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severe Owners of the 2018 Nissan Sentra have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Sentra | 3 |
| 2016 Sentra | 7 |
| 2017 Sentra | 12 |
| 2018 Sentra (this page) | 11 |
| 2019 Sentra | 19 |
| 2020 Sentra | 4 |
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.
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.
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 brake lights may not illuminate, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting 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.
HEADLAMP, FOG LAMP, OR REAR COMBINATION LAMP FOGGING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016-2019 SENTRA; ENGINE NO CRANK/NO START IF YOU CONFIRM The engine will not crank when pressing the push-button ignition switch and applying the brake pedal. ï· ACCESSORY and IGNITION ON modes can be turned on and off with the no start condition present. ï· The stop lamps will be inoperative with the no-start condition present. ACTION Install a new brake lamp switch and install a rubber grommet with the parts listed in PARTS INFORMATION on the last page of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FOG LAMP AND/OR HEADLAMP FOGGING This bulletin has been amended to add Fog Lamps and modify one step in the flow chart on page 3. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
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
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 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
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 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)
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.
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…
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
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.
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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover lighting issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.