2012 Nissan Sentra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

39Engine complaints

21.7%Of all 180 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN68 · 37.8%

ENGINE39 · 21.7%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL22 · 12.2%

Unspecified / other21 · 11.7%

AIR BAGS20 · 11.1%

Share of the 180 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Nissan Sentra overview page.

What owners report

“MY NISSAN SENTRA HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT AND MY TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE CVT TRANSMISSION THEY PUT IN MY CAR HAS AN EXTENDED…”NHTSA complaint 11113170 — filed 07/23/2018

“AFTER A 1.5-2 HOUR DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 60 MPH. IT DROVE FINE AFTER GETTING HOME AND GETTING SOME…”NHTSA complaint 11013411 — filed 08/07/2017

“ENGINE STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, RESTARTED AFTER 5-10 MINUTES GOING BACK & FORTH THROUGH THE…”NHTSA complaint 11005113 — filed 07/13/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Nissan Sentra: 39 of 180 complaints on file (21.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have in total?

180 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 10 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.