RoadVitals

2004 Nissan Sentra Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jul 17, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 197 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 2017
Crash reported

MY CAR HIT A TRUCK GOING 25-30 MPH. I WAS ON A CITY STREET. MY BREAKS DID NOT STOP ME ON TIME. NEW BREAK PADS WERE JUST REPLACED. THE BREAKS JUST DIDN'T WORK RIGHT. TOOK TOO LONG TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TESTED MY BREAKS ON MY OTHER CAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DIFFERENCE IN STOPPING AND I WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN MY OTHER CAR ON TIME. BREAKS JUST TOOK TO LONG TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE NISSAN.

NHTSA ID
11005618
Incident
Jul 27, 2016
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Sep 4, 2015

I WAS DRIVING EAST ON I494 NEAR A MAJOR INTERCHANGE, IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH WHEN MY ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. I QUICKLY CHECKED THE LANE ON MY RIGHT AND IT WAS CLEAR SO I MOVED OVER AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. MY BRAKES AND STEERING WERE GOING QUICKLY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP NEXT TO THE GUARD RAIL. I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO A TWO-LANE EXIT TO I35, WHERE THE TRAFFIC WAS FLYING PAST ME; SEVERAL CARS ALMOST RAN INTO ME, WITH ONE EXTREMELY DISTRACTED DRIVER CROSSING THE LINE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND HEADING RIGHT AT ME. IF HE HAD NOT LOOKED UP IN TIME I DOUBT I WOULD BE HERE TO REPORT THIS. I WAS ABLE TO GET A TOW TRUCK, BUT TRAFFIC WAS NOT EVEN SLOWING OR YIELDING FOR THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, BUT WAS TOO AFRAID TO TRY DRIVING IT IN THOSE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THE REPAIR SHOP I WENT TO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY O2 SENSOR CAUSED BY A LEAKY FLEX PIPE AND WANTED OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE PIPE W/ CATALYTIC CONVERTER, GASKETS, O2 SENSOR. AND SPARK PLUGS. SINCE MY CAR WOULD START BUT I DID NOT TRUST IT, I DECIDED TO DRIVE HOME (25 MILES) BY CITY STREETS AND BACK ROADS. ON THE WAY THE ENGINE AGAIN FAILED WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE. AFTER 10 MINUTES IT STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO FIXED THE FLEX PIPE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN AND RESTARTED AFTER ANOTHER HARROWING WAIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS TIME THE CAR GAVE A CODE FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, WHICH MY MECHANIC REPLACED. SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS NOT QUIT WHILE DRIVING, BUT DOES HESITATE AND I AM AFRAID WHILE DRIVING IT. I MAY HAVE MY MECHANIC REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AS WELL, SINCE THAT IS ALSO A KNOWN ISSUE. I AM SUPPOSED TO MOVE TO CALIFORNIA, BUT DON'T TRUST MY CAR TO MAKE THE TRIP SAFELY.

NHTSA ID
10761490
Incident
Aug 13, 2015
Mileage
148,753 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 26, 2014

