2018 Nissan Sentra problems
The Nissan Sentra is a series of automobiles manufactured by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 1982. Since 1999, the Sentra has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. Until 2006, Sentra was a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny, but since the 2013 model year, Sentra is a rebadged export version of the Sylphy. The Sentra nameplate is not used in Japan. Many other countries in Latin America sell their versions of the Sunny as the Sentra. In Mexico, the first three generations of the Sentra were known as the Nissan Tsuru (Japanese for crane), and the B13 model was sold under that name until 2017, alongside the updated models badged as Sentra.
In North America, the Sentra currently serves as Nissan's compact car, despite being rated as a mid-size car by the EPA due to its interior volume since the 2007 model year. While previous Sentras were subcompacts, the Sentra has grown over the years, with the Nissan Versa having replaced the Sentra in the entry-level area.
The Sentra name was created for Nissan by Ira Bachrach of NameLab, and Bachrach describes the origin as "Nissan wanted consumers to understand that it was quite safe even though it was small. The word Sentra sounds like central as well as sentry, which evokes images of safety."
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Common 2018 Nissan Sentra problems
The 2018 Nissan Sentra has been reported to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. One of the issues is related to the engine, with some owners experiencing engine failure while driving. This can be a significant safety concern, as it can lead to a loss of power while driving, potentially causing accidents.
Another common problem reported by owners is related to the transmission. Some owners have reported issues with the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which can lead to transmission failure. This issue can be costly to repair, with replacement costs estimated to be around $3,000.
Electrical problems have also been reported by some owners. These issues can range from problems with the brake light switch, which can prevent the brake lights from illuminating, to problems with the back-up camera and display settings, which can cause the rear view image to no longer be visible.
In addition to these issues, some owners have reported problems with the steering and suspension systems. These issues can lead to a lack of feeling in the steering, as well as excessive body roll when cornering.
While the 2018 Nissan Sentra has been reported to have several common problems, it is important to note that data from CarComplaints shows that the 2018 Sentra is reliable and a better option than most earlier-year models. However, it is still recommended that potential buyers do their research and consider these common issues before making a purchase.
What is the biggest problem with the Nissan Sentra?
Top Nissan Sentra Problems
- Brake problems are a recurring problem for Nissan Sentras. ...
- Strut assemblies that dampen the shocks from driving on uneven surfaces may also fail without warning. ...
- Transmission issues are among the most common and serious problems that can happen to a Nissan Sentra.
Does 2018 Nissan Sentra have CVT transmission problems?
Many consumers have reported that the CVT can first cause the cars to shake, judder, stall during sudden acceleration, or completely lose power. We are also investigating a Nissan Sentra automatic braking lawsuit. 2015-2018 Nissan Sentras may be automatically braking, for no reason.
How long does a 2018 Nissan Sentra transmission last?
Consumer Reports suggests that Nissan Sentra owners should expect above-average longevity out of their compact, putting it in the 150,000 to 200,000-mile range, with some drivers reporting twice that on the original transmission.
What is the recall on the 2018 Nissan Sentra?
2018 Nissan Sentra Recalls
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.
2018 Nissan Sentra car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Nissan Sentra problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Power train problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Electrical system problems
- Forward collision avoidance problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Nissan Sentra vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2018 Nissan Sentra
The NHTSA has received 161 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Nissan Sentra. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2018 Nissan Sentra vehicles.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-11
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP4JY
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The center overhead light compartment falling out of interior roof
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-08
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP3JY
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: CVT Transmission is giving up on Sentra.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-01
- VIN: 3N1AB7APXJL
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: 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.
