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Nissan SentraModel year report

2008 Nissan Sentra Problems

Compared with other Nissan Sentra years

Typical for this model

39/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2009, 2010, 2011

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
167filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,000miles, 124 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Nissan Sentra (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a flashing or steady airbag warning light, sometimes after a dealer reset that does not last, and several report airbags that did not deploy in a crash. A smaller but recurring group describes CVT transmission failures and hard-to-diagnose hesitation or stalling, plus brake fluid leaks traced to the master cylinder. Many airbag complaints arrive well past 80,000 miles, while tire, brake and steering complaints cluster at much lower mileage.

  1. Air bags

    Airbag warning light on or flashing

    Mentioned in 25 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the airbag warning light blinking or staying on, often starting while driving and returning shortly after a dealer reset. Dealers variously diagnosed a faulty clock spring, a driver airbag module, a seat belt pretensioner, a front impact sensor or the passenger seat occupancy sensor, with repair estimates ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Some owners also report that the horn or cruise control stopped working at the same time, and a few describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 130,000 miles, with several owners seeing the light again within days of a reset.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Before buying, confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb-check sequence on startup and ask whether any SRS diagnosis or module replacement has been done. A stored airbag code can be read with a scan tool, and a light that returns after a reset points to a hardware fault rather than a glitch.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11071598, filed 2018-02, 151,000 miles

    “Airbag light started randomly blinking when I started the car. I brought it to the dealer, they said faulty clock spring and drivers airbag assy - replace (b1049 drivers airbag open) . The cost was $1,468.32 no including tax, etc and said it was unusual for both pieces to be faulty.”

    NHTSA complaint #10896847, filed 2016-08, 50,400 miles
  2. Tires

    Tire pressure light and uneven rear tire wear

    Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the tire pressure warning light coming on repeatedly, sometimes within days of a sensor replacement or reset, and some report it never staying off. Complaints also describe tires wearing unevenly and needing replacement far earlier than expected, with the rear alignment reported as not adjustable. A few owners link the wear to the rear feeling unsettled on wet or slick roads. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 50,000 miles, with several owners seeing repeat sensor trips within weeks.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Inspect all four tires for uneven or wavy wear and check the tread depths, then confirm the TPMS light cycles off after startup. Ask for alignment records, since rear toe that cannot be brought into spec shows up as accelerated and irregular tire wear.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I currently own a 2008 Nissan Sentra. I have noticed that the rear of my car seems to slide out during winter weather. My tires also seem to wear quicker and my gas mileage is way below the mileage I should be getting. I had the alignment done twice when I first got the car back in 2008 but nothing changed and I just gave up. Recently I have read that many people have this issue but unfortunately my car is out of warranty.”

    NHTSA complaint #10413947, filed 2011-07, 12,000 miles

    “I have had many trips to the dealer after purchasing a 08 Sentra for problems with the tire pressure light as well as a popping in the wheels. I went to the dealer and they turned the pressure light off and said it was fine. It has happened more then 7 times. The tires were worn out by 30k miles I coudn't believe I had to replace them already. I aslo had the popping noise in the tires I took it to the dealer 4 times and they said nothing was wrong. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10453411, filed 2012-03, 30,000 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    CVT transmission failure and loss of power

    • 14 complaints (8%)
    • median 64,836 mi at 5.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2020

    Owners describe jerking during acceleration that dealers initially dismissed, followed later by the transmission failing outright or the car refusing to move forward. Some report the vehicle dropping speed unexpectedly at highway speed, unusual noises from the front, or repeated replacement units. Complaints also describe diagnostic trouble codes stored for the CVT and, in some cases, an extended warranty on the transmission from the manufacturer. Typically reported from about 60,000 to 90,000 miles, with some failures appearing within a few years of new.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the CVT fluid was changed on schedule, and take a test drive that includes steady highway speed and a rolling start to feel for hesitation or shudder. A scan tool check for stored CVT codes is worth the cost before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Driving over an hour and the car starts to struggle, I can feel it loosing power, in order to not press down all the way, I'm doing a give n go praying I dont stop on the freeway. I would sometimes feel jumping and that I'm not in full control and it has stopped on me in a 15minute drive. I have gotten, a diagnostic, 1time it had 4different transmission codes and another a fuel code. Not sure what's going on, this started around the 60,000 mile I'm at 90,000 now, so ya, it's been rough.”

