NO ACCIDENT. *TR
2008 Nissan Sentra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sentra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
125 reports with mileage · 42 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
167 reportsWITH 12000 KM ON MY 08 SENTRA WAS INFORMED MY REAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER MUCH FIGHTING WITH MY SERVICE MANAGER, DEALERSHIP MANAGER, AND DEALERSHIP OWNER THEY AGREED TO INSPECT THE COMPONENTS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND THEY COULD NOT BRING IT TO WITHIN SPEC. THE FIX WAS …
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WITH 12000 KM ON MY 08 SENTRA WAS INFORMED MY REAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER MUCH FIGHTING WITH MY SERVICE MANAGER, DEALERSHIP MANAGER, AND DEALERSHIP OWNER THEY AGREED TO INSPECT THE COMPONENTS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND THEY COULD NOT BRING IT TO WITHIN SPEC. THE FIX WAS A TOTAL REAR SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT...I NOW HAVE A FRONT STRUT BEARING GONE AND HAVE BEEN WAITING 2 MONTHS FOR PARTS...WITH MY FRONT END ALIGNMENT OUT BECAUSE OF THIS, AND NO WORD ON PART ARRIVAL. *TR
THE WEEK OF DEC 21 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM NISSAN ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN MY BREAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS TO BE HANDLED ON JAN 5, 2009 AT 9:20 AM EST. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO CORRECT THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO PITTSBURGH EAST NISSAN A…
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THE WEEK OF DEC 21 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM NISSAN ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN MY BREAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS TO BE HANDLED ON JAN 5, 2009 AT 9:20 AM EST. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO CORRECT THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO PITTSBURGH EAST NISSAN AND WAS GRADED BY DJ, I GAVE HIM THE VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE PAPER AND HE TOLD ME TO HAVE A SEAT IN THE WAITING ROOM. AT 10:30 AM - DJ, CAME OVER TO ME AND TOLD ME WE DON'T HAVE THE PART IN STOCK AND THEY ORDERED IT FOR ME AND I WILL BE ON THE LIST TO CALL ME BACK TO REPLACE THE PART, I WAS LIKE WHAT?, I SAT HERE FOR NOTHING AND YOU DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO MY CAR, DJ TOLD ME THAT'S THE WAY NISSAN DOES IT, I HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THEN THEY ORDER THE PART, THEN I GET CALLED BACK IN TO REPLACE THE PART..... THIS DOES NOT SEEM LOGICAL TO ME FOR A RECALL, I WASTED MY TIME (TWICE) BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE EXTRA PARTS IN STOCK????? HELP ME CHANGE THIS POLICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE. DROVE CAR AND THEN PARKED. RETURNED TO CAR AND UPON STARTING NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD NO POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING. (SYSTEM IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) DROVE CAR TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING. FOLLOWING DAY, WHEN DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM CORRECTIVE SERVICE AN…
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POWER STEERING FAILURE. DROVE CAR AND THEN PARKED. RETURNED TO CAR AND UPON STARTING NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD NO POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING. (SYSTEM IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) DROVE CAR TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING. FOLLOWING DAY, WHEN DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM CORRECTIVE SERVICE AND DIAGNOSE PROBLEM THE POWER STEERING IS WORKING. THEREFORE THEY HAVE RELEASED THE VEHICLE AS NOT HAVING ANY SERVICE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
STEERING IS DRIFTING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. ON NOVEMBER 3, 2008, WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEG, ARM, AND LOWER BACK. A REPORT WAS FILE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA. ON NOVEMBER 3, 2008, WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEG, ARM, AND LOWER BACK. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND IS INVESTIGATING THE CRASH. THE PENBROOK PINE POLICE REPORT NUMBER WAS 2008-086387. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000.
TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *TR
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NISSAN HAS RECALLED 2007 AND 2008 SENTRAS (RECALL # 08V311000) FOR MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THIS RECALL WAS EFFECTIVE JULY 23, 2008. I FOUND THE RECALL QUITE BY ACCIDENT. NISSAN HAS OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD. ALTHO…
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MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NISSAN HAS RECALLED 2007 AND 2008 SENTRAS (RECALL # 08V311000) FOR MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THIS RECALL WAS EFFECTIVE JULY 23, 2008. I FOUND THE RECALL QUITE BY ACCIDENT. NISSAN HAS OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT, IT IS MY SON DRIVING THE CAR FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO OHIO. *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL AUTO DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR. WHILE EXITING 95 SOUTH ONTO 528 EAST I WAS BLINDED BY THE EARLY MORNING SUN AND AUTOMATICALLY REACHED FOR MY SUNVISOR. WHEN I TRIED TO PULL IT DOWN IT HIT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND STOPPED IN A POSITION THAT BLOCKED MY ENTIR…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN SENTRA WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL AUTO DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR. WHILE EXITING 95 SOUTH ONTO 528 EAST I WAS BLINDED BY THE EARLY MORNING SUN AND AUTOMATICALLY REACHED FOR MY SUNVISOR. WHEN I TRIED TO PULL IT DOWN IT HIT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND STOPPED IN A POSITION THAT BLOCKED MY ENTIRE FORWARD VIEW EXCEPT FOR A FEW FEET. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO ASCERTAIN WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. IT WAS NOW THAT I DISCOVERED A DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THIS MIRROR. IT WAS SO WIDE IT BLOCKED BOTH VISORS FROM GOING THROUGH FULL TRAVEL TO THE DOWN POSITION. I WENT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THESE AUTO DIMMING MIRRORS WERE 10.5 INCHES WIDE AS OPPOSED TO THE STANDARD DAY/NIGHTS 9.5 INCHES ON OTHER 2008 SENTRAS. I ADVISED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THIS AND HE AND OTHERS VERIFIED THAT ALL THE SENTRAS WITH THIS OPTION HAD THE SAME TOO LARGE MIRROR. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SEE IF THIS WAS JUST A BATCH A WRONG MIRRORS BUT AFTER ORDERING A REPLACEMENT IT TURNS OUT THESE ARE IN ALL SENTRAS AND THERE ARE NO AUTO DIMMING 9.5 INCH MIRRORS ACCORDING TO NISSAN. I HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE THIS BUT THEY JUST REFER IT TO NISSAN. SEEMS LIKE NO ONE AT NISSAN WATCHED THE GENE HACKMAN MOVIE "CLASS ACTION". I REFERENCE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A NISSAN TITAN AND IT HAS THE SAME EXACT MIRROR ONLY WITH DIFFERENT PART NUMBER. SEEMS THE TERM "BEAN COUNTERS" COMES TO MIND. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY/DEATH TO AN UNSUSPECTING DRIVER OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SIMILAR 2007 AND 2009 MODELS. *TR
ENGINE KNOCK, MY CAR HAS A PISTON SLAPPING AROUND IN THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER "SIMS NISSAN IN WARREN, OHIO" TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE BAD ENGINE UNTIL THEY GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD BE AROUND 3-5 DAYS TO RECEIVE. THEY WOULD THEN GET ME A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY PUT THE ENGINE IN. I INFORMED THE OWNER KEN SIMS THAT THI…
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ENGINE KNOCK, MY CAR HAS A PISTON SLAPPING AROUND IN THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER "SIMS NISSAN IN WARREN, OHIO" TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE BAD ENGINE UNTIL THEY GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD BE AROUND 3-5 DAYS TO RECEIVE. THEY WOULD THEN GET ME A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY PUT THE ENGINE IN. I INFORMED THE OWNER KEN SIMS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HE TOLD ME NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN IF I DID NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM'S THAT WOULD THEN CAUSE THE PISTON TO GO THREW THE ENGINE. I ONCE AGAIN TOLD HIM THIS IS UNSAFE AND IF HE WAS SO CONFIDENT THAT NOTHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO PUT IT IN WRITING. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE A HUGE LAWSUIT ON HIS HANDS IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND NOW KNOWING IF I RUN IT AT HIGH RPMS AND THE ENGINE BLOWS THEN I AM RESPONSIBLE. I TOLD HIM AGAIN THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE FINE. TIRED OR ARGUING, I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM DEALER GOING 20MPH WITH 4 WAYS SO I WOULD NOT RUN THE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM'S. THE CAR IS SETTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, AFRAID TO DRIVE SINCE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANOTHER LOANER OR PAY FOR A RENTAL. SO, I AM OUT. DEALER HAS TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND I FEEL AS I AM NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY, WAS DEGRADED LIKE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, HAD TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE COULD HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL AND HARMED ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. AND TO THINK THEY WANT ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS UNTIL A NEW ENGINE COMES IN. I HAVE MORE COMMON SENSE AND WILL NOT PUT MYSELF OR OTHERS AT RISK DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RECALL FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER HAVING A CRACK. DEALER HAS NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT FIXING THAT, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS YET EITHER, IT WAS POSED IN JULY. THIS IS NOW OCTOBER. *TR
Official recalls
310V401000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Sep 10, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
09V431000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Nov 3, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SENTRA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH MASTER CYLINDERS. BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. IF THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES TO BELOW THE MINIMUM LEVEL, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE AS DESIGNED AND THE BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE WARNING LAMP IS CONTINUOUSLY IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
