2012 Nissan Sentra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 180 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 10 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: engine
40 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 8, 2017
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS. EVERY YEAR, AS IT STARTS TO WARM UP IN THE SPRING, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURS. I HAVE HAD IT TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED. AS I AM DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, IT WILL SUDDENLY START TO DECELERATE, AND I MUST PULL OFF THE ROAD AND LET THE CAR SIT, TURNED OFF, FOR 20-40 MINUTES. LAST WEEK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY WANT $3000 TO FIX THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST SUMMER AFTER I BOUGHT IT.
Engine, Feb 26, 2017
THE ISSUE FIRST STARTED LAST SUMMER. I HAD A CAR FULL OF 4 TEENAGERS AND WE WERE HEADING OUT OF TOWN AND THE ENGINE BEGAN A LOUD WHISTLE SOUNDS AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL QUIT WORKING - WE LIMPED OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT AND GOT A TOW TRUCK AND RENTAL CAR. THE MECHANIC HAD US PAY FOR A WHOLE NEW MOTOR. WE THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS FIXED. THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER I AGAIN HAD 4 TEENAGERS IN MY CAR HEADING OUT OF TOWN AND THE WHISTLE NOISE STARTED ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THE TRIP. THEN IT GOT LOUDER. THEN THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE GOING UPHILL. THEN, AS WE GOT TO THE NEXT EXIT, THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. WE AGAIN ALMOST DIED, BARELY MADE IT TO THE GAS STATION AND REALIZED THERE WAS AN AUTO ZONE NEXT DOOR. SO WE WENT AND HAD THE CODES READ AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD JUST POPPED ON...WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE BUT IT HAD SAT FOR 30 MINUTES. RESEARCH LED US TO THE CVT ISSUES WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HAD PASSED. WE TRIED A TRANSMISSION COOLING DEVICE AND DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR OVER AN HOUR. BUT THIS PAST WEEK I TRIED AGAIN WITH 2 TEENAGERS IN MY CAR...ONE HOUR IN TO A TRIP, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS NOT OK FOR A CAR TRANSMISSION TO DECELERATE AND PUT MY CHILDREN AND MY LIFE AT RISK.
Engine, Aug 8, 2016, fire
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.
Power train, Engine, Jul 21, 2016
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 THE SPEEDOMETER. WHEN THE CAR'S SPEED DROPPED FROM 70MPH TO 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, I TOOK THE NEAREST EXIT IN CENTERVILLE, TEXAS AND STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TO TURN MY CAR OFF THEN ON AGAIN. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DECELERATE, REACHING ONLY 45MPH AS I ENTERED THE BUSY HIGHWAY YET AGAIN. AFTER 15 MINUTES, THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING TO 60MPH. AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THE CAR'S SPEED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING TO 85MPH ONCE AGAIN.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 14, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 85 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT AND THE SPEED INDEPENDENTLY DECREASED TO 70 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A LONG DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CVT COOLER INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 12, 2015
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. ONCE I WAS IN TOWN DRIVING ON NORMAL ROADS IT WAS FINE AGAIN. THEN I DROVE IT BACK HOME, SAME THING HAPPENED BUT MORE EXTREME. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN BOULDER COLORADO. IN DOING SO I FOUND OUT THAT ALL NISSANS HAD A WARRENTY RECALL TO PUT IN A CVT COOLER PART. A FEATURE THAT ALL NISSANS NEED TO INSURE THE POSSIBILTY OF LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION OVER HEATING AND NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP THEN INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IF I HAD BROUGHT IT IN BEFORE IT WAS OVER 60,000 MILES. NOW THAT IT IS HOWEVR, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY OVER $800 FOR A PART MY CAR SHOULD HAVE COME WITH. I CALLED NISSAN NOTH AMERICA TO FIND RESALUTION, THEY CLOSED THE CASE AND WILL NOT HELP ME. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY UNEXCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. AS A SINGLE 31 YR OLD WOMAN, I COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN CORN FIELDS IN THE MIDDLE OF KANSAS IN THE DARK HAD MY TRANSMISSION FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT 40,000 MILES TWO YRS AGO, IT SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT PART PUT IN BEFORE IT LEFT THE LOT. I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS AND AM HOPING TO FIND SOME SUPPORT IN GETTING NISSAN TO COVER PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS ISSUE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND HOW I SHOULD PROCEED FROM HERE. THANK YOU.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Apr 1, 2015
I PURCHASE USED CAR FROM 2012 I NEVER EXPECT TO HAVE ANY CAR PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST 4 YRS, BUT THAT WAS NOT MY CASE IN 5 MONTH OF HAVING THE CAR IT STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS. THE FIST PROBLEM IS THAT I HAD A LEAKING THAT WAS COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF AND THE TOP LIGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE WAY IS MADE IT HAD TO DRAIN TUBE AND THEY GET CLOG. I WAS ALSO TOLD NOT TO PARK MY CAR UNDER TREE. UH THAT'S IS KIND OF HARD THERE'S A LOT TREES IN THE COUNTRY. I HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THE CAR WHEN I TURN IT OFF THE MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING. FEW DAY AFTER THE MY CAR WOULD NOT START NOT EVEN MANUALLY. I TOLD THAT THE IGNITION WAS NOT WORKING AND THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LOCK THEREFORE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE CAR ON. I ALSO SAW THAT THE METAL THAT IS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RUSTY FROM THE LEAK. I RESEARCH THE RECALLS, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY ON THIS YEAR. HOWEVER I FOUND THE PREVIOUS YEAR HAD A RECALL AND WAS THE SAME ISSUES I'M HAVING. *TR
