Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Nissan Sentra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On vacation left roanoke, va headed to gatlinburg, tn on the interstate just before getting off at the tn exit the transmission starts slipping, then stops working completely. Contacted the local tn Nissan dealership. Car was under warranty, all servicing documentation was provided supporting the transmission warranty.(you must have it serviced at some set number of miles or the warranty is void on the transmission.) we were advised the transmission would have to be replaced with a brand new transmission. The Nissan dealership was unable to give us a rental, as they were already all out, for some event. We had to find our own way for vacation and getting home. (thankfully we had some friends that were traveling with us. 6 people in one car plus luggage!) went back got the car. …
The vehicle was in motion coming off the highway and onto city street. The torque converter gave out and the vehicle began sputtering at stop signs and light, and then thrusting forward jolting toward traffic. I nearly had two other vehicles rear end me during sputtering, and I nearly hit a vehicle in front of me when the car thrust forward violently. I turned in to the nearest automotive repair shop who told me my torque converter blew and I was very lucky to have not been in an accident. I have owned this vehicle 82 days and now have to do an entire transmission rebuild, which after extensive research I have found this is very common with a CVT transmission. I feel like this is something Nissan should address, as I endangered the lives of my children, myself, and other drivers/passengers on the road. The car has been regularly maintained and has only one previous owner. …
Takata recall. The transmission in my 2008 Nissan Sentra has never worked properly. It's a automatic and sometimes it dont want to shift gears when I get around 30 MPH. Then I have to stop and put it in park and then put it in drive again and it will start working properly. Also sometimes while I'm on the interstate going 65-80 MPH the RPM will fluctuate from 2 to 3 1/2 rpms and then other times while going down a hill the rpms will stay above 2 but mostly 2 1/2 rpms until I get below 15 MPH before it downshifts. The transmission in this car has never worked properly and all the fluid is good in it. It now has around 152,000 miles on it but the Nissan company put a new transmission in it a few years ago so the actual transmission doesnt have that many miles on it at all. …
Air bag started flashing and has not stopped. I noticed there are several complaints regarding the airbags in this type of vehicle and I am waiting to see that this is investigated and help with a recall due to the cost of attempting to fix this when it could well be a factory defect. I also had to repair the transmission a year and a half ago when while on the freeway started having issues ending in the Nissan dealer in utah short of $3500 later after they determined it has to be replaced because of a malfunction due to a cooling system problem, which needed a cooling device of some sort in order to prevent it from overheating, which is exactly what happened to my car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle failed to move forward. The contact mentioned that the transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
In 2008 I purchased a new 2008 Nissan Sentra. Following the purchase I have incurred numerous issues and safety hazards. The vehicle began jerking during acceleration 3 months after purchase, I informed dealership of issue and was informed that nothing was defective within the vehicle. 11 months following initial diagnose transmission was replaced 11 months after. The replacement transmission was covered under warranty. The gears shifted from 65 MPH to 40 MPH while traveling on major highway, 3 year old toddler was present. Shift in gears almost caused major accident. Following replacement of transmission, traveling on garden state parkway, car once again shifts gears and drops from 65 MPH to 40 MPH, once again almost causing major accident. This vehicle has had numerous recalls. Contacted Nissan's consumer affairs, was told to return to original dealer and nothing else could be done. …
When purchasing my used vehicle from el monte Toyota, notice sensor for tire on, was told be fixed, months later learn rim missing sensor. Light in car also don't work. Driving car immediately was stalling out shutting off when idol. Took car back week later since within 30 day warranty spoke to customer service on recorded call and she didn't thoroughly document conversation. Upon waiting four hours next week, tech drove the car never do a diagnostic. After warranty expired car regularly shut off triggering transmission codes. Out of pocket I paid for transmission flush twice, throttle body replacement, brakes, learning there was transmission recall 2010. Falling behind in payments due.to excessive repair expenses took car to fix at Nissan to get a list more of defects I couldn't afford. I filed a claim with Toyota and was denied by the manager. …
This is the third transmission installed on this vehicle. After 67,672 miles the first one broke down where the car had to be towed 95 miles to the Nissan dealer. The second one broke down at 68,845, only 2 weeks after getting it back, 173 miles. Nissan extended their warranty on this CVT transmission, because of the problems, from 5 years 60,000 miles to 10 years 120,000 miles. Since the transmission broke down at 7,672 miles from the initial warranty, the bbb advised the lemon law cannot be applied since it is after the initial warranty 5 years 60,000 miles even though it was extended. Nissan being aware of this will not buy back the vehicle but just keeps replacing the transmissions until 10 years 120,00 miles. The CVT transmissions on this car keeps burning up where they no longer work. It is very unsafe and unreliable to take on any long trips. …
This is the second transmission that has been replaced on the vehicle and it only has 56,354 miles on it. It's not being abused in any way, I only got this vehicles because it's economic on gas and I only drive it about 5-15 miles a day during the week. My fear is that, my luck, the transmission will go out again when I'm outside the power train warranty period and I'm screwed. Now I'm debating whether I take a loss and sell it way below what I paid for and get another vehicle that's not a Nissan. I have also been having issues with the tire sensor, which I keep hearing is a problem with this vehicle and the dealer refused to fix it under warranty, they want $200 to fix it. I have also had a weird vibration coming from the front of the vehicle which I'm told is cause by a "hood latch" and they keep adjusting it every couple of months instead of fixing it permanently.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle came to a complete stop and was unable to accelerate. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. On another occasion, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the engine and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000 and the current mileage was 55,000.
Transmission complaints in other Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Nissan Sentra, 12% of the model year's 167 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Nissan Sentra transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2008 Nissan Sentra, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Sentra transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.