2018 Nissan Sentra problems and complaints
Owners have filed 185 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Nissan Sentra. The most-reported areas: Power Train (46), Service Brakes (40), Unknown Or Other (38).
Key takeaways
- 185 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 17 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 11 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 46 | 25% |
| Service Brakes | 40 | 22% |
| Unknown Or Other | 38 | 21% |
| Electrical System | 32 | 17% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 24 | 13% |
| Engine | 22 | 12% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 | 10% |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 9 | 5% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 | 4% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 7 | 4% |
| Steering | 6 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-08-25
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start one day after several attempts and was accompanied by the AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) sensor and check engine warning lights. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery and brake light switch ...
Power Train - filed 2026-07-10
On Wednesday July 8, 2026 at approx 7:45 AM The powertrain system failed entirely due to a catastrophic malfunction of the Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which completely and instantly failed with absolutely no prior dashboard warning lamps, check engine lights, or symptoms. While traveling at appro...
Power Train - filed 2026-04-29
At right under 67,000 miles, the car made a loud pop when I went to accelerate from a stop light. The car would only work in reverse at that point. I'm being told that the CVT needs to be replaced. The car isn't even worth the cost of a new transmission.
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More for the 2018 Nissan Sentra
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.