2012 Nissan SENTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
180 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 129 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 68 of 180 complaints (37.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 67 | 37.2% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 68 |
| Engine | 39 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
Power Train: 68; Engine: 39; Vehicle Speed Control: 22; Unknown Or Other: 21; Air Bags: 20; Structure:Body: 14; Electrical System: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 51 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2011: 2; 2012: 9; 2013: 15; 2014: 17; 2015: 19; 2016: 14; 2017: 17; 2018: 15; 2019: 34; 2020: 7; 2021: 10; 2022: 9; 2023: 3; 2024: 7; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 67 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10424799 · 2011-08-31 (August 31, 2011)
THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A SOFT STOP SUDDENLY COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP. WHILE RELEASING THE BRAKE THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPS HARD AND CAUSES THE CAR TO LURCHES FORWARD. THE SYSTEM OF THE CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO STOP THE CAR HARD ON SYSTEMS OWN DECISION.
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441543 · 2011-12-28 (December 28, 2011)
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 UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 484. KMJ
Owner-reported narrative. 484 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444380 · 2012-01-18 (January 18, 2012)
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 WHERE IT WOULD LUNG FORWARD, WHICH MEANS I AM HAVING TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES HARDER IN ORDER NOT TO BE THROWN INTO TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND AT FIRST THEY COULD NOT DUPLICAT THE PROBLEM THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO B…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450631 · 2012-03-07 (March 7, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT MICE WERE BUILDING NESTS INSIDE OF THE HEATER VENTS. AS A RESULT, THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE NESTS WERE CLEANED OUT FROM THE VENTS HOWEVER, MICE CONTINUED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND BUILD NESTS INSIDE OF THE HEATER VENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454360 · 2012-04-06 (April 6, 2012)
SEAT BELT CHIME ON VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. CHIME IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION/SOUND TO LET DRIVER KNOW SEAT BELT IS UNFASTENED BUT DOES NOT WORK. NISSAN SAY THE CHIME IS UNIMPORTANT AND IT IS NO LONGER A FEATURE EVEN THOUGH IT IS ADVERTISED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO WORK. I CONSIDER IT AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE TO ENSURE MY KIDS BUCKLE UP AND EXPECT IT TO WORK AS ADVERTISED. I WAS TOLD BY THE NISSAN SERVICE TECH'S AND SALES PERSON THAT IT CAN BE REPROGRAMMED BUT NISSAN ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THIS. I FEEL THIS FEATURE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459067 · 2012-05-21 (May 21, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCK ON THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO A GAP NEAR THE LOCK. THE REAR SUSPENSION MADE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. THERE WAS ALSO A GRINDING NOISE AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459504 · 2012-05-24 (May 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR AXLE BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRUNK WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD AN OPEN SPACE ON THE LEFT SIDE WHEN CLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,834.
Owner-reported narrative. 123 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465288 · 2012-07-11 (July 11, 2012)
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 OCCURRED 3X AND EACH TIME HAS GOTTEN WORSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10465288 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.