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
180 reports, newest first.
Engine, Sep 4, 2019
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGERED AND I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL NISSAN SHOP. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING ROUGH, LOOSING POWER, AND BURNING OIL. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS AND A NEW BOOT. AFTER AGREEING TO PAY THE $500, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED, THAT ACTUALLY I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. AFTER THE $500 IN WORK HAD BEEN DONE, THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST. THE TEST INDICATED A BAD ENGINE. SO THE WORK WAS DONE ON A BAD ENGINE. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALWAYS HAD PROPER MAINTENANCE. SO WHY IS IT BAD ALREADY? AND WHY WAS I MISLEAD TO PAY $500 ON A BAD ENGINE? THIS IS NOT RIGHT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 21, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WILL STOP RESPONDING TO THE GAS PEDAL AND LOSE POWER. YOU WILL EITHER HAVE TO PULL OVER OR MAINTAIN A MUCH SLOWER SPEED. THIS BECOMES A HAZARD AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 14, 2019
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2012 NISSAN SENTRA IT SOMETIMES DEACCELERATES GRADUALLY TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN'T GO PAST 60 MPH AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT IS SLUGGISH
Power train, Aug 1, 2019
GOES LIMP, DELAY WHEN PRESSING THE GAS WHILE IN MOTION, APPLICABLE TO BOTH CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY. BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED, IT APPEARS THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS NOT PROVIDING ADEQUATE FLUID COOLING WHEN DRIVING IN HIGH TEMPERATURES RESULTING IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO GET HOT AND THE CAR TO GO LIMP (STALLED ACCELERATION) WHICH CREATES AN UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. VARIOUS DATES...
Vehicle speed control, Jul 29, 2019
ON MY WAY HOME VISITING MY SON, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING 75 MPH, WHEN I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ACCELERATION LOSS IN MY 2012 NISSAN SENTRA SL. MY CVT TRANSMISSION WAS OVERWORKING AND YOU CAN CLEARLY HEAR THE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS, MY CAR DROPPED FROM 75 MPH TO UNDER 50 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THE RPM'S WERE RUNNING HIGH WHILE THE CAR HAD ZERO POWER, MY FOOT WAS COMPLETELY PRESSED DOWN TO ASSIST THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND IT WOULD NOT. I MANAGED TO MOVE MY CAR OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE TO TRY AND RECOVER MY VEHICLES SPEED. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE HAZARD TO THOSE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM, IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANYONE TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING, WITH CHILDREN IN YOUR VEHICLE WHEN YOUR CAR DROPS TO LIMP MODE OUT OF NOWHERE. MY BROTHER IN LAW WHO JUST RETIRED FROM THE MARINE CORP AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED DUE TO THE RECALL ON THIS MODEL FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE JUST A YEAR AGO AND IS STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF THE SAME CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE EVEN AFTER IT WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN FOR REPAIRS.
Structure, Jul 26, 2019
THE PLASTIC PIECE ON DRIVERS FRONT FENDER KEEPS POPPING OUT SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP POPPING IT BACK SO IT'S SECURE ON FRAME AS AFRAID IT WILL FALL OFF IF DON'T. I NOTICED IT AFTER I HAD PARKED. PREVIOUSLY HAD TO HAVE A CLIP PUT ON TO SECURE THE PART. SO THIS IS SECOND TIME IT'S HAPPENED IF SOMEONE HITS ON THAT SIDE WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE FOR SURE
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2019
THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN STREET ON 7/12/2019. NO STONES WERE INVOLVED.
Power train, Jun 24, 2019
2012 NISSAN SENTRA LOST POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH FAMILY IN CAR. NO RESPONSE FROM GAS PEDAL. COASTED TO A STOP ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES UNTIL CAR WAS RESPONDING TO GAS PEDAL. NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE TO BE DRIVING THIS CAR. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT NISSAN'S CVT TRANSMISSION WITHOUT A SOLUTION FROM NISSAN. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. SAME THING OCCURRED AROUND 102,000 MILES. MY CAR IS REGULARLY SERVICED AND CARED FOR. IT IS PARKED IN A CLOSED GARAGE EVERY NIGHT.
Air bags, Structure, Jun 17, 2019, crash
I WAS PULLED OVER STATING MY TAGS WERE BAD AND TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO OBTAIN NEW ONES. HE THEN INSPECTED MY CAR AND I WAS ON MY WAY AFTET WE DISCUSSED THE TIEROD ISSUE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT I THEN RECORDED ON MY PHONE THE SHAKE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I LATER FOUND OUT THE BLINKING LIGHT WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT NOT THE SEAT BELT LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL. THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. I GOT IN A SMALL FENDER BENDER AND THE INSURANCE IS NOW TOTALING MY CAR.
