RoadVitals

2008 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.
21
Latest Mar 14, 2022
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.
13%
of 167 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 2008 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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 Mar 14, 2022

JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (NO BRAKES APPLIED) AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT BAD AND LOST POWER BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
11456543
Incident
Mar 12, 2022
BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 20, 2021

I PURCHASED THE CAR DROVE IT HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. 2 DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE IT DRIVES VERY SLOW AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED.

NHTSA ID
11404021
Incident
Mar 18, 2021
Brakes
Filed Jul 24, 2020

MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING AND BRAKE LIGHT IS COMING ON

NHTSA ID
11341379
Incident
May 2, 2019
Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 2018

MASTER CYLINDER RECALL

NHTSA ID
11110614
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
BrakesEngine
Filed Jun 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED ORR NISSAN (3131 E BEEBE CAPPS EXPY, SEARCY, AR 72143, (501) 268-5333) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ID
11099200
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
153,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesOther / unspecified
Filed May 5, 2016
Crash reported

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. BRAKES MAY HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO FULL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHEN SERVICED WHICH RESULTED IN NOT BRAKING IN TIME AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP THE VEHICLE ON A NISSAN RECALL WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT'S ONE OF THE ONES ON THE RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ID
10863459
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Brakes
Filed Oct 5, 2015

PETITION FOR DEFECT INVESTIGATION AND RECALL EXPANSION FOR MY 2007-2008 NISSAN SENTRA VEHICLES EXPERIENCING MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKAGE. *SMD A COMPLAINT WAS SENT IN TO THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL, BY A COMPLAINANT. THE COMPLAINANT STATED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK WAS DUE TO A LEAKING REAR SEAL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ORIGINAL MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER THAT WAS NEVER SERVICED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH NO EXTERNAL SIGN OF A LEAK. UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE HAD A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF BRAKE FLUID ACCUMULATED IN THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER, LOCATED TO AND ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONDITION WAS DESCRIBED IN RECALLS 08V311000 AND 09V431000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10805749
Incident
Oct 5, 2015
Brakes
Filed Sep 24, 2014

I HAVE NOTICED THE MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I ADDED A BRAKE FLUID AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. MY MECHANIC HAS EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE CYLINDER IS UNDER RECALL. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THAT THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKE CYLINDER FEW YEARS AGO AND THAT IT WASN'T AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE AFFECTED MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS BOSCH, AND THE SAME BRAND IS INSTALLED IN MY CAR. TWO DAYS LATER MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, JUST LIKE THE RECALL STATES MAY HAPPEN. NISSAN REFUSED TO CHANGE THE AFFECT BRAKE CYLINDER!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10638813
Incident
Sep 24, 2014
Mileage
24,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 27, 2014

PER NISSAN RECALL 169.202, MY 2008 SENTRA IS EQUIPPED WITH ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION WAS MADE KNOWN TO ME, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL. ALL INFORMATION AND THE LINK TO THIS FORM WAS SUPPLIED TO ME BY FIRESTONE, NOT BY THE DEALER. THIS RECALL AND REPAIR OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD BE HONORED.

NHTSA ID
10567372
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
BrakesEngine
Filed Feb 23, 2012
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE LOST POWER AND VEHICLE SLOWED. WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE OBSERVED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE BECAME FULLY INVOLVED WITHIN 3 MINUTES. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EXTINGUSH FIRE. CAUSE UNDERTERMINED. FIRES POINT OF ORIGIN WAS IN THE AREA OF THE ECM/BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, NO FLUID LEAKS,MECHANICAL ISSUES OR WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449038
Incident
Feb 21, 2012
Mileage
47,751 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 25, 2011

2008 NISSAN SENTRA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED ON HIS FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE NEXT THE DAY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE FRONT PADS REPLACED AND THE REAR PADS CLEANED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE SINCE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10385069
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED VERY OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER AND THE TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WOULD BE REPLACED WHEN THEY WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10353073
Incident
Jan 20, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 14, 2010

2008 NISSAN SENTRA, SO FAR HAD TO REPAIR AND REPLACE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER 3 TIMES ALREADY SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10299791
Incident
Nov 24, 2009
Mileage
24,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 25, 2009
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THEY VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. SINCE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE DIRECTION OF A BUILDING, SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY CRASHING INTO A HANDICAP SIGN AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE "BRAKE" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,100.

