2018 Nissan Sentra Brakes Problems

My brake lights suddenly wouldn’t turn on and my car wouldn’t start. We replaced the brake light switch and it worked for a short while, but it stopped working the same day almost causing several collisions as brake lights won’t turn on. There was a recall on this issue with this year and model, but my VIN number was not included regardless of the symptoms all being there. We had a master mechanic look and diagnose it as a brake light switch issue. The vehicle has been brought to a local Nissan center for similar issues a couple months ago, but it failed several times

NHTSA ID

11716070

Incident

Oct 20, 2025

Car won't start, stranded in parking lots, on road. Have seen hundreds of complaints about the same thing ,saying it's either a brake switch or ignition switch.Very scary to be stranded somewhere.Nissan is aware and said it's common problem? Hard to believe Nissan or the nhtsa does not believe this to be a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11607682

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

My 2018 Nissan Sentra has under 60,000 miles on it and is on its 3rd set of brake rotors, as well as had both front and rear brake pads replaced 2 times. The vehicle has always given the warning , front radar not detected alert, until the last 12 months where I began receiving a malfunction warning. My car has been brought to 2 different Nissan dealerships to work on this issue. The current one stating my front sensor is failing & will need to be replaced however there is no warranty on it. I am the only owner of my vehicle and it has not been in any forward collisions. As for the power train/transmission, I received a transmission flush in May of 2023, and now 15 months later was told by a different Nissan dealership it needed a flush as it appeared the transmission was going bad. The vehicle has stalled several times, continuously has a high RMP when accelerating and the AC has gone out a couple of months ago.

NHTSA ID

11607148

Incident

May 2, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra SV. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, she depressed the brake pedal and pressed the push start button but the vehicle failed to start. The warning message "Malfunction Indicator Light" illuminated. The contact stated that as she continued to depress the brake pedal and squeezed an unknown wire under the steering wheel, she was able to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The contact also stated that the brake pedal would make abnormal loud sounds and would intermittently hesitate to respond while driving. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated that she continued to depress the brake pedal but it failed to respond. The contact stated that as she was about to crash into the rear of the vehicle ahead of her, she veered off the road and crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries on the shoulder and her friend who was in the front passenger seat did not sustain any injuries. The contact did not seek medical assistance. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her friend's residence. A police report was filed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact received the recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as her vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

NHTSA ID

11449812

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

Mileage

48,000 mi

I purchased this car October 10th of 2021 and 2 days after I purchased it I called my service department because I was driving on the highway at 65 miles an hour and the malfunction warning light came on for the automatic braking system and it also depressed my brakes so it scared the crap out of me. I was told that because of the weather it was raining that day that that sometimes happens. I didn't think anything of it on December 10th my son got into a car accident with the car and he did some damage to the front axle and the front end of the car it has since been repaired and now everyday several times a day the same thing happens and it is messing with my brakes and it's scaring me and I don't know what to do.

NHTSA ID

11448944

Incident

Oct 12, 2021

UNKNOWN. however there has been a safety recall about the brake lights not illuminating. I have tried three times to make an appointment with nissan dealership to get this problem fixed but i have had no luck with them helping. Im worrried about my daughters safety. She is not even two years old yet, i dont want her or anyone else on the road getting hurt because of a faulty safety feature.

NHTSA ID

11447374

Incident

Apr 30, 2021

I received a recall notice (PM971) (21V-135) on May 4, 2021. I went twice to the dealership to have my car fixed. I called several times asking what to do to get the recall completed. One person said they needed to look at it to get the part. I went to the dealership on May 24, 2021 and I am still waiting for them to call me telling me that they have the part. Meanwhile, I am having lots of trouble stepping on the brake to start the car. Frequently it takes me up to 10 minutes before I can get the car started. Yesterday (9/19), I gave up trying to start the car. Today, (9/20) I had problems each time I tried to use the car, taking 5-10 minutes each time. The first time I went to the dealership, the technician said he didn't know why the notice was sent out because they didn't have the parts. The dealership is Ray Brandt Nissan 4000 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero, LA 70072. I could not evacuate for Hurricane Ida because I could not be sure that I would be able to start my car or that my brake lights would work in stop an go traffice. My car is my only means of getting to work and accomplishing other tasks. I cannot continue to hope that my car will eventually start and hoping that my brake lights continue to work. Your help is appreciated.

