KnownCarProblems2012 Nissan Sentra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Sentra, most often about the transmission (38% of complaints, typically around 71,000 miles). It is 13th of 27 Sentra model years by number of complaints.
Complaints180
Recalls0
Crashes reported10
Fires reported4
Injuries reported10
Most common 2012 Nissan Sentra problems
Transmission
68 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles.
Purchased a brand new 2012 Nissan Sentra 5 years later my transmission goes. The Nissan dealer said it would be $3,600 to fix!! The car has 71,000 miles and the warranty ended at 5/ 60,000. After researching, transmission issues have been documented in older models but was supposed to be fixed. Coincidentally mine has…
Car could not change gear while driving had to take foot off the gas, when shifting gears from park it was very loose and slippery, car can no longer be driven it will only go into neutral. When the incident happened I was waiting at the light with my foot on the break and it wouldnt shift back to drive when I stepped…
Engine
40 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles.
About half-way through a highway road trip from dallas to houston, my vehicle began automatically decelerating from 85mph to 70mph although my foot pressed hard on the accelerator. I activated cruise control at 70mph, but the vehicle continued to decelerate although cruise control was activated and displayed beneath…
While driving, a piece fell out of the bottom of the car, after which the engine began to smoke and the car began to lose power. I pulled off the road and turned off the car, at which point the engine became engulfed in flames. The car has had no problems to date, and the check engine light has never come on.
Speed control
22 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles.
After driving for 3+hours, the car begins to deaccelerate and you cannot go any faster while on the highway; very unsafe. Quoted over $3.5k to fix transmission. Car should last longer than 80k miles! Scared to drive it now. At one point, Nissan covered the transmission for 10 years or 100,000 miles--should definitely…
After a 1.5-2 hour drive on the highway, my car would not accelerate beyond 60 MPH. It drove fine after getting home and getting some rest. No lights came on this first. Similar event happened a couple weeks later - much shorter drive approx. 20 minutes, slower speeds, but main inclines. All lights (check engine, oil…
Other or unspecified
21 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles.
I have had my car for just over 2 years. I bought it used for business trips mostly. I drove it for the first time on a long distance business trip and 3 hours into trip it stopped accelerating over 70 miles an hour. This continueed the entire way to my final destination. No lights came on, no sounds or smells either.…
While driving my car will just shut off. It also will shutoff while stopped at a red light. I have taken it to a couple of shops and their test say bad oxygen sensor so I had it replaced, but this has not fixed the issue.
Air bags
20 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles.
I am having issues with the transmission. It appears that the engine is not changing gears automatically. Or it could be a problem with the fuel injection of the vehicle. Also there is a problem with the airbags deployment system.
Rainy night 55 MPH crash. Air bags did not deploy. Wet road, car ran off road, hit a sign post, went down embankment, flipped and rolled over into ditch. Daughter was seriously injured... 4 broken lower back vertebrae, 9 broken ribs, numerous pelvic fractures, lacerated spleen and kidney. Seems like these injuries…
Body and structure
17 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 7,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Bought vehicle new, and its less than a year old now - the trunk latch breaks repeatedly leaving the trunk unable to be closed or locked. Its been serviced 3 times, with new parts issued and tested and 'fixed' each time, and same issues repeats itself. The second time it happened I counted 9 uses before the issue…
Vehicle was pulling out of a driveway at night, just beginning to accelerate, and struck a trailer that was not clearly noticeable (did not have clear reflectors). At 5 MPH, the hood was crunched like an accordion, the airbags deployed, and the car is considered totaled. What would the consequences have been if…
Electrical
13 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
Daughter driving car on interstate when engine died. Was driving in left lane and narrowly avoided getting hit when maneuvering to shoulder on right. Problem turned out to be defective maf (mass air flow) sensor. No indication of trouble (check engine light, rough running, etc) prior to engine shutoff. Do not…
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the lock mechanism failed to work in all four doors. The contact also stated that the key fob was replaced twice. The doors would not open from inside the vehicle. The contact had to enter the vehicle manually. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who…
Visibility and wipers
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 15,500 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
While parked in our driveway, open space - nothing above, the sun roof imploded. It was fine when we parked the car, but the next morning the glass was broken. No impact, temp 15 degrees f.
Spouse parked and waiting in the car at airport arrival curb around 8:30pm. As I was walking towards the car, I heard a loud explosion, sounded like a gunshot. Then I noticed the car sunroof pieces shattered all over. No cars passing by. Temp around 90f. Luckily no passengers close by to the car. Spouse was in shock…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Nissan Sentra recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2012 Nissan Sentra
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (68 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles); engine (40 complaints, typically around 84,500 miles); speed control (22 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Nissan Sentra. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Nissan Sentra?
- It is 13th of 27 Sentra model years by number of complaints, with 180 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.