Model year record
2012 Nissan Sentra recalls & problems
The 2012 Nissan Sentra has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 180 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (68 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2012 Nissan Sentra.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2012 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ |
|---|---|
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover risk | 11.6% |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Sentra
| City / highway | 26 / 34 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel
Sentra
| City / highway | 24 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Sentra
| City / highway | 23 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Sentra
| City / highway | 21 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 68 | 71,000 mi |
| Engine | 39 | 85,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 84,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 21 | 68,000 mi |
| Air bags | 20 | 72,000 mi |
| StructureBody; Body › Trunk lid | 17 | 7,500 mi |
| Electrical systemIgnition | 13 | 45,000 mi |
| VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core | 11 | 15,193 mi |
| Steering | 9 | 54,000 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 51,898 mi |
| Suspension | 6 | 57,000 mi |
| Service brakes | 5 | 7,500 mi |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,504.
- Service brakes
My ABS light and skid light is staying on all the time.
- Air bagsCrash1 injury
The contact owned a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at 40 MPH and passing a side street, another driver traveling in a Subaru failed to yield. As a result, the Subaru collided with the passenger side of the contact's vehicle sending the vehicle careening off the roadway and into a wooded area only coming to a complete stop after colliding with a tree. The air bags did not deploy resulting in the driver sustaining injuries that the contact attributed to the failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the insurance provider. A police report was filed and injuries were reported. The…
- Unknown or other
car stalled no power in gas pedal traveling across for lane traffic just lost power to the gas pedal. was able to pull over and tuned off car after a few minutes of sitting power was restore and was able to drive again I have been told this is a transmission issue I am not sure but defiantly a safety issue losing power like that
- Air bags
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to turn on the headlights, the air bags deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to Special Coverage Adjustment: 23520 Passenger Presence Sensor (PPS) Module; however, the VIN was not included in the Special Coverage Adjustment. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 174,000.
- Visibility/wiper
The rearview mirror fell off the windshield and was hanging by the wires, which was found when entering the vehicle to drive; when touched, the wires and everything fell the rest off the way off the windshield. Glass from the windshield broke off with the rearview mirror. This was hazardous to be missing while driving and has prevented visibility and impacted safety. A mechanic is repairing the vehicle and has never seen anything like this issue, but upon looking up this specific problem, it appears many Nissan Sentra owners have experienced the same issue.
- Engine
Our nissan Sentra with 106K miles the car lost nearly all power as my son was turning onto the freeway. He could only drive 16 miles an hour and it was hopping and jumping through a 8 lane freeway/highway intersection while he tried to get into a parking lot off the road. He turned it off, waited 5 minutes, and turned it back on, but it was still slowly hopping and jumping. After another 10 minutes my husband drove it for about 10 minutes and it operated normally. This same behavior happened in 2019 with 82k miles at a large intersection. It suddenly lost power and slowly hopped through the intersection. At 60k the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel quit working. When we asked the…
- Engine
Leaking transmission oil. Also burning engine oil a week after doing an oil change to the point there is no oil but no leaks.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.