Power train, Jun 2, 2019
BLIGHTY VEHICLE USED AT ROUTE 46, TOTOWA, NJ IN 2017. IT HAS 76K MILES AND WE JUST MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND. MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING BY HERSELF UP I 95 WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HAD THE VEHICLE DECELERATE SEVERAL TIMES DOWN TO 40 MPH DESPITE PURSUING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR. AT ONE POINT WITH SEMI TRUCKS ALL AROUND HER IT DROPPED TO 25 MPH WHERE SHE HAD TO PUT THE HAZARDS ON WHILE THESE TRUCKS WHIPPED BY HER. SHE GOT HERE BUT WAS FREAKED OUT. MY ODB PICKED UP ERROR CODE P074 FOR A CLUTCH SOLENOID ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. KNOWN ISSUE TO NISSAN. HOW MANY OF THESE DO WE HAVE TO REPORT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED TO GET THIS LISTED AS A RECALL TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION? NHTSA YOU HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT US AND ORDER NISSAN TO FIX THIS ISSUE.
Power train, May 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BEDFORD NISSAN (18115 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Air bags, May 7, 2019, crash, fire
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 COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LESS SEVERE IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.*DT *DT*JB
Engine, May 3, 2019
THE CAR TURNS OFF WHEN STOPPED LIKE AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP A WEEK AGO. ALTERNATOR WAS CHECKED AND IS GOOD. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND START IT AGAIN.
Air bags, Apr 27, 2019
PURCHASED A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, DUE TO AN AIRBAG DEFECT (AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PER MANUAL) BECAUSE OF THIS I DO NOT HAVE A HORN. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
Power train, Engine, Apr 22, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL WHISTLING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF NORWICH (691 W THAMES ST, NORWICH, CT 06360, (860) 892-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 35185453. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH SIXTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 21, 2019
PULLED INTO GAS STATION AND WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT WAS LOCKED INTO PARK AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. SEEN ON CAR COMPLAINTS .COM THAT NISSAN OWNERS HAD CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAID NISSAN WASN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Air bags, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 9, 2019, crash
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.
Engine, Apr 2, 2019
I HAVE A 2012 SENTRA THAT I BOUGHT IN 2014. I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE RANDOM LOSS OF POWER ON HIGHWAY, AND RPM WOULD UP AT RANDOM TIMES, LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN GEAR. LAST YR I DISCOVERED THAT MY CVT TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD AND ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION (BOUGHT USED). LESS THAN A YEAT LATER, IM STARTING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN NEEDS TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY THRU THE 2012 MDELS, ON ANY CVT TRANSMISSION TO 10 YRS. VERY AGGRIVATING CONSIDERING I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS! I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE.
Electrical system, Feb 15, 2019
THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND HAS LOCKED UP MY CAR. I BOUGHT IT IN 2015 AND IT SHUTDOWN ON ME IN EARLY 2018. IT WAS DRIVING FINE AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM QUIT AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE.
Air bags, Jan 30, 2019
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR
Structure, Jan 8, 2019
WHEN OPENING THE DOOR THE HANDLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. UPON ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM, A PLASTIC PIECE THAT HAD ALLOWED THE SPRING TO ACTIVATE HAD BROKEN AND THIS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN VIA THE HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. I WAS HOWEVER ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR, ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR. AFTER A HARSH WINTER AND THE POWER WINDOWN SWTICH BEING REPLACED AS WELL AS THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR I WAS ABLE TO USE MY DOOR PROPERLY AGAIN. THE WORSE THING IS THAT NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN AGAIN, DEALT WITH IT FOR A WHILE, BUT WINTER HAS NOW COME AGAIN AND I STILL CAN NOT OPEN MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE RIGGED A WIRE LOOP AROUND THE PULLEY SYSTEM AND CREATED A WAY TO OPEN MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, BUT I HAD READ MULTIPLE BLOGS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SENTRA. I FIND THIS TO BE CONCERNING AND FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE PARTS AND OFFER LIFETIME REPLACEMENT OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY DOOR WAS MY ONLY EXIT, WOULD NISSAN BE PAYING MY FAMILY FOR MY DEATH?
Engine, Jan 7, 2019
THE TEMPERATURE READING GOES UP TO 3/4
Air bags, Dec 19, 2018
I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 56,000 NOW IT HAS 96,000, IT HAS CVT TRANSMISSION, THE STEP MOTOR IS NO LONGER USEFUL; AFTER HAVING RUN ONLY 40,000 MILES IS NOT FAIR !!!! I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR, THE FACTORY SHOULD FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, I STILL OWE THE BANK .. $ 7,000 AND THE REPAIR COSTS ME $ 4,000. YOU THINK IT'S FAIR TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY, WHEN I'M SURE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT ????
Power train, Oct 11, 2018
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 ON THE GAS.
Engine, Aug 27, 2018
CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON WHEN STOP AT LIGHT OR STOP SIGN