NHTSA ID

11433689

Incident

May 4, 2021

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The vehicle stopped after the brake pedal was depressed, and the emergency brakes was engaged. The vehicle eventually stopped. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed that the brakes needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was a recall associated with the VIN, which would cover the repair cost for the ABS, rear stop lamp switch, Engine and Cruise Control. The failure mileage was 66,000.

NHTSA ID

11422672

Incident

Jun 16, 2021

Mileage

66,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the push to start button and brake pedal was depressed but the engine failed to start. The contact also stated that the RPM's would go to 5 when she depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle had a burning smell when driving. The contact stated the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) on June 11, 2021, at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,127.

NHTSA ID

11421729

Incident

Jun 21, 2021

Mileage

19,127 mi

When I push the brakes and start button, all lights come on, navi starts, but Car Does NOT start. I am stranded for 6th or 7th time and waiting on tow truck. According to this link, this is a recurrent problem Nissan is aware of, and they do nothing to fix it. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-c27227_ds963428 Being stranded is dangerous-PERIOD. I am enduring a homeless man yelling at me while I sit in my car with doors locked. Nissan should recall this car. 2018 Sentra SV with push start is Not safe.

NHTSA ID

11418846

Incident

May 28, 2021

A TIMELY FIX FOR THIS RECALL HAS NO BEEN ISSUED.

NHTSA ID

11416632

Incident

Apr 7, 2021

Mileage

39,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS F AS FAILING MAKING MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT GLOW

NHTSA ID

11416392

Incident

May 12, 2021

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR MY FRONT COLLISION SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS AFFECTED NOW THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND IT'S AFFECTING MY BRAKES MY LIGHTING AND MY SPEED CONTROL BECAUSE I CAN'T BREAK AND THEY HAVE NOT SENT ME A RECALL OR SEND ANY INFORMATION TO ME I FOUND THIS OUT ON MY CARFAX REPORT

NHTSA ID

11408582

Incident

Nov 13, 2020

Mileage

40,000 mi

THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO FLUID BUILD UP THAT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKES IN THE CAR I JUST BOUGHT FROM CARVANA. THANK GOD I RESEARCHED THE VIN BECAUSE IT WASN'T DISCLOSED TO ME FROM CARVANA. I COULD HAVE DIED IN AN ACCIDENT IF I NEVER WOULD HAVE DID A VIN SEARCH SO SEE IF ANY RECALLS EVER HAPPENED. HOW CAN I GET THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY?

NHTSA ID

11402939

Incident

Mar 8, 2021

MY 2018 NISSAN SENTRA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE (AEB) AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND WHILE IM DRIVING, I GET A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AEB HAS MALFUNCTIONED, FOLLOWED BY A CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE THAT DOESNT GO AWAY UNLESS I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE LOUD BEEP WILL KEEP GOING FOR AS LONG AS IM DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES BRAKES ON ITS OWN, WHICH IS SCARY, AND DANGEROUS. EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHT COMES ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE IM DRIVING, FOLLOWED BY THE ANNOYING BEEP, THERES NOT ONE DAY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, AS FAR AS THE BRAKING GOES, THAT HAPPENS DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES. SOMETIMES OBJECTS WILL MAKE MY VEHICLE BRAKE, OR SOMETIMES IT'LL BRAKE FOR NO REASON, JUST A SLIGHT BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

11365666

Incident

Oct 21, 2020

Mileage

50,588 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN HER DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE BRAKE WAS STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PAD FROM THE WHEEL WELL WAS SMOKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMOKE STARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES GOT SO HOT THAT THEY MELTED THE WEIGHT THAT WAS ON THE RIMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALSER NISSAN COON RAPIDS, 3300 129TH AVE NW, COON RAPIDS, MN 55448, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO SENSOR THAT WAS NOT COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY WAS TELLING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE BRAKE AND STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,972.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11365612

