Seventh generation (B17)
2018 Nissan Sentra
The most reported problem on the 2018 Nissan Sentra is brake wear, with 40 complaints, usually around 39,000 miles.
- 185owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 17involved a crash
- 43,837median miles at failure
Newest report Aug 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Sentra doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2018 model year.
Is the 2018 Nissan Sentra reliable?
The 2018 Nissan Sentra has 185 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 177 for 2018 sedans on this site. Of the 13 Sentra model years since 2014, it has the 7th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017 and 2019
- At 21 complaints for each year on the road, the 2018 runs close to the 2017 (23) and below the 2019 (28).
- Top problem
- Brake wear leads with 40 of the 185 complaints (22%), ahead of phantom braking at 20. A quarter of the 28 owners who gave a mileage for brake wear saw it by about 24,000 miles, and half by about 39,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 20 of the 185 complaints (11%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 17 reports mention a crash, 3 mention a fire and 10 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 7 of 17, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as brake wear. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2020 at 38 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 17. So far in 2026, 5 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 40 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
185 complaints is 1.5 times fewer than the median 2018 model on this site and about the median for a 2018 sedan. Among the 9 Sentra model years here it ranks 7th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2018 Nissan Sentra
Nissan filed 145 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2018 Nissan Sentra. 12 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 4 bulletins · 11 complaints
2018-2019 SENTRA, VERSA SEDAN, AND VERSA NOTE; ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC FOR CVT IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports a transmission judder (shake, shudder, single or multiple bumps or vibration), hesitation on acceleration, lack of power, or RPM flare.
2018-2019 SENTRA; CVT JUDDER IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports a transmission judder (shake, shudder, single or multiple bumps or vibration), hesitation on acceleration, lack of power or RPM flare. ACTION Refer to the Repair Overview on pages 2 and 3.
2 more on this problem
MIL ON WITH DTC P0776, P1715 AND MAY HAVE HESITATION AND/OR LACK OF POWER
MIL ON WITH DTC P0776, P1715 AND MAY HAVE HESITATION AND/OR LACK OF POWER This bulletin applies only to vehicles equipped with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is ON with DTC P0776 (PC SOLENOID B ? Pressure Control Solenoid ?B? Performance/Stuck OFF) stored.
Airbag warning light or recall 3 bulletins · 9 complaints
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed,
DTC B00A0-00 STORED
1 more on this problem
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING INDICATING SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC MODE IF YOU CONFIRM The air bag warning light is flashing slowly (repeating 2 seconds ON, 2 seconds OFF). NOTE: If this should occur, the Air Bag Diagnosis Sensor Unit is in Diagnostic Mode and needs to be returned to User Mode. ACTION 1.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 5 bulletins · 8 complaints
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
RADIO INTERMITTENTLY REBOOTS DURING AUDIO PLAYBACK VIA BLUETOOTH CONNECTED IPHONE
3 more on this problem
RADIO INTERMITTENTLY REBOOTS DURING AUDIO PLAYBACK VIA BLUETOOTH CONNECTED IPHONE IF YOU CONFIRM The radio intermittently reboots while audio is played from a Bluetooth® connected iPhone. ACTION 1. Confirm the AV control unit software version. 2. Update the AV control unit software, if applicable.
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored And OCS zero point reset cannot be performed And The following screen displays: ACTION 1.
2016-2018 NISSAN CONNECT NAVIGATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE TO RESOLVE SEVERAL ISSUES This bulletin applies only to vehicles equipped with navigation system. IF YOU CONFIRM One or more of the following is occurring: - The navigation unit intermittently reboots: - At random or while listening to SXM or on a Bluetooth hands-free phone call.
Complaints filed by year
38 complaints came in 2020. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2018 Nissan Sentra
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
All 2 recalls on the 2018 Nissan Sentra, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2018 Nissan Sentra?
Brake wear, with 40 of the 185 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 39,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2018 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Of the 103 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 25,000 miles and half by about 44,000.
Is the 2018 Nissan Sentra better or worse than the 2017 and 2019?
Counted per year on the road, the 2018 has about as many complaints as the 2017 and fewer complaints than the 2019: 21 a year against 23 and 28.
How many 2018 Nissan Sentra complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
20 of them (11%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2018 Nissan Sentra?
No recall on file for the 2018 Nissan Sentra is on the same system as brake wear. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.