08V311000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Jul 11, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 169,202 MY 2007-2008 SENTRA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED ROBERT BOSCH MASTER CYLINDER. DUE TO THE MACHINING IRREGULARITY BY THE SUPPLIER, THE INTERNAL SEAL GROOVE IN THE BODY OF SOME BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP IN THE GROOVE CONTACT AREA OF THE SEAL. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE WARNING LAMP IS IGNORED, ONE OF THE BRAKE CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE MAY NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MASTER CYLINDER/BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY AND IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE IS DETECTED, THE MASTER CYLINDER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP16002 · Scope Of Recalls 08V311 And 09V431
Opened Dec 20, 2016 · Closed Oct 2, 2017
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Nissan conducted safety recalls 08V-311 and 09V-431 to remedy leaking master cylinders on certain MY 2007 and 2008 Nissan Sentra vehicles.The recall populations were determined based on production changes to the master cylinder which were fully implemented into production on April 18, 2008.NHTSA utilized vehicle owner questionnaire (VOQ) reports and did not request field information from Nissan.ODI identified two MY 2008 Nissan Sentra VOQs including the petitioner?s vehicle, which were not covered by the recalls and reported a leaking master cylinder.Both of these incidents occurred 6 or more years into the service life of the vehicle.ODI also identified three VOQs which reported a leaking master cylinder after receiving the recall remedy.While one of these failures occurred within 36 months of the recall remedy, the other two occurred at a later time.ODI notes that the original recall addressed failures which occurred early in the life of the vehicle, typically during the first 36 months of service.Master cylinders are generally expected to experience wear and thus will display a finite service life.After a thorough review of the available data in NHTSA's VOQ database, the agency has not identified a trend that would call into question the scope or adequacy of Nissan's recalls.Accordingly, and in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, ODI is denying the petition.A detailed summary of ODI's analysis of this petition is available in the investigative file for this action, and will be published in the Federal Register also.The agency reserves the right to revise this assessment should future circumstances warrant.The VOQs cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 10299791 10330891 10449038 10567372 10638813 10805749 10839357
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Nissan conducted safety recalls 08V-311 and 09V-431 to remedy leaking master cylinders on certain MY 2007 and 2008 Nissan Sentra vehicles.The recall populations were determined based on production changes to the master cylinder which were fully implemented into production on April 18, 2008.NHTSA utilized vehicle owner questionnaire (VOQ) reports and did not request field information from Nissan.ODI identified two MY 2008 Nissan Sentra VOQs including the petitioner?s vehicle, which were not covered by the recalls and reported a leaking master cylinder.Both of these incidents occurred 6 or more years into the service life of the vehicle.ODI also identified three VOQs which reported a leaking master cylinder after receiving the recall remedy.While one of these failures occurred within 36 months of the recall remedy, the other two occurred at a later time.ODI notes that the original recall addressed failures which occurred early in the life of the vehicle, typically during the first 36 months of service.Master cylinders are generally expected to experience wear and thus will display a finite service life.After a thorough review of the available data in NHTSA's VOQ database, the agency has not identified a trend that would call into question the scope or adequacy of Nissan's recalls.Accordingly, and in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, ODI is denying the petition.A detailed summary of ODI's analysis of this petition is available in the investigative file for this action, and will be published in the Federal Register also.The agency reserves the right to revise this assessment should future circumstances warrant.The VOQs cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 10299791 10330891 10449038 10567372 10638813 10805749 10839357
Service Brakes
Nissan conducted safety recalls 08V-311 and 09V-431 to remedy leaking master cylinders on certain MY 2007 and 2008 Nissan Sentra vehicles.The recall populations were determined based on production changes to the master cylinder which were fully implemented into production on April 18, 2008.NHTSA utilized vehicle owner questionnaire (VOQ) reports and did not request field information from Nissan.ODI identified two MY 2008 Nissan Sentra VOQs including the petitioner?s vehicle, which were not covered by the recalls and reported a leaking master cylinder.Both of these incidents occurred 6 or more years into the service life of the vehicle.ODI also identified three VOQs which reported a leaking master cylinder after receiving the recall remedy.While one of these failures occurred within 36 months of the recall remedy, the other two occurred at a later time.ODI notes that the original recall addressed failures which occurred early in the life of the vehicle, typically during the first 36 months of service.Master cylinders are generally expected to experience wear and thus will display a finite service life.After a thorough review of the available data in NHTSA's VOQ database, the agency has not identified a trend that would call into question the scope or adequacy of Nissan's recalls.Accordingly, and in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, ODI is denying the petition.A detailed summary of ODI's analysis of this petition is available in the investigative file for this action, and will be published in the Federal Register also.The agency reserves the right to revise this assessment should future circumstances warrant.The VOQs cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 10299791 10330891 10449038 10567372 10638813 10805749 10839357
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