Home · 2018 Nissan Sentra · Complaints

What 183 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Nissan Sentra

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (183)Crash / fire / injury (20)Transmission & drivetrain (45)Brakes (40)Electrical system (32)Driver assistance (24)Engine (22)Speed control (19)Lights (14)Airbags (9)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (7)Fuel system (7)

19 of 183 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters

Sep 23, 2025Speed controlEngineFuel system

When I first get in the car and hit the gas it's OK a if I'm trying to move it but if I'm trying to leave my driveway and I hit the gas it will stall and the rpm will go up to a 5 , and this happens exiting the interstate, it's almost caused me to wreck because I can't pick up the speed it is like it's stuck . The same thing happens at a stop light and trying to move forward, extremely dangerous when you can't judge your distance if you're turning if another car will hit you .I try to only take back roads because I don't want my family, or someone else's family hurt .Sometimes all of the lights pop up on my dashboard like a Christmas tree, but when I take it to auto zone they say that it's nothing, days later it will turn off .Sometimes my car will warn me that I'm about to hit a car, yet no car in front of me , but there's times I've almost hit a car and it never warned me , this to is extremely dangerous. I understand that the car is having some sort of technical issues, but I can't seem to find the answers as to why , and this causes me anxiety every day that I drive because I don't know what to expect from it .I feel like the Nissan Sentra needs to be further investigated so that it's safe to drive without putting the driver or someone driving by in danger .I just paid this off , and have kept up with oil changes , yet I feel like this car has more issues than what I can fix and that's why I'm writing this to inform you of the dangers that this kinda car has while out on the roads .I hope that someone takes a deeper look at any type of reports from everyday people and make it easier for someone to find out how to report things like this ,because honestly I was looking for recalls about my car when I came across this, otherwise I wouldn't have ever known that this is even exists.. Thanks for having a space for people to express thier concerns and I'll be sure to share this site with others so that everyone on the road is safe

NHTSA ODI 11689298

Feb 14, 2025Electrical systemSpeed controlDriver assistance

Unknown, ICC module is out on Sentra is known issue from Nissan, needs to be recalled as it can cause some cars to brake on there own from what I’ve seen online. Nissan wants over 2000 to make repair on a part they know from the factory is likely to fail

NHTSA ODI 11642737

Apr 27, 2024Speed control

My 2018 Sentra recently stop driving in forward gear. It only drive in reverse and I’m over the mileage and Nissan refuses to fix it. I need help

NHTSA ODI 11585608

Apr 19, 2024Speed control

The CVT can cause the car to shake, judder, stall during sudden acceleration, or completely lose power. My car jurked and stop completely while at a turning signal in the middle of the street . This was cause by the recall on their cvt. I’ve called a Nissan dealer and they said they can’t fix the recall problem for free because my car is over 80,000 miles. No it hasn’t been inspected . Yes my car has been jurking for the last past month . I’ve been called Nissan about it but they said i had to pay $210 for diagnostic even tho the problem was the transmission recall . The car will not drive foward or backwards . It’ll start up but that’s just about it. Now I have no transportation to go to work or doctors appointments.

NHTSA ODI 11584106

Jan 23, 2024Speed controlEngine

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the performance of the transmission in my Nissan 2018 Nissan Sentra. Recently, I have encountered my car stopped accelerating and only able to drive backwards. I had a few transmission,shifting problems, jerking which has raised concerns about the overall reliability and safety of the vehicle. I understand your concern about Nissan transmissions. If you wish to address this issue with Nissan, I recommend following a formal and respectful approach. Here's a template you can use to write to the Nissan headquarters: [Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date] Nissan North America, Inc. Consumer Affairs Department P.O. Box 685003 Franklin, TN 37068-5003 Subject: Request for Investigation and Potential Recall of Nissan Transmission Issues Dear Nissan North America, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my concerns regarding the performance of the transmission in my Nissan [Model and Year]. Recently, I have encountered [specific issues with the transmission, e.g., shifting problems, jerking, etc.], which has raised concerns about the overall reliability and safety of the vehicle. I have conducted some research and have come across several instances of similar transmission issues reported by Nissan owners. It appears that a significant number of vehicles may be experiencing similar problems, indicating a potential systemic issue with the transmissions. Given the importance of vehicle safety and the trust that consumers place in Nissan products, I am urging you to investigate these transmission issues thoroughly. If necessary, I kindly request that Nissan consider a recall to address and rectify the reported problems.

NHTSA ODI 11567274

Jan 8, 2023SuspensionSpeed controlEngine

My car was hesitant to start i called the recalls line and i let the nissan lot know that my car had recall on the break switch which is connected to my gears, i never received a notice informing me about this issue so when i let the lot know they told me nothing was wrong, after driving it again it wouldnt start i took it to the lot and they said its my transmission and break switch battery ect. I am requesting that my car get repair for free for recall service i dont feel i should have to pay $8000 for service repair more then one nissan sentra has had transmission problems in the last year

NHTSA ODI 11500661

Nov 14, 2022Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

My 2018 Nissan Sentra is currently in the shop at my local Nissan dealership because it needs a transmission replacement. The car lurched ahead causing me to run into my garage door causing damage. It also while driving loses power, the rpm meter will drop for a few seconds and you will see and feel it re engage a few seconds later. It does this frequently at various speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11493432

