2018 Nissan Sentra Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Sentra most often describe CVT transmission trouble — slipping, shuddering, and loss of power at speed — and front radar/AEB warnings that appear and either disable driver-assist features or trigger unexpected braking. Hard-starting and brake-light issues also appear regularly, with many complaints clustered between 20,000 and 80,000 miles.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   Front radar obstruction warnings and unintended AEB braking

   • 44 complaints (24%)
   • median 41,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe a dash message about the front radar being obstructed or unavailable, often with a chime that continues until the car is restarted, and the cruise control and automatic emergency braking switching off. Some owners report the car braking on its own with nothing ahead, and several had the radar sensor replaced only to see the warning return. Dealers diagnosed some cases as a radar sensor failure and programmed or replaced the sensor. Mostly reported between about 20,000 and 60,000 miles, and in some cases within the first year of ownership; wet or rainy conditions are mentioned in a few reports.

   Recall 19V6540001 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, check that the forward-collision and cruise-control systems stay active and that no radar obstruction message appears. Ask whether the radar sensor has been replaced or recalibrated and whether any related bulletin work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2018 Nissan Sentra is having a problem with the (aeb) automatic braking system. I've had the car for 10 months and while im driving, I get a warning light indicating that the aeb has malfunctioned, followed by a constant beeping noise that doesnt go away unless I turn the vehicle off. The loud beep will keep going for as long as im driving, and the vehicle sometimes brakes on its own, which is scary, and dangerous. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11365666, filed 2020-10, 50,588 miles

   “I bought this from a Nissan dealer november 2018. A month after purchase a warning appeared on the dash stating unavailable front radar obstruction followed by the deactivated radar symbol that remains on the dash. I called the dealer to see if any recalls we're out for the collision warning sensor. They said no. I know that the Nissan muranos have also had issues with this sensor. It started going off about once a day, now it deactivates nearly six or more times a day and I driving me crazy. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11399452, filed 2021-03, 6,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT slipping, shuddering, and loss of power

   • 46 complaints (25%)
   • median 75,500 mi at 3.5 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the CVT revving up and down while holding a steady speed, shuddering on acceleration, and sometimes refusing to move forward or losing speed on the highway. Several were told by the dealer that the transmission needed replacement, and some reports note it failed well before 100,000 miles despite regular maintenance. A few mention the vehicle would only move in reverse or would not shift out of drive. Reports cluster from roughly 40,000 to 90,000 miles, with a few well past 100,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a mechanic drive the car at steady highway speed and on an incline to watch for rpm fluctuation, shuddering, or hesitation, and ask for transmission service records. Ask whether any CVT warranty extension or TCM calibration work has been applied to the car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rpms are going up and down when maintaining the same speed . We took it back to the dealership at 9000 miles and they told us it's a special transmission.belt driven not gear driven. We took it back a few more times and finally we took it to midas and they told us to take it to dealership for the transmission problem after they drove it and noticed rpms going up and down .”

   NHTSA complaint #11349933, filed 2020-08, 9,000 miles

   “Stopped going forward when at traffic light will only go in reverse. Dealership says warranty is up and it will cost 4000$ to fix. I am confused as to how a car that was bought 4/20/2018 has the need for the transmissiom to be replaced. This car has had regular maintenance and I do not believe after paying 479.09 a month for the past 23 months I should be spending an additional 4000$”

   NHTSA complaint #11318508, filed 2020-03, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Push-button start fails, often tied to the brake switch

   • 20 complaints (11%)
   • median 30,412 mi at 2.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report pressing the brake and the start button with no response, sometimes needing several attempts or repeated brake-pedal presses before the engine turns over. Several had the brake light switch replaced, and in some cases the no-start came back afterward. A separate group describes the keyless system not recognizing the fob even after battery replacement. Reported across a wide range, from under 10,000 miles to over 100,000 miles, with many between 20,000 and 60,000 miles.

   Recall 21V1350003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Try starting the car several times cold and warm, and ask whether the brake light switch or start-related parts have been replaced. Confirm whether the brake light switch recall (21V135000) was completed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2018 Nissan Sentra has issues with not starting and the brake sensor failing and coming on with nothing around. The back up camera goes out and the radio and temperature control lights go out. There are several ongoing dangerous issues with the vehicle I have contacted Nissan consumer affairs, corp and managers at sutherlin Nissan to no avail.”

   NHTSA complaint #11325841, filed 2020-05, 1,884 miles

   “Over 2 1/2 years of ownership of the vehicle, I've taken the car in for service 6 times for the same problem: the break switch has failed to allow the push-button starter to engage, which leaves me unable to star the car. The issue effectively leaves me stranded and has resulted in making me late. It only happeneds when starting the car so it's stationary.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360015, filed 2020-09, 28,425 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights not illuminating

   • 16 complaints (9%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe brake lights that did not come on, in some cases discovered after a rear-end collision, and others where owners were told the brake light switch needed replacement. Several owners reference recall 21V135000 and report that parts were not yet available at their dealer or that the remedy did not resolve the problem. Reported from about 32,000 to 79,000 miles, with a few cases at higher mileage.

   Recall 21V135000

   What to check: Have someone stand behind the car and confirm all three brake lights work while you press the pedal, and verify with a dealer that recall 21V135000 has been performed. Ask whether the brake light switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start one day after several attempts and was accompanied by the AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) sensor and check engine warning lights. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery and brake light switch due to a suspected battery drain caused by a faulty switch. Despite the repair, the failure reoccurred shortly after the repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11759395, filed 2026-08, 75,000 miles

   “The contact owned a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the exterior brake lights were inoperable which caused another vehicle to rear-end her vehicle. The contact's vehicle then crashed into another vehicle in front of hers. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact suffered a concussion and later received medical treatment at the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11450971, filed 2022-02, 70,000 miles

Buying note. If you are considering this model year, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on the CVT and a test drive that confirms the forward-collision and cruise systems behave normally. Confirm which recalls have been completed on the specific VIN and ask for transmission service history before buying.

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.