2012 Nissan SENTRA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Nissan SENTRA has 260 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: tl - the contact owns a 2012 nissan sentra. the contact stated that the vehicle was shifted into drive but instead, the vehicle began to reverse. the contact had to turn the vehicle completely off in order for it to reset and resume normal operation. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unabl. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.
260
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
68 complaints- • TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABL
- • I JUST PURCHASED A BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT 2012 NISSAN SENTRA IMMEDIATLY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP UPON LEAVING TOLD THEM THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD REALIGN THE CAR, IN THE MEANTIME WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THE CAR WANTS TO KEEP GOING AND THROUGHS ITSELF INTO ANOTHER GEAR
- • UPON ACCELERATING AFTER FIRST STARTING AND GOING ABOUT HALF A MILE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE LIKE YOU HAVE RAN OVER SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVEN'T. DOES THIS ALL THE TIME AFTER FIRST STARTING AND TAKING OFF. ALSO TRUNK HAD TROUBLE CLOSING AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A GAP IN TRUNK. *TR
“TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
40 complaints- • 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 OCCURR
- • 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 CONSEQUENCE
- • 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 INCID
“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 OCCURR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
22 complaints- • 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
- • WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ACCELERATING TOWARD 70 MPH. ACCELERATOR DROPPED AWAY FROM UNDER MY FOOT, TACHOMETER "PEGGED" 5000 RPM. QUICK SCAN OF INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED CAR WAS NOW IN NEUTRAL, NOT DRIVE. MY HANDS WERE BOTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL; I DIDN'T TOUCH THE GEARSHIFT LEVER. THE CAR SHIFTED ON ITS
- • THE VEHICLE DRIFTS BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE DRIVING, WHEN BRAKING IT SERIOUSLY PULLS RIGHT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 6 WEEKS AND HAVEN'T HIT ANYTHING YET BUT IF THERE ARE NARROW LANES WITH PARKED CARS I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS THE HEAT SHIELDS THAT COVER THE EXHAUST COME LOOSE AND
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
22 complaints- • MY SUNROOF EXPLODED ON MY 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT JUST EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NO ONE WAS AROUND IT, NO ROCKS , LIMBS, HAIL, NO BAD WEATHER, OR ANYTHING. *TR
- • MY SUNROOF EXPLODED ON MY 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT JUST EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NO ONE WAS AROUND IT, NO ROCKS , LIMBS, HAIL, NO BAD WEATHER, OR ANYTHING. *TR
- • I WAS DRIVING AND MY SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED. NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND NOTHING FELL ON IT. THE GLASS SHATTERED FOR NO REASON .
“MY SUNROOF EXPLODED ON MY 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT JUST EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NO ONE WAS AROUND IT, NO ROCKS , LIMBS, HAIL, NO BAD WEATHER, OR ANYTHING. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
20 complaints- • 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 CONSEQUENCE
- • I HAVE A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA AND THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND SEAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SLAMMED. THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION BUT THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT THINK THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY TO CONTACT MY INS
- • THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY HUSBAND WRECKED THE 2012 NISSAN SENTRA 6-24-13. MY HUSBAND SWERVED TO MISS A DEER THAT WAS IN THE ROAD, HIT A CULVERT, GOT AIR BORN, TOOK OUT A REFLECTOR SIGN, AND CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD +$7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK
“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 CONSEQUENCE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 260 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 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 OCCURR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: MY SUNROOF EXPLODED ON MY 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT JUST EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NO ONE WAS AROUND IT, NO ROCKS , LIMBS, HAIL, NO BAD WEATHER, OR ANYTHING. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Nissan SENTRA — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 260
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 4
- Crash reports
- 19
- Injury reports
- 17
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Nissan SENTRA