    NHTSA complaint #11342882, filed 2020-08, 60,000 miles

    “There the code of p1778 that keeps coming up on about a CVT and ifs affecting the drive and strain the transmission I dont understand the issue is recurring.and this happen while driving on the highway. You can feel the car hesitant”

    NHTSA complaint #11376546, filed 2020-11, 166,000 miles
  4. Brakes

    Brake fluid leak at the master cylinder

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report the brake warning light coming on and finding low brake fluid with no obvious external leak, with a mechanic tracing it to the master cylinder. In some accounts the pedal response deteriorated and brakes did not work as expected at low speed. Complaints also mention pedal vibration or shaking traced to the rotors, with dealers sometimes saying the pads would be addressed once worn. Reported across a wide range, from a few thousand miles up to about 75,000 miles, and sometimes years after the vehicle was new.

    Recall 08V311000Recall 09V4310004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the master cylinder fluid level and look for fluid seeping where the master cylinder meets the brake booster, and ask whether the vehicle received the master cylinder recall remedy. Any pedal that sinks or feels soft on a test drive is worth a professional inspection.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The week of dec 21 2008 I received a recall notice from Nissan about a possible defect in my breaking system on my 2008 Nissan Sentra. I made an appointment for this to be handled on jan 5, 2009 at 9:20 am est. I was told to bring the vehicle in to correct this possible defect. I brought the car in to pittsburgh east Nissan and was graded by dj, I gave him the vehicle recall notice paper and he told me to have a seat in the waiting room. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10253805, filed 2009-01, 6,767 miles

    “I have noticed the my brake light came on. I added a brake fluid and the light went off. My mechanic has examined the car and determined that my brake master cylinder is leaking. After doing some research I noticed that my brake cylinder is under recall. I contacted Nissan and they said that they inspected the brake cylinder few years ago and that it wasn't affected by the recall. The affected master brake cylinder is bosch, and the same brand is installed in my car. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10638813, filed 2014-09, 24,000 miles
  5. Steering

    Power steering assist cuts out

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the power steering light coming on with the wheel suddenly much harder to turn, sometimes while parking or at low speed. In some cases the assist returns after restarting the engine, and in others the steering feels notchy or makes clunking noises when turned. Complaints also mention steering wheel shimmy over bumps and a wheel that seems out of step with the car's direction. Most often reported between about 30,000 and 70,000 miles, frequently during low-speed maneuvering.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock at idle with the car parked and listen for clunks, then confirm the power steering light is off. Ask whether the steering column or assist motor has been serviced, and note any pull or off-center wheel on the test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I bought my daughter a 2008 Nissan Sentra for christmas (2010). This morning (11 june 2011) I took my 16 year old daughter out to learn how to parallel park at the dmv. As she was backing up to park she said she could not turn the steering wheel. I tried to turn the steering wheel and noticed a ps light on the dash board. I took over and tried to maneuver the car and it was almost impossible. I then turned the car off and open the hood to determine the problem but saw no visual defects. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10406004, filed 2011-06, 64,000 miles

    “When my car was coming to a stop, my knee hit the ignition key. The engine turned off though the car gear selector was in d . The steering also was locked. Fortunately I was stopping the car at the signal. If this happened on the freeway, my family would have been at risk. I understand there was recalls related to this type of situation but Nissan never got in touch with me nor there is no recall. This is very dangerous and Nissan needs to do a recall to save the car driver and passengers.”