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-02
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP4JL
- Components: POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: 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.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-30
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP2JY
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that when moving the vehicle from park to drive the vehicle would display a jerking sensation. When attempting to accelerate there would be a hesitation before doing so. There were no warning lights. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer code S indicating transmission failure. The transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired with a rebuilt transmission. The failure reoccurred 60,000 miles after receiving the repair. The vehicle had been returned to the dealer who confirmed that the failure was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired again. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-01
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP7JY
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: My 2018 nissan sentra has 118.5k miles and have been experiencing slight slippage with the CVT since buying it in 2020 with 26k on the odometer. The vehicle had work done by a local mechanic to pass NYS inspection. No warning lamps have been illuminated. The vehicle now, drives under its own power but shakes, bangs and slips into "gear". I have called a local Nissan dealership and they have quoted me of roughly $6500.00 for a replacement. This has not been taken to confirm that the CVT is the problem but, given all the class action lawsuits against Nissan, it pretty safe to assume its a bad CVT. This can potentially cause a safety risk to driver, occupants and other motorists due to inability to gain speed up to local speed limits or causing issues if the CVT fails at speed. As a consumer of a Nissan product, I have received the warranty extension but, that does not cover my vehicle because they sent out the extension when my vehicle had 115k. Reading the class action lawsuits against Nissan of North America, it states, Nissan has not fixed the issue, they only offer to install a known bad transmission back into the vehicles. This shows gross negligence on Nissan of North America's part and unwilling to make it right to the consumer base. Nissan should recall and replace any CVT equipped vehicle in the owner fleet at no cost to the consumer.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-06
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP1JY
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Transmission went in my 2018 Nissan Sentra, haven’t had it long
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-05
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP4JY
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately, and the contact had to depress the brake pedal several times before the vehicle would start. The contact stated that the start time varied. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-11
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP7JY
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: The sensor just abruptly went out and is a known issue on these cars yet Nissan refuses to issues a recall instead they want to charge you $2000 to get it fixed, and it’s a safety concern being since it’s supposed to alert you and help brake if you approach a car to quickly
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-25
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP0JY
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: My 2018 Sentra recently stop driving in forward gear. It only drive in reverse and I’m over the mileage and Nissan refuses to fix it. I need help
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-23
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP2JY
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: nothing is wrong with the car
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-18
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP4JY
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: The CVT can cause the car to shake, judder, stall during sudden acceleration, or completely lose power. My car jurked and stop completely while at a turning signal in the middle of the street . This was cause by the recall on their cvt. I’ve called a Nissan dealer and they said they can’t fix the recall problem for free because my car is over 80,000 miles. No it hasn’t been inspected . Yes my car has been jurking for the last past month . I’ve been called Nissan about it but they said i had to pay $210 for diagnostic even tho the problem was the transmission recall . The car will not drive foward or backwards . It’ll start up but that’s just about it. Now I have no transportation to go to work or doctors appointments.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-29
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP7JY
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the transmission was slipping. The RPM revved up. While at a stop, upon acceleration, the vehicle shuddered, and the transmission slipped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 159,500.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-12
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP8JL
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: Unknown, lights and loud beep just appeared one day
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-12
- VIN: 3N1AB7APXJY
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: Car abruptly stalled while driving, would restart but fail again upon acceleration. Would only move in reverse. Had this happened two minutes earlier, I would have likely been killed on Interstate 10, luckily I had just exited the freeway. At this point State Farm sent a tow truck, it was brought to the car shop we use nearby. Upon inspection the transmission was diagnosed as failed and exhaust manifold was damaged, possibly due to towing, since car would only move in reverse. There were NO warning signs, just abrupt failure. Repairs for transmission cost over $4000, exhaust manifold still being repaired, estimated at another $900. Only owned the car for three years. My only means of getting to work it needed to be immediately repaired. There were NO warning signs, just abrupt failure.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-01
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP1JY