Visibility, Engine, Aug 20, 2014
2012 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INADEQUATE CABIN HEAT IN WINTER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED THIS PAST WINTER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT HEAT UP TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ON A TIMELY BASIS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ROUGHLY 15 DEGREES OR COLDER. INSTEAD, THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE MOVED ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY AND JUST STAYED THERE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF 20 MINUTES OR MORE. AS A RESULT, THE HEATER PUT OUT ONLY MINIMALLY WARM AIR. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE FULLY WARMED UP AND THE HEAT OUTPUT WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER WAS AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT IT, AND THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY TECHNICAL ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN. *JB NISSAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE CONDITION WAS IDENTIFIED IN OTHER SENTRA'S, BUT THAT WAS HOW THE ENGINE WAS DESIGNED, AND IT WOULD NOT BE CHANGED. UPDATED 09/10/14
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 6, 2014
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND THE BATTERY DIED AFTER 3MOS AND 3000 MILES, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE. PURCHASE PRICE FOR NEW BATTERY IS $145.00 I FIND THIS CHARGE RIDICULOUS. THIS VEHICLE IS USED MAYBE EVERY OTHER DAY SINCE WE HAVE 2 CARS. THE DEALER SAID THE CAR STILL HAS 60,000 MILES WARRANTY. ON A CERTIFIED PRE OWNED VEHICLE I DO NOT EXCEPT HAVING TO PUT A NEW BATTERY IN THE CAR. I MUST ASK WHAT KIND OF INSPECTION DO YOU GUYS DO, AND SHOULD I EXPECT MORE THINGS TO GO WRONG WITH THIS CAR. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jun 23, 2014
UPON ACCELERATING THE CAR MAKES A AWFUL CLUNKING NOISE THAT IS NOT ONLY HEARD BUT FELT ON THE FLOOR UNDER YOUR FEET THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL WHILE SWITCHING LANES AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. IT TOOK THE TRANSMISSION SEVERAL SECONDS TO CATCH UP TO THE ENGINE. *TR
Power train, Engine, Sep 4, 2013
SUMMER 2013 ,WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, SOME TIRE DEBRIS OFF AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK TIRE WAS ON MY LANE,, TO AVOID HITTING IT AND OR THE VEHICLES NEXT TO ME I LOOKED INTO MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO CHECK FOR CARS BEHIND ME AND MADE A SUDDEN SLOW DOWN, BUT NOT A COMPLETE STOP,,I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO GO AROUND THE DEBRIS AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. IT TOOK THE CVT TRANSMISSION SEVERAL SECONDS TO CATCH UP TO THE ENGINE, BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN..I TOLD A SERVICE MANAGER AT IPOC NISSAN DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO ABOUT THIS AND HE SEEMED TO BRUSH IT ASIDE, STATING THOSE THINGS HAPPENS WITH CVT'S. WHAT THE DEALER DID FIND WAS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE THE OIL LEAK, BUT THE FACT THAT DUST COLLECTS AROUND IT INDICATED AND THE REST OF THE UNDERSIDE IS CLEANER. THE DEALER HAD TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION, PARTS CONNECTED TO IT,,FRONT AXLE ETC..THE FLYWHEEL TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE REAR ENGINE MAIN OIL SEAL. THIS WAS AT ABOUT 7000 MILES INTO THIS NEW NISSAN SENTRA. ALSO I HAVE MADE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS TO NISSAN AND IT'S DEALER OF THE HORRIBLE KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE (2.0) ON START UPS. AND SOMEWHAT GETS QUIETER AFTER WARM-UP, BUT IS STILL PRESENT AT ABOUT 2000 RPM AND UP.. NISSAN HAS TIME AFTER TIME REFUSES TO ACCEPT THAT THEY HAVE A MECHANICAL PRODUCT DEFECT, INSTEAD THEY CLAIM THE KNOCKING IS COMING FROM THEIR FUEL INJECTORS, TO THE ABS BRAKES SYSTEMS,,TO THE TRUNK LID..THESE ARE THE EXCUSES THEY HAVE TOLD ME. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO PASS ON THESE PROBLEMS TO SOME OTHER PERSON IF I GET RID OF THIS NEW CAR,,WHAT I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO DO IS MAKE GOOD ON THEIR PRODUCT, THEIR ADVERTISING ON TV, RADIO, AND OTHER MEDIA IS DECEIVING AND NISSAN IS TRYING TO AVOID HAVING TO FIX THEIR PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STOP AND GO ON THE CVT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER . *JB
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 29, 2013, crash
AT ABOUT 1130 PM ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, APPROACHING A INTERSECTION, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CAR SEEMED TO INCREASE SPEED AND WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION THROUGH LAWN AND STRIKING ANOTHER CAR, TOTAL LOSE OF CONTROL, NO BRAKES, A REAL SCARY FEELING. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 17, 2013
I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINTS AS THE FOLLOWING: DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 09/05/2012 COMPONENT(S): POWER TRAIN , STRUCTURE DATE OF INCIDENT: 08/09/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10473871 DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 01/18/2012 COMPONENT(S): POWER TRAIN , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , SUSPENSION DATE OF INCIDENT: 01/12/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10444380. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Engine, Feb 8, 2013, crash
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 STRIKING SOMETHING AT 30, 40, OR 50 MPH? *TR
Engine, Jul 11, 2012
THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR GASKET FAULTY ON THE 2012 MODELS, HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES, LEAKS OIL ON TOP OF ENGINE, THE LAST TIME LOST ALMOST ALL OF OIL. IT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENS IS NOT NECESSARILY NOTICED BY THE CONSUMER UNTIL AN OIL CHANGE, BUT THE PROBLEM SO FAR HAS OCCURRED 3X AND EACH TIME HAS GOTTEN WORSE. *TR