2018 Nissan Sentra Safety Rating — 4 Stars Overall
NHTSA rates the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. Check a specific Sentra’s crash and title history below.
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2018 Nissan Sentra— By the Numbers
- Overall rating
- 4★
- Frontal crash
- 4★
- Side crash
- 5★
- Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
- 11.8%
- Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
- 2
Overall rating
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
Quick Answer
- What is the 2018 Nissan Sentra safety rating?
- NHTSA rates the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
- Did NHTSA test every part of the 2018 Nissan Sentra?
- Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD.
- Does the 2018 Nissan Sentra have recalls or complaints on file?
- NHTSA's record for this version lists 2 recall campaigns, 185 owner complaints and 0 investigations. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
2018 Nissan Sentra crash-test ratings
The side tests earned the top mark; frontal impact and rollover landed a step below it, and up front the driver and passenger results matched.
NHTSA rates the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover.
Forward collision warning was optional, so the ratings do not show whether a particular Sentra has it; check the car itself. The owner complaint file is also far longer than the recall list, which makes it the part of this record to read before buying.
What NHTSA did — and did not — test
A star rating is only as complete as the tests behind it. This is which of NHTSA's four crash tests the 2018 Nissan Sentra actually went through.
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD.
Recalls, complaints and investigations
NHTSA keeps these alongside the crash-test results for the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD. They answer a different question: not how the vehicle was built to perform in a crash, but what owners and the agency have reported since.
A recall campaign covers a range of vehicles; whether the repair was done on a particular car is a per-VIN question. Check open recalls by VIN.
The rating is for the SentraNHTSA crashed. Check the one you’re buying.
Salvage and rebuilt brands, reported accidents and odometer records follow the VIN.
Inspecting a used 2018 Sentra
The ratings describe the Sentra as it left the factory. A car that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt, or had its airbags replaced is no longer the car NHTSA tested.
Find out whether this car was built with forward collision warning: look for the setting in the instrument-cluster menu and a system lamp at start-up, and if it is fitted, confirm it shows no fault.
Frontal impact is below the top mark, so look under the front: the bumper reinforcement bar, the tips of the frame rails and the crush area behind the bumper cover, where a straightened or replaced section shows as fresh paint, sealer or clamp marks.
Rollover also sits a step below the side results, so check that the tyres are a matched set with even wear and that the struts are not sagging or leaking.
How NHTSA's current ratings work
NHTSA announced new NCAP crash tests and rating criteria in July 2008, including a new overall rating that combines the frontal, side and rollover results. It then postponed the change by a year: the new criteria apply to vehicles tested beginning with model year 2011, not 2010 as first announced.
In NHTSA's own words, its rollover resistance ratings “estimate the risk of rollover if a vehicle is involved in a single-vehicle crash.”
One limit applies to every vehicle here. NHTSA notes that the frontal crash rating “depends on vehicle mass, and cannot be compared across vehicle weight classes” — a full-size truck's frontal stars and a compact car's are not the same measure.
- Federal Register, 73 FR 79206 (Dec. 24, 2008) — new NCAP criteria begin with model year 2011
- Federal Register, 73 FR 40016 (July 11, 2008) — NCAP testing and rating changes, including the overall rating
- Federal Register, 68 FR 59250 (Oct. 14, 2003) — NCAP rollover resistance ratings
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Compare and keep going
Nearby model years and the same make, rated by NHTSA.
4 stars overall
5 stars overall
4 stars overall
5 stars overall
Whether a recall was repaired on one specific car.
Reported crashes and damage after the car left the factory.
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2018 Nissan Sentra Safety FAQ
What NHTSA’s record shows for this model year, and what it cannot tell you about one car.
What is the 2018 Nissan Sentra safety rating?+
NHTSA rates the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
Did NHTSA test every part of the 2018 Nissan Sentra?+
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD.
Does the 2018 Nissan Sentra have recalls or complaints on file?+
NHTSA's record for this version lists 2 recall campaigns, 185 owner complaints and 0 investigations. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
Can I compare the 2018 Nissan Sentra's stars with a newer model?+
Yes, with other vehicles rated under NHTSA's current program (model year 2011 onward). Stars from before then came from different tests.
Does a good safety rating mean a used Sentra is safe to buy?+
A rating describes the vehicle as it left the factory. A used Sentra that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt from salvage, or had an airbag replaced is no longer the vehicle NHTSA tested. A VIN check reads its title brands, salvage and accident records from NMVTIS.
Five stars at the factory. What about since?
A crash rating can’t see a salvage title, a rebuilt frame or a replaced airbag. The VIN record can.
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