NHTSA ID
10285252
Incident
Sep 11, 2009
Mileage
5,100 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 2009

GAS PEDAL TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE, TOE HITS ACCELERATOR WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED WHY CAR WAS LURCHING WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264013
Incident
Apr 2, 2009
Brakes
Filed Feb 27, 2009

I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY MAIL OF A RECALL ON OF MY BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN DOESN'T SEND RECALL NOTICES BY US MAIL ANYMORE....ONLY BY EMAIL. WHAT IF I HADN'T TAKEN IT IN FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE? MY BRAKES COULD HAVE FAILED AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10260229
Incident
Feb 27, 2009
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2009

THE WEEK OF DEC 21 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM NISSAN ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN MY BREAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS TO BE HANDLED ON JAN 5, 2009 AT 9:20 AM EST. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO CORRECT THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO PITTSBURGH EAST NISSAN AND WAS GRADED BY DJ, I GAVE HIM THE VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE PAPER AND HE TOLD ME TO HAVE A SEAT IN THE WAITING ROOM. AT 10:30 AM - DJ, CAME OVER TO ME AND TOLD ME WE DON'T HAVE THE PART IN STOCK AND THEY ORDERED IT FOR ME AND I WILL BE ON THE LIST TO CALL ME BACK TO REPLACE THE PART, I WAS LIKE WHAT?, I SAT HERE FOR NOTHING AND YOU DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO MY CAR, DJ TOLD ME THAT'S THE WAY NISSAN DOES IT, I HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THEN THEY ORDER THE PART, THEN I GET CALLED BACK IN TO REPLACE THE PART..... THIS DOES NOT SEEM LOGICAL TO ME FOR A RECALL, I WASTED MY TIME (TWICE) BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE EXTRA PARTS IN STOCK????? HELP ME CHANGE THIS POLICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10253805
Incident
Jan 5, 2009
Mileage
6,767 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. ON NOVEMBER 3, 2008, WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEG, ARM, AND LOWER BACK. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND IS INVESTIGATING THE CRASH. THE PENBROOK PINE POLICE REPORT NUMBER WAS 2008-086387. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000.

NHTSA ID
10250505
Incident
Nov 3, 2008
Mileage
16,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 18, 2008

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NISSAN HAS RECALLED 2007 AND 2008 SENTRAS (RECALL # 08V311000) FOR MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THIS RECALL WAS EFFECTIVE JULY 23, 2008. I FOUND THE RECALL QUITE BY ACCIDENT. NISSAN HAS OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT, IT IS MY SON DRIVING THE CAR FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO OHIO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249151
Incident
Nov 18, 2008
BrakesEngine
Filed Oct 8, 2008

ENGINE KNOCK, MY CAR HAS A PISTON SLAPPING AROUND IN THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER "SIMS NISSAN IN WARREN, OHIO" TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE BAD ENGINE UNTIL THEY GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD BE AROUND 3-5 DAYS TO RECEIVE. THEY WOULD THEN GET ME A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY PUT THE ENGINE IN. I INFORMED THE OWNER KEN SIMS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HE TOLD ME NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN IF I DID NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM'S THAT WOULD THEN CAUSE THE PISTON TO GO THREW THE ENGINE. I ONCE AGAIN TOLD HIM THIS IS UNSAFE AND IF HE WAS SO CONFIDENT THAT NOTHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO PUT IT IN WRITING. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE A HUGE LAWSUIT ON HIS HANDS IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND NOW KNOWING IF I RUN IT AT HIGH RPMS AND THE ENGINE BLOWS THEN I AM RESPONSIBLE. I TOLD HIM AGAIN THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE FINE. TIRED OR ARGUING, I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM DEALER GOING 20MPH WITH 4 WAYS SO I WOULD NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM'S. THE CAR IS SETTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, AFRAID TO DRIVE SINCE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANOTHER LOANER OR PAY FOR A RENTAL. SO, I AM OUT. DEALER HAS TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND I FEEL AS I AM NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY, WAS DEGRADED LIKE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, HAD TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE COULD HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL AND HARMED ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. AND TO THINK THEY WANT ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS UNTIL A NEW ENGINE COMES IN. I HAVE MORE COMMON SENSE AND WILL NOT PUT MYSELF OR OTHERS AT RISK DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER HAVING A CRACK. DEALER HAS NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT FIXING THAT, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS YET EITHER, IT WAS POSED IN JULY. THIS IS NOW OCTOBER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244707
Incident
Oct 6, 2008
Mileage
12,926 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2008
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND IS AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10226136
Incident
Apr 17, 2008
Mileage
10,000 mi

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 .