The Nissan Sentra has been going headstrong for quite some time now amidst numerous competitors out there. The sedan has earned a reputation for its style, comfort, and reliability, the last one being the subject of discussion here. The 2018 Sentra has seen 109 complaints and 2 recalls officially to date. From the complaints, it can be asserted that the advanced safety tech and the powertrain of the Sentra gave some of its buyers trouble while the rest of the areas look just fine. The 2018 Nissan Sentra rivals the Toyota Corolla, the Honda Civic, and the Hyundai Elantra.
Nissan Sentra user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Engine failing to start: The engine failing to start issue affected several models of the 2018 Nissan Sentra sedan. Almost all the owners reported that while starting their vehicles, the electronics turned on perfectly but the engine refused to start. In some cases, the starter motor was found to be faulty.
- Engine fire: One report regarding this incident was recorded by the NHTSA. The report mentioned that while the owner was driving the vehicle, there was smoke coming out from under the hood but before she could get to a mechanic’s shop, the car caught fire. The fire almost destroyed the vehicle.
- Transmission failure: A couple of transmission failures were reported against the 2018 Sentra. Both the owners complained that the transmission failed suddenly and required replacement.
Safety problems
- Brake switch issue: Plenty of owners complained that their vehicle needed multiple brake switch replacements. The brake switch faults caused the engine starting issue.
- Automatic emergency braking system malfunction: A lot of owners complained about a faulty automatic emergency braking system in their Nissan Sentra sedans. The issue was that the front radar would stop working while driving, resulting in the system going completely off-line. Furthermore, the system also deactivated the cruise control system as well. In several cases, the system gave false alarms and applied the brakes suddenly.
- Airbag failure: A few complaints mentioned airbag failures on the Sentra. On multiple occasions, the front airbags or the side curtain airbags of the affected vehicles failed to deploy during a collision.
2018 Nissan Sentra recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
September 12, 2019 |
19V654000 |
No Back-Up Camera Display Image/FMVSS 111 |
The lack of an image in the backup camera display increases the risk of a crash. |
Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the backup camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2019, and all affected VINs should be activated. |
|
2 |
March 3, 2021 |
21V135000 |
Brake Lights May Not Illuminate |
The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on April 20, 2021. Due to a parts shortage, the remedy is expected to be available in April 2022. |
Should you buy a used Nissan Sentra?
The Nissan Sentra makes a strong argument as to why you need to consider it over some of its rivals. The reasons are simple as the sedan checks a lot of right boxes. Apart from the slightly dull handling, there are no other reasons to avoid this car and the strong reliability of the sedan also adds to it. Buying a used example shouldn’t be a problem since the number of the issues seen on the previous models makes up a low percentage as compared to the sales volume of the car. But a thorough inspection and a reputed dealer are a must if you chose to go with this car over its rivals.