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: After getting my left headlight assembly replaced the high beam went out. Shortly after my horn was no longer working. Other problems I noticed before these issues that seemed electrical but didn’t necessarily catch my attention: oil light doesn’t come on, seatbelt reminder doesn’t make noise, lights inside the car short at times unless turned on a specific way(including screens and overhead lights.)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-17
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP3JL
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: I am writing to express my concerns regarding the performance of the transmission in my Nissan 2018 Nissan Sentra. Recently, I have encountered my car stopped accelerating and only able to drive backwards. I had a few transmission,shifting problems, jerking which has raised concerns about the overall reliability and safety of the vehicle. I understand your concern about Nissan transmissions. If you wish to address this issue with Nissan, I recommend following a formal and respectful approach. Here's a template you can use to write to the Nissan headquarters: [Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date] Nissan North America, Inc. Consumer Affairs Department P.O. Box 685003 Franklin, TN 37068-5003 Subject: Request for Investigation and Potential Recall of Nissan Transmission Issues Dear Nissan North America, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my concerns regarding the performance of the transmission in my Nissan [Model and Year]. Recently, I have encountered [specific issues with the transmission, e.g., shifting problems, jerking, etc.], which has raised concerns about the overall reliability and safety of the vehicle. I have conducted some research and have come across several instances of similar transmission issues reported by Nissan owners. It appears that a significant number of vehicles may be experiencing similar problems, indicating a potential systemic issue with the transmissions. Given the importance of vehicle safety and the trust that consumers place in Nissan products, I am urging you to investigate these transmission issues thoroughly. If necessary, I kindly request that Nissan consider a recall to address and rectify the reported problems.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-15
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP7JY
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 - 45 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle revved roughly before accelerating forward. The contact stated that while driving for approximately 20 minutes at 20-25 MPH accelerating uphill, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving after approximately 5 minutes. The battery failure warning light illuminated, along with the check engine and oil failure warning lights. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer where they had not diagnosed the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,800.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-09
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP1JL
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 1. The transmission is the component that failed/malfunctioned. 2. The car started jerking and hesitating on the highway and then stopped accelerating. 3. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. 4. No, it has only been inspected by a licensed repair shop specializing in transmissions. 5. There were no warning lamps until the issue was happening. The check engine light came on and started flashing.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-18
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP5JL
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: My gas gauge said 60 miles until fill up, I ran out of gas with no warning, no check engine light and no gas light, in the middle of the street. I was not able to wheel it to the side as I was going uphill at the time and the steering went out. Traffic had to avoid hitting me as I was completely locked up. There is nothing previously wrong with the car.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-03
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP4JY
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: There is a recall on certain years of Nissan Altimas for a hood latch problem. My 2018 Nissan Sentra has the same hood latch problem that the 2018 Altima, i.e., when the hood is opened the primary hood latch does not reset, so when the hood is closed only the secondary latch is engaged and the hood remains slightly open. I have to use a screwdriver to reset the primary latch before I can fully close the hood.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-18
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP8JY
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Was involved in a front end collision, and the airbags did not deploy
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-08
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP6JY
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: The sensor comes on intermittently even when there is nothing in front of the vehicle.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-02
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP6JY
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: I heard what sounded like rocks under my car so I took it into Firestone to have them look at it and they let me know they could not even align it because the tie rod had to be replaced. Apparently this part controls your steering and you can potentially lose a wheel while you are driving down the highway. Now I am worried and I don't dare drive my vehicle any further than necessary right back over to Firestone to have them replace it on Monday. This is a safety concern because if I lose steering and the wheel comes off in that distance of even one mile anyone in the area of such a situation could get hurt. I actually don't have much money, but have no choice but to pay to have it done. I have continually maintained my vehicle. I have not hit any rocks that would have caused this issue either. I asked Joe at Firestone what would have caused the problem and he told me simple wear and tear. I only have 27,360 miles on my car. That makes no sense to me with such a small amount of mileage that the tie rod would have to be replaced to remain safe on the road.
AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-30
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 3N1AB7AP9JY
- Components: AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: Car was involved in an accident and the air bags did not deploy.
