2008 Nissan Sentra
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 55 of 167 complaints (33%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 154 in 2007 to 167 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,300–2,850 | 2,250–3,250 | 2,250–3,250 | 2,150–3,250 | 2,150–3,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–27 | 24–28 | 24–28 | 24–29 | 24–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–24 / 26–32 | 21–25 / 29–33 | 21–25 / 29–33 | 21–26 / 29–34 | 21–26 / 28–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 329–404 | 317–370 | 317–370 | 306–370 | 306–370 | |
| Complaints filed | 116 | 154 | 167 | 55 | 144 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 22 | 21 | 20 | 9 | 11 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 17 | 30 | 17 | 11 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Sentra have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Nissan Sentra?
Airbags & Restraints: 55 of 167 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Nissan Sentra get?
EPA rates it 24–28 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Nissan Sentra?
EPA estimates $2,250–$3,250 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,250 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg | 31 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 329 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $3,250 (high) | 370 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 24 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 55 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) · Campaign 10V401000 · Sep 10, 2010
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · Campaign 09V431000 · Nov 3, 2009
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SENTRA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH MASTER CYLINDERS. BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. IF THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES TO BELOW THE MINIMUM LEVEL, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE AS DESIGNED AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
Consequence: IF THE WARNING LAMP IS CONTINUOUSLY IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · Campaign 08V311000 · Jul 11, 2008
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING 169,202 MY 2007-2008 SENTRA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. DUE TO THE MACHINING IRREGULARITY BY THE SUPPLIER, THE INTERNAL SEAL GROOVE IN THE BODY OF SOME BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP IN THE GROOVE CONTACT AREA OF THE SEAL. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.
Consequence: IF THE WARNING LAMP IS IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MASTER CYLINDER/BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY AND IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE IS DETECTED, THE MASTER CYLINDER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.