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2018 Nissan Sentra

Gas
Midsize Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
89 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA185
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA32 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Nissan Sentra is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sentra, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 185 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
SentraGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl293732$1,950
SentraGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl273530$2,100
SentraGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo273329$2,650
SentraGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo263228$2,750
Sentra NismoGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo253127$2,850
Sentra NismoGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo253027$2,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39657, 39656, 39660, 39658, 39659, 39661.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Nissan Sentra is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Exterior Lighting

PM971
807,376 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskThe brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
NHTSA campaign 21V135000reported Mar 3, 2021Nissan North America, Inc.
○minor

Back Over Prevention

1,228,830 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numRiskThe lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.FixNissan 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. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA campaign 19V654000reported Sep 12, 2019Nissan North America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
185complaints filed

17 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 10 injuries · 1 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 7 · 2019: 24 · 2020: 38 · 2021: 24 · 2022: 29 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Power Train46
Unspecified38
Service Brakes38
Electrical System32
Forward Collision Avoidance31
Engine22

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lightning). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown malfunction warning message was displayed and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the contact's…”Feb 23, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“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 con…”Feb 8, 2022 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA owner report
“Vehicle loss power no check engine light while at a street light on highway 111 in El Centro California. Light turn green I pressed on gas pedal and vehicle would not move, RPM remained at zero even with gas pedal pressed all the way. Vehicle coming higher speeds behind me since it's a freeway placed my emergency flash…”Feb 1, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆12%
4 DR FWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆12%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2018 Sentra with

2018 Toyota Camry →2018 Toyota Corolla →

Other Sentra model years

A

2026 Nissan Sentra

1 recalls · 14 complaints

D

2025 Nissan Sentra

4 recalls · 28 complaints

D

2024 Nissan Sentra

3 recalls · 37 complaints

A

2023 Nissan Sentra

1 recalls · 19 complaints

C

2022 Nissan Sentra

2 recalls · 81 complaints

C

2021 Nissan Sentra

3 recalls · 130 complaints

D

2020 Nissan Sentra

4 recalls · 204 complaints

B

2019 Nissan Sentra

2 recalls · 221 complaints

C

2017 Nissan Sentra

3 recalls · 230 complaints

F

2016 Nissan Sentra

6 recalls · 269 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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