Apr 17, 2021LightsSpeed controlBrakesCrash

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR MY FRONT COLLISION SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS AFFECTED NOW THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND IT'S AFFECTING MY BRAKES MY LIGHTING AND MY SPEED CONTROL BECAUSE I CAN'T BREAK AND THEY HAVE NOT SENT ME A RECALL OR SEND ANY INFORMATION TO ME I FOUND THIS OUT ON MY CARFAX REPORT

NHTSA ODI 11408582

Feb 14, 2021Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlDriver assistance

MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY RESPONDED WITH OH YEAH WE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THAT RATHER THAN GIVING ME SOME KIND OF DIRECTIONS TOWARDS WHERE I CAN FIX IT. MY CAR HAS PROBLEM SPEEDING IT FEELS LIKE IT'S LOST IT'S POWER. I SERVICE MY VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I REPLACE ANYTHING THE CAR NEEDS. THIS VEHICLE ISN'T OLD AND SHOULD NOT BE GIVING ME ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES. I ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON MY DASH BOARD BUT THE CAR JERKS. I HATE THIS CAR. IVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT AND LITERALLY ALL IT'S GIVEN ME IS PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. I STILL OWE TEN GRAND ON IT AND FOR WHAT? FOR JUNK? I THOUGHT ABOUT BUYING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH NISSAN BUT IF THIS IS THE VEHICLE YOU GUYS ARE MAKING, UNRELIABLE, FRAGILE, AND UNSAFE; I DON'T WANT IT. ALSO SIDE NOTE I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT ACCORDING TO HIM AND IT STILL GIVES ME THESE ISSUES WITH THE JERKING, THE RPH GOING UP AND DOWN WHILE THE MPH ISN'T. MY VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL BUT THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE HAS NEVER WORKED. UNBELIEVABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11396139

Sep 12, 2020Seat beltsSpeed controlFuel system

CAR LOOSES POWER MID DRIVING....SEATBELT ON BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT ALWAYS CLICK IN SAFELY....WHEN PRESSING ON GAS THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS GO FORWARD WHEN GOING FROM IDLE TO MOVING ON THE ROAD...TWICE THE CAR WENT FORWARD FAST AND SOMETIMES IT HAS TOO MUCH POWER WHEN I AM NOT PRESSING THE GAS

NHTSA ODI 11354592

Aug 17, 2020Speed controlCrash

COLLISION AVOIDANCE FAILED AND ACCERATOR APPEARED TO STICK RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.IN MOTION APPROACHING LOVERS LANE ON NOBLE AVENUE WHEN DRIVER PASSED OUT RESULTING IN MULTIPLE REAREND STATIONARY OBJECT AND SIDE COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11349914

Jul 31, 2020Speed controlBrakes

VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND APPLIES VEHICLE BRAKES IN RANDOM INSTANCES. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE COULD BRAKE SUDDENLY WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 11342462

Mar 29, 2020Speed controlBrakes

FORWARD COLLISION SENSOR CAUSING VEHICLE TO BRAKE WHEN NOTHING IS FRONT OF ME WHILE I DRIVE. IT HAS HAPPENED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. NISSAN DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF ISSUES BUT IS CHARGING ME $1300 TO FIX BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI 11319631

Mar 18, 2020Electrical systemSpeed control

03/11/2020 I DROVE THE 2018 NISSAN SENTRA ON HWY 26 W TO PORTLAND OREGON. WHILE DRIVING THE AEB SENSOR LIGHT TURNS ON, MALFUNCTION FROM MANUFACTORY LIGHT ON WITH THE PIPING SOUND CAME ON THAT WAS THE EFFECTED THE SPEED CONTROL BY THE BRAKING. NEXT DAY 3/12/20. I DROVE TO CARR NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIR AEB(AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKE) CENSOR. THE DEALER SAID THAT MY CAR HAS NO WARRANTY AND CHARGED FOR REPAIR IS $5,754.42 DUE ON 03/18/2020. I THINK THE NISSAN DEALER WAS OVERCHARGED. I THINK THIS IS SAFETY ISSUES AND 2018 NISSAN SENTRA NEEDS TO RECALL THE AEB SENSOR.ON THE HWY26 HAVE MY KID 16 YEARS OLD AND MY WIFE IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11318618

Feb 13, 2020Speed controlBrakes

2018 NISSAN SENTRA RADAR MODULE OR CALLED NISSAN SENSOR ASSYS-DISTANCE WAS A MALFUNCTION AND AFFECT ON THE BRAKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11309065

Jan 21, 2020Electrical systemSpeed controlBrakesCrash

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

Sep 16, 2019Electrical systemSpeed 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 REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 37101150. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,300.

NHTSA ODI 11255904

Aug 6, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlBrakes

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

Dec 18, 2018Speed controlBrakes

FRONT RADAR SYSTEM TURNS OFF AND THEN RESETS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DASH MESSAGE IS 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION'. IT IS TIED INTO THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM AND INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON VARIED ROADWAYS. THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION. *DT CONSUMER STATED HE IS CANCELLING REQUEST.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11162246

Working with the data? Download all 183 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 7, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Nissan Sentra verdict →