2018 Nissan Sentra recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2018 Nissan Sentra.
- Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Summary: 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.
Negative 2018 Nissan Sentra car reviews
Positive 2018 Nissan Sentra car reviews
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Great gas mileage
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Get preapproved
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We averaged 38mpg going to Kona and back. There's plenty of room and it looks nice!
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Make sure you get what you're paying for. I'm used to driving a jeep, so this Nissan Sentra feels very compact and low to the ground. Although I was offered this car without any say in the matter, I still give it a thumbs up for those who prefer smaller cars. As a big guy, I wish they had suggested a bigger vehicle, but I understand that I should have been more demanding about what I wanted. Hopefully, with on-time payments and refinancing, I can eventually get my pick-up truck. Overall, the car is great!
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I just got a 2018 SR model. The reviews say the acceleration is slow. However, I disagree. I had a 2014 Hyundai Elantra and I thought it was fast, but my Nissan can get to 60 in just 6 seconds! That's definitely not slow.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2018 Nissan Sentra problems:
2018 Nissan Sentra Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life ...
Dec 2, 2022 ... The comfort level is amazing. Nissan's engine has an amazing horsepower. Mileage is super good. The interior is beautiful and has a good sound ...
2018 Nissan Sentra Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2018 Nissan Sentra? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Has the Nissan Sentra been reliable since 2018? : r ...
Apr 30, 2021 ... I know the past models had CVT issues, but is that still the case since their new generation of Sentra's that started in 2018? Would you guys ...
I have a 2018 Nissan Sentra I bought new. Ive not had any problems ...
Jul 23, 2023 ... I have a 2018 Nissan Sentra I bought new. Ive not had any problems with it but I worry about CVT problems. The car has been properly maintained.
I drive a CVT 2018 Nissan sentra. From being on just rolled into ...
Feb 25, 2022 ... All CVTs had reliability problems initially ... Nissan cvt known to go, it's a matter of time. ... I love my 2018 Sentra , no problems UNTIL I hit ...
Other years of Nissan Sentra
Are you having problems with your 2018 Nissan Sentra?
Cletus Hirthe 2025-01-08
My 2018 Sentra SV had some issues with the transmission and fuel pump. However, I can confidently say that I did not drive irresponsibly and took good care of my car. Despite these issues, I still believe that the Sentra is a good car and would recommend it to others. If you are considering purchasing one, I suggest getting a manual transmission for added reliability.
Kendall Lowe 2024-10-12
I initially opted for a used 2018 Nissan Sentra SV instead of a Ford, despite its high mileage of around 90k. Unfortunately, the transmission has started slipping even though the car has not yet reached 20k miles. I believe there should be a recall for this issue and Nissan should replace the transmission free of charge. Currently, I still have a car loan and the cost of repair is almost $6,000, which is a significant amount considering the car's value is only around $9,000. Due to this experience, I have decided not to purchase another Nissan and will share my experience with others. My brother also had a negative experience with his Nissan truck. I would advise against purchasing a Nissan.
Felton Gerlach 2024-03-17
Unfortunately, while my car was being repaired, I was given a 2018 Sentra with a CVT transmission as a rental. If you're used to a more responsive car, you may find this one frustrating. The steering is slow and numb, the ride is bumpy, and the engine lacks power. Additionally, the sound system is overly bass-heavy and causes the interior plastics to vibrate. It's best to avoid driving this car if you're already feeling upset, as it may exacerbate your mood.
Tevin Gutmann 2024-03-16
Hi there! I drive 110 miles four days a week and I've noticed that I'm down to half a tank after only 55 miles (highway miles). I was a bit disappointed when the dealer told me that it's because of the smaller tank. What do you think?
Emiliano Cormier 2024-03-02
My 2018 Sentra experiences periodic trunk opening issues. Despite taking it to two dealerships, neither were able to identify any problems. However, I am confident in the safety of my vehicle and will continue to drive it with peace of mind.