2012 Nissan Sentra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Power Train (37.8% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Power Train complaints here are 4.4× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 68 · 37.8% | No official action | — |
| Engine | 39 · 21.7% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 · 12.2% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags | 20 · 11.1% | No official action | — |
| Structure:body | 14 · 7.8% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 12 · 6.7% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 180 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“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…”NHTSA complaint 11139894 — filed 10/11/2018 · POWER TRAIN
“CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE NO RECALL OPTION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLOWLY FAILING OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS SLIPPING NO RECOURSE BUT TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 11090943 — filed 04/30/2018 · POWER TRAIN
“TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER BRAKING WHILE STILL IN GEAR. ONLY 78,000 MILES LOGGED.5.5 YEARS OLD. EXACT EVENT: BACKING SLOWLY…”NHTSA complaint 11053405 — filed 12/08/2017 · POWER TRAIN
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
Power train issues are the most-reported category, cited in 68 of 180 NHTSA complaints (37.8%), followed by engine (39), vehicle speed control (22), unspecified/other issues (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
180 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, and 10 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for this vehicle. New recalls can be issued at any time — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2012 Nissan Sentra's reported problems?
0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
