ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Nissan Sentra brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Nissan Sentra have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Sentra | 14 |
| 2008 Sentra | 18 |
| 2009 Sentra | 7 |
| 2011 Sentra (this page) | 10 |
| 2012 Sentra | 3 |
| 2013 Sentra | 66 |
| 2014 Sentra | 27 |
| 2015 Sentra | 11 |
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 brakes complaints filed for the 2011 Nissan Sentra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES and CLAIMS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has compiled Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and Low Tire Pressure Warning System (LTPWS) information for: - Basic diagnosing of TPMS/LTPWS systems - Radio frequency interference causing a "No Data" (C1708, C1709, C1710, C1711) condition - Sensor leaks - Moving TPMS/LTPWS wheel assemblies from one vehicle to another and TPMS/LTPWS sensor registration - Air pressure changes with altitude and ambient temperatures - Aftermarket tire sealers - Aftermarket wheels - Inflating/deflating tires with TPMS/LTPWS sensors See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. - Specifically, Tire Pressure Monitor transmitters (TPMS sensors) can be damaged when improperly dismounting and mounting tires. - TPMS sensors becoming damaged during mounting or dismounting tires are not covered under warranty. - To avoid such damage, ensure that the tire changer being used and the operator of the tire changer is capable of servicing run flat and low profile tires. - Operator?s manuals for such tire changers must be followed. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe four distinct brake problems in the 2011 Sentra. The most common is ABS actuator noise: loud metallic clanking, grinding, and clunking from the engine compartment and brake pedal area, paired with strong vibration, typically occurring at 15-25 mph when the ABS system initializes with each ignition cycle. One owner was charged $244 for diagnostics that identified ABS actuator failure (part 47660-9AA1A) requiring $1,900 replacement—no recall was found in Nissan's system despite warning lights for ABS, VDC, and brake.
More serious are unresponsive brake failures: drivers unable to stop their vehicles during normal deceleration. One owner pressed the brake five times and slammed it to the floor twice before resorting to the emergency brake and shifting to Park—the car still drifted forward 2-5 mph before hitting a semi. Another felt the pedal sink 3/4 of the way to the floor almost instantly with violent grinding and vibration, causing the car to pull hard left into oncoming traffic. A third reported the vehicle accelerating despite brake engagement at 40 mph.
One owner's foot became trapped between brake and accelerator pedals while parking, causing the vehicle to accelerate into a brick wall; the driver broke his nose and the car was declared totaled. Dealers have duplicated some failures during test drives but failed to correct them, and manufacturers have been notified with no documented resolution or recall action.
Same Nissan Sentra brakes reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
ABS actuator noise and vibration
ABS module or actuator produces loud metallic clanking, grinding, rattling, or clunking sounds; brake pedal and accelerator pedal vibrate; sounds occur during ABS system initialization at 15-25 mph or during braking.
When: 15-20 mph (at door lock speed) or during braking; as early as 6 miles; reported through 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loud metallic clanking and grinding sound from under brake pedal; clunking and rattling noise in rear of car; ABS module/actuator making noise from engine compartment; strong vibration from under brake pedal; accelerator and brake pedal vibrate during ABS charge-up
Codes mentioned: VDC light on, ABS light on, Brake light on
Repairs/costs cited: ABS actuator (part 47660-9AA1A) replacement cited at $1,900; dealership diagnostics charged $244; service bulletin referenced but not detailed; multiple dealer visits unable to correct issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall information found for multiple VINs; Nissan Service Bulletin referenced by dealership; one owner referenced external recall link (status unknown)
Brake pedal unresponsive / insufficient braking force
Brake pedal does not stop vehicle or does not respond properly; pedal travels deep toward floor without providing adequate braking; vehicle continues forward or accelerates despite brake pedal engagement.
When: At various speeds from 20-35 mph; one incident at 65,000 miles; one at 17,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: brake pedal pressed multiple times with no effect; brake pedal traveled more than 3/4 of the way to floor almost instantly; vehicle continued to move forward at 2-5 mph despite brake application; vehicle continued to accelerate when brake pedal engaged at 40 mph; vehicle pulled hard to the left
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled after crash into brick wall; one vehicle towed to dealership (month-long repair estimated); no repair completed in cases where failure was investigated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware in two cases; no recall issued; no warranty action documented
Brake and accelerator pedal interference
Driver's foot becomes trapped or stuck between brake and accelerator pedals, or pedals are positioned too close together, preventing proper brake application.
When: While parking; 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: foot trapped between brake and accelerator pedals; vehicle accelerated independently during parking attempt
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle declared totaled; driver sustained broken nose requiring medical attention; police report filed; vehicle never repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no action documented
Brake grab or grabbing noise
Brakes produce loud grabbing or seizing sound when brake pedal is depressed.
When: As early as 6 miles on odometer; observed through 32,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loud grabbing noise when brake pedal depressed
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to dealer multiple times; failure duplicated during test drive but not corrected
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no resolution documented
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I was driving my Nissan sentra 2011 with an approx speed of 35 MPH and then suddenly heard some noise from the bonnet. I pulled over and turned off the car but still able to hear sound coming from the ABS module. I took it to mechanic and he suggested to check for the recall as light for vdc,ABS & brake turned on. I checked with Nissan customer care and they said they dont have any information…
Had brakes trouble with your 2011 Nissan Sentra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2011 Nissan Sentra?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 35,135 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Nissan/Sentra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.