    NHTSA complaint #10632281, filed 2014-09, 70,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase scan for stored airbag and transmission codes and a look at the brake master cylinder and tire wear patterns will cover most of what owners of this model year describe. Records showing the master cylinder recall was completed and the CVT was serviced are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 167 consumer complaints for the 2008 Nissan Sentra. 124 of the complaints include a mileage, and 40% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,000 miles. Of all complaints, 20 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 17 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 87 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 14 Nissan Sentra model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 39 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine cooling (10), Wheels (9), Fuel system (6), Seats (5), Seat belts (4), Electronic stability control (3), Body and structure (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Equipment (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “The air bag light keeps flashing. My grandmother took it to the dealer and they said it needed to be reset, she drove off and a mile later the light came back on. I have not taken it back to the dealer yet, but I see other drivers are reporting the same problem with this car. I googled how to reset it, did it myself, but as soon as you start driving it comes back on.”

NHTSA complaint #11103371, filed 2018-06, 90,000 miles

Brakes: “While driving vehicle engine lost power and vehicle slowed. When an attempt was made to determine the cause of the power loss heavy black smoke and flames were observed from the engine compartment. Vehicle became fully involved within 3 minutes. Local fire department responded to extingush fire. Cause undertermined. Fires point of origin was in the area of the ECM/brake master cylinder. Well maintained vehicle, no fluid leaks,mechanical issues or warning lights prior to incident.”

NHTSA complaint #10449038, filed 2012-02, 47,751 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11179882, filed 2019-02, 124,040 miles

Engine: “I was driving my 2008 Nissan Sentra and the car would shake out if no where next thing you know it didn't want to accelerate any more it's just stopped and I was driving on a high way”

NHTSA complaint #11184480, filed 2019-03, 60 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

40% of the 124 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 22,518 and 100,000 miles.

16%0–1012%10–2511%25–5019%50–7515%75–10016%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (124 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 67,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’091919’12’15’18’21’24
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Nissan Sentra. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Sentra · sedan FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Nissan Sentra version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sentra FWD2.0L 4-cylCVT253328$2,400
Sentra FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual243127$2,500
Sentra FWD2.5L 4-cylCVT243026$2,600
Sentra FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual212924$3,400

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Nissan Sentra → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 87 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 87 bulletins →

Other model years of the Nissan Sentra

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026193001—33—Too new
2025317,9504534Too new to compareToo new
20244130,0003534Too new to compareToo new
20232075,3001533—Too new
20228136,000253327 · FewerRising
202113324,000353364 · TypicalRising
202020728,879453371 · MoreRising
201922334,500242954 · TypicalStable
201818540,000242938 · TypicalFalling
201723144,000342950 · TypicalStable
201627060,255643269 · MoreFalling
201535255,500343259 · TypicalStable
201438067,000543371 · MoreFalling
201363861,000643397 · MoreFalling
201218064,000042610 · FewerFalling
201114271,000242627 · FewerStable
201014469,3163—2731 · FewerFalling
20095557,0001—270 · FewerFalling
200816767,0003—2739 · TypicalFalling
200715460,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200611678,8325—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200517076,2005—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200419777,0004—27Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200318069,0127—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200230471,00010—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200123661,0007—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200017157,1106—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19995972,9000—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199858102,5001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1997108105,0003—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199614166,5003—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995117157,9943—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199499180,0000—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199358100,0000—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199262107,5000—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199163120,0002—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19903982,9582—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198941—1—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198837122,4871—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198736—1—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19866—0—30—Not enough data
19856—0—29—Not enough data

All Nissan Sentra model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Sentra?

Owners of this model year most often describe a flashing or steady airbag warning light, sometimes after a dealer reset that does not last, and several report airbags that did not deploy in a crash. The issues reported most often: Airbag warning light on or flashing; Tire pressure light and uneven rear tire wear; CVT transmission failure and loss of power.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Nissan Sentra have?

NHTSA recorded 167 consumer complaints for the 2008 Nissan Sentra as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Nissan Sentra is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 53 complaints (32% of the total), followed by brakes with 21.

Has the 2008 Nissan Sentra been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Nissan Sentra get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Nissan Sentra (Sentra, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 24 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Nissan Sentra reported?

Among the 124 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,000 miles and the middle half falls between 22,518 and 100,000 miles; 40% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.