2018 Nissan Sentra · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 40owner reports
- 39,000median miles
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Feb 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
40 of the 185 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Sentra.
Tick what matches of 40 reports
Brake wear on other Sentra years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Sentra
Scope of recalls 08v311 and 09v431. Closed oct 2, 2017.
Excessive brake pedal travel. Closed may 13, 2015.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 24,000 and 46,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Car won't start, stranded in parking lots, on road. Have seen hundreds of complaints about the same thing ,saying it's either a brake switch or ignition switch.Very scary to be stranded somewhere.Nissan is aware and said it's common problem? Hard to believe Nissan or the nhtsa does not believe this to be a safety issue.”
Filed Aug 10, 2024
“UNKNOWN. however there has been a safety recall about the brake lights not illuminating. I have tried three times to make an appointment with nissan dealership to get this problem fixed but i have had no luck with them helping. Im worrried about my daughters safety. She is not even two years old yet, i dont want her or anyone else on the road getting hurt because of a faulty safety feature.”
Filed Jan 13, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 40 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found