Incident

Aug 7, 2020

Mileage

58,972 mi

EBS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. EVERY DAY. WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11365275

Incident

Sep 24, 2020

Mileage

15 mi

OVER 2 1/2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, I'VE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM: THE BREAK SWITCH HAS FAILED TO ALLOW THE PUSH-BUTTON STARTER TO ENGAGE, WHICH LEAVES ME UNABLE TO STAR THE CAR. THE ISSUE EFFECTIVELY LEAVES ME STRANDED AND HAS RESULTED IN MAKING ME LATE. IT ONLY HAPPENEDS WHEN STARTING THE CAR SO IT'S STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11360015

Incident

Sep 9, 2020

Mileage

28,425 mi

CAR PULLS TO RIGHT ON THE EXPRESS WAY MAKING VERY LOUD FUNNY NOISES , RPM SHOOTS TO 2 TO 5 AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED A FEW TIMES TAKING ME OFF OF THE ROAD BUT NOT CRASHING OR INTO A ACCIDENT , THE BRAKES ARE ALSO SOUNDING BAD. ON STREETS THE CARS STEERING DRIFTS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO DO ITS OWN THING .

NHTSA ID

11355109

Incident

Sep 4, 2020

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE AEB SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED IT ALL THREE TIMES AND I BRING IT HOME AND ONCE I START DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE SENSOR COMES ON AGAIN. AS I'M DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN EVEN THOUGH I'M PRESSING ON THE GAS. I HAVE TO LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN PRESS THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO KICK IT BACK INTO RUNNING CORRECTLY. I HAVE A 2018 NISSAN SENTRA AND IT HAS 30,000 MILES. THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 36,000 MILES AND I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT IN AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IF THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG. I'VE OWNED SENTRAS BEFORE AND NEVER HAD THIS MUCH PROBLEM!

NHTSA ID

11350499

Incident

Aug 19, 2020

Mileage

30,500 mi

VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND APPLIES VEHICLE BRAKES IN RANDOM INSTANCES. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE COULD BRAKE SUDDENLY WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11342462

Incident

Jul 30, 2020

Mileage

25,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET PREPARING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY THE MALFUNCTION AND COLLISION SIGN POPPED UP IN THE DASH BOARD..AFTER SO LONG A CONTINUOUS DING SOUND CAN BE HEARD. PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD TO TAP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD EVEN START..ONLY HAVE 30,000 MILES AND I JUST GOT THIS CAR IN APRIL AND ALREADY HAVING ISSUE..

NHTSA ID

11340009

Incident

Jul 17, 2020

Mileage

30,412 mi

MY 2018 NISSAN SENTRA HAS ISSUES WITH NOT STARTING AND THE BRAKE SENSOR FAILING AND COMING ON WITH NOTHING AROUND. THE BACK UP CAMERA GOES OUT AND THE RADIO AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL LIGHTS GO OUT. THERE ARE SEVERAL ONGOING DANGEROUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, CORP AND MANAGERS AT SUTHERLIN NISSAN TO NO AVAIL.*DT*JB*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11325841

Incident

May 15, 2020

Mileage

1,884 mi

EVERYTIME I DRIVE IN THE RAIN OR SNOW OR ANY WET CONDITIONS MY FRONT SENSOR FOR THE BRAKES SAYS SENSOR UNDETECTED ERROR MESSAGE AND ALSO MY BRAKES LOOK BRAND NEW AND THEY SQUEAK

NHTSA ID

11321523

Incident

Apr 16, 2020

Mileage

5 mi

FORWARD COLLISION SENSOR CAUSING VEHICLE TO BRAKE WHEN NOTHING IS FRONT OF ME WHILE I DRIVE. IT HAS HAPPENED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. NISSAN DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF ISSUES BUT IS CHARGING ME $1300 TO FIX BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY

NHTSA ID

11319631

Incident

Mar 25, 2020

Mileage

45,679 mi