Most common 2018 Nissan Sentra problems
Share of the 185 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Sentra complaints by model year
Best Sentra years: 2023, 2024. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2016. Compare all years →
2018 Nissan Sentra recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
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.
Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
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.
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.
What 2018 Nissan Sentra owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 46 →
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at slow speeds, the radar sensor caused the vehicle to stop without incidence. The contact stated that the wheels locked up. The wheels unlocked and the driver was able to pull off the roadway. The Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated and turned on and off. The contact purchased the replacement radar sensor. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where the radar sensor was programmed and calibrated, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. No assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000. The Vin was not available.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that when moving the vehicle from park to drive the vehicle would display a jerking sensation. When attempting to accelerate there would be a hesitation before doing so. There were no warning lights. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer code S indicating transmission failure. The transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired with a rebuilt transmission. The failure reoccurred 60,000 miles after receiving the repair. The vehicle had been returned to the dealer who confirmed that the failure was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired again. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.
Brakes all 40 →
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the push to start button and brake pedal was depressed but the engine failed to start. The contact also stated that the RPM's would go to 5 when she depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle had a burning smell when driving. The contact stated the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) on June 11, 2021, at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,127.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra SV. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, she depressed the brake pedal and pressed the push start button but the vehicle failed to start. The warning message "Malfunction Indicator Light" illuminated. The contact stated that as she continued to depress the brake pedal and squeezed an unknown wire under the steering wheel, she was able to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The contact also stated that the brake pedal would make abnormal loud sounds and would intermittently hesitate to respond while driving. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated that she continued to depress the brake pedal but it failed to respond. …
Electrical system all 32 →
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 - 45 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle revved roughly before accelerating forward. The contact stated that while driving for approximately 20 minutes at 20-25 MPH accelerating uphill, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving after approximately 5 minutes. The battery failure warning light illuminated, along with the check engine and oil failure warning lights. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer where they had not diagnosed the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,800.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) remained illuminated after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where an unknown repair was completed but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The contact stated that the recall remedy had failed to fix the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,816.
2018 Nissan Sentra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 29 / 37 / 32 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 35 / 30 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 27 / 33 / 29 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 32 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Nissan Sentra a good car?
Based on 185 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Sentra rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sentra at the same age. It is one of the Sentra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Nissan Sentra?
The transmission & drivetrain — 46 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (40) and electrical system (32).
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Sentra have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2018 Nissan Sentra, the most recent from March 3, 2021 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Sentra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2016. See the full Nissan Sentra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Nissan Sentra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 63% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.