks during highway driving.