ON 24TH OF DEC 2014 WHILE DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HWY AT ABOUT 8PM MY BRAKES GOT REALLY HARD THEN I SAW MY BRAKES LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS NOT A GOOD FEELING THANKS GOD THE STREET LIGHT WAS GREEN CAUSE IF IT WAS RED WE WOULD BE HAVING A DIR CONVO RIGHT NOW, ANYWAY I PULLED IN A PARKING LOT AT MAYBE 15 TO 20 MPH THEN I PUT IT IN PARK PULL UP THE HAND BRAKES AND TURN OFF THE CAR, I STAYED THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF THEN I TRIED THE CAR AGAIN IT CAME ON LIKE NOTHING HAPPEN..............AM TELLING U I DON'T WISH THIS ON ANYONE.....WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR IN 2007 IT SHUT DOWN ON ME I SAID I MAYBE DID SOMETHING I STILL CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT BUT IT NEVER SHUT DOWN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668333
Incident
Dec 24, 2014
Mileage
120,005 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Dec 10, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON 12/08/14, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH I-85 N. AT ONE POINT I CHANGED A LANE TOWARDS MY LEFT AND NEEDED TO STRAIGHTEN MY CAR TO THAT LANE. BUT SURPRISINGLY THE CAR WOULDN'T GOT STRAIGHTENED AND STEERING HAD NO IMPACT/CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHEELS. AS A RESULT MY CAR HIT THE MEDIAN OF THE HWY AND AFTER THAT I WAS STILL TRYING TO PUT IT BACK IN THE LANE. BUT I HAD NO CONTROL ON IT. IT WAS SHAKING AND SPEEDING UP; HIT THE MEDIAN WITH THE LEFT MIDDLE AND AGAIN AFTER TRAVELING A FEW FEET HIT THE MEDIAN WITH REAR LEFT. AT THAT POINT BOTH AIRBAGS POPPED OUT AND CAR CHANGED DIRECTION ( FROM MY DIAGONAL LEFT TO DIAGONAL RIGHT). AND IT TOOK ME TO ALL THE WAY (6 LANE)ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND HIT THE MEDIAN ON THAT SIDE AGAIN WITH THE FRONT RIGHT AND STRAIGHT FRONT. AFTER THAT THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. IT WAS ALL SMOKY AND THE CAR DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN. I SQUEEZED MYSELF OUT THROUGH THE APPROX. SIX INCHES OPENING. I WAS SO SCARED AND STILL SO MUCH DEPRESSED THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT I DIDN'T HIT ANYBODY OR I GOT HIT BY ANY OTHER CAR OR WHEN THE CAR WAS DRAGGING ME TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I DIDN'T GO UNDER ANY TRAILER. MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS WHY THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND LOST CONTROL OVER THE WHEEL? WHOSE FAULT WAS THIS? AND FINALLY I GOT CITATION FROM DEKALB POLICE FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANES. WHEN I ASKED THE POLICE OFFICER, SHE TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO PROVE IT THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL ERROR. THEN THE CITATION WILL BE TAKEN OFF. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE SIGN OR ANYTHING THAT I FELT UNUSUAL. SO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND LET ME KNOW SO THAT I FEEL A LITTLE BETTER! *TR

NHTSA ID
10663445
Incident
Dec 8, 2014
Mileage
85,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 27, 2010

NISSAN SENTRA 2004 MODEL - MANUFACTURER DEFECT - RECALL REQUIRED. DEAR, THIS IS REGARDING MY SENTRA CAR - DOING SERVICE ONLY WITH NISSAN DEALER. TOOK THE CAR 3 TIMES TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM - ONLY ON THE 3RD TIME THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. SEEMS THEY NEVER CAME ACROSS THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE. BRAKE BOOSTER DOES NOT SEND FLUID TO BRAKE -STALLS THE CAR MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY/HIGHWAY FROM 65/55MILES TO 5 MILES - SUDDENLY COMES SUDDEN HALT IN HIGHWAY. GAVE FULL ACCELERATION, IT DOESN'T MOVE MORE THAN 5 MILES/HR. RETURNED TO CAR DEALER AGAIN. AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. MY SERVICES CHARGES WERE $1,200 - WHICH INCLUDES FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS - AT EARLY STAGE - @39700 MILES. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH NISSAN FOR THE FIRST TIME - I HAD ALTIMA BEFORE. IT IS A TOTAL MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I AM WORRIED AS MY TEEN AGE DAUGHTER AND WIFE ARE DRIVING THIS CAR. INFORMED NISSAN, THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL/COMMON DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10362673
Incident
Oct 16, 2010
Mileage
39,720 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2005
Crash reported

CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AT APPROX 30 FT, I PUT ON BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT WORK, PUMPED BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK MISSED REAR OF CAR ,A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME LEFT BRAKE LOCKED WENT LEFT PUT ON BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK HIT SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10130502
Incident
Jun 8, 2005
Mileage
5 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 25, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

BACKING DOWN A HILLY DRIVEWAY IN NEUTRAL BRAKES WENT OUT. THIS LEAD TO RUNNING INTO A GUARD RAIL. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED AFTERWARDS TO STOP THE ROLLING. BRAKES WORKED FINE ON FLAT SURFACE. MINOR NECK INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED WILL CONTACT MAUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10104467
Incident
Dec 24, 2004
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Dec 3, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10103110
Incident
Nov 20, 2004
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Nov 1, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

20 FEET AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SUDDENLY THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A DITCH AND IMPACTED A SEWER DRAIN. THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY BURNED BY THE AIRBAGS WHEN THEY DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE ABOVE FAILURES IS UNDETERMINED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10099085
Incident
Sep 3, 2004
Mileage
2,800 mi
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10073894

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .