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2012 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

129 reports with mileage · 51 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury

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 wood…

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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 driver was transported to an area hospital by EMT and treated for bruised ribs and pain in his neck, chest, back, abdomen, and knees. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11626015

174,000 miles · Sep 17, 2024
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 Pres…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11615049

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2020
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE HORN DON'T WORK

NHTSA ODI #11308165

90,000 miles · Nov 24, 2019
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT. 2ND OWNER

NHTSA ODI #11281978

99,500 miles · Nov 23, 2019
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

EVERY NOW AND THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT WITH START FLASHING. BUT NOW IT'S BEEN EVERY TIME I TURN THE CAR ON. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11281924

108,000 miles · Jun 17, 2019
Air BagsStructureCrash

I WAS PULLED OVER STATING MY TAGS WERE BAD AND TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO OBTAIN NEW ONES. HE THEN INSPECTED MY CAR AND I WAS ON MY WAY AFTET WE DISCUSSED THE TIEROD ISSUE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT I THEN RECORDED ON MY PHONE THE SHAKE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I LATER FOUND OUT THE BLINKING LIGHT WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT NOT THE SEAT …

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I WAS PULLED OVER STATING MY TAGS WERE BAD AND TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO OBTAIN NEW ONES. HE THEN INSPECTED MY CAR AND I WAS ON MY WAY AFTET WE DISCUSSED THE TIEