2018 Nissan Sentra
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 46 of 185 complaints (25%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 230 in 2017 to 185 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,900–2,100 | 1,950–2,850 | 1,950–2,850 | 1,950–2,850 | 1,900–1,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 30–33 | 27–32 | 27–32 | 27–32 | 32–33 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 27–30 / 35–38 | 25–29 / 30–37 | 25–29 / 30–37 | 25–29 / 30–37 | 28–29 / 37–39 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 268–298 | 278–330 | 279–330 | 278–330 | 268–280 | |
| Complaints filed | 270 | 230 | 185 | 221 | 204 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 18 | 29 | 17 | 16 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 13 | 21 | 10 | 18 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
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 2018 Nissan Sentra have?
2 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 2018 Nissan Sentra?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 46 of 185 NHTSA complaints (25%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Nissan Sentra get?
EPA rates it 27–32 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Nissan Sentra?
EPA estimates $1,950–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 297 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 29 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 279 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 26 mpg | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 318 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (low) | 31 mpg | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 330 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,650 | 307 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 330 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 22 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 43 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 41 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 38 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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 (2)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH · Campaign 21V135000 · Mar 4, 2021
Defect: 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.
Consequence: The brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 19V654000 · Sep 13, 2019
Defect: 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. 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) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.