I bought a 2018 Nissan sentry in november of 2018. In the past month the brand new car has not been starting. It has been leaving me stranded at work and at the store. I keep taking it to the dealer ship and they replace the brake switch and battery. However the car is still not starting on me. The dealership replace the brake switch again but now they are waiting for another part. This is very…
2018 Nissan Sentra lighting problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 11 lighting complaints filed for the 2018 Nissan Sentra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Among the 6 model years of Nissan Sentra in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2018 Sentra owners report brake light failures under recall 21V135000, including one case resulting in a collision and injury; headlamp electrical failures and recall parts shortages have also been documented. Verify that any recalled lighting components have been actually repaired before purchase.
Brake light failures dominate this cluster. Multiple owners received recall notification 21V135000 but found parts unavailable for extended periods—some stating the manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframes for repair. One owner's brake lights failed at 70 mph, resulting in a rear-end collision that then hit a vehicle ahead; airbags deployed and the owner suffered a concussion requiring hospital treatment. Another reported inoperable brake lights at 20 mph with similar chain-reaction crash. A third had brake light switch failure diagnosed at an independent shop at 66,000 miles, later confirmed under recall.
Headlamp issues appear less frequently: one owner reported a front passenger headlamp electrical failure at 32,000 miles. A separate complaint involved loss of motive power at 29,000 miles, though whether this relates to the lighting system or collision aftermath is unclear from the narrative.
One isolated report mentions an interior overhead light compartment falling from the roof. A handful of complaints focus on the recall itself—owners frustrated that parts remained unavailable despite Nissan's campaign notification, with some claiming the manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timelines.
No repair costs are specified in the narratives.
Same Nissan Sentra lighting reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Brake lights inoperable
Exterior brake lights fail to illuminate, creating a safety hazard. Recall 21V135000 addresses this defect. One documented case resulted in a rear-end collision with subsequent crash and injury.
When: 70,000 miles (one case); 79,000 miles (another case); timing not specified in other cases
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights do not illuminate; Loss of brake light function
Repairs/costs cited: Brake light switch replacement documented in at least one independent repair at 66,000 miles. Recall parts were unavailable at the time of notification for multiple owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting) issued. Recall parts unavailable for extended period according to multiple owners. One owner reported manufacturer referred them to NHTSA for assistance due to parts shortage.
Front headlamp electrical failure
Front passenger-side headlamp failed without warning due to electrical fault. Independent mechanic diagnosed as electrical failure.
When: 32,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger headlamp failed without warning; Headlamp inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to independent mechanic; repair details not specified in narrative
Loss of motive power during operation
Vehicle lost motive power while driving, resulting in side-swipe collision. Subsequent inspection revealed suspension and drivetrain damage. This narrative is ambiguous—the loss of power may be related to lighting system failure or collision damage, though it occurred in same vehicle as brake light issues.
When: 29,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power while driving; Vehicle became non-responsive
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed suspension, lower control arm, tie rod, tie rod ends, wheel bearing, gas strut, and CV shaft damage; only suspension was replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of failure
Brake light switch malfunction
Brake light switch failure documented in service records, later identified as part of recall 21V135000. Vehicle was repaired under recall after independent diagnosis.
When: 66,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake light switch failure
Repairs/costs cited: Brake light switch replaced at independent mechanic; vehicle was later repaired under recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting)
Interior overhead light fixture falling from roof
Center overhead light compartment detached and fell from interior roof. Minimal detail provided in narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Center overhead light compartment fell from interior roof
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2018 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 lighting problem on the 2018 Nissan Sentra?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 45,857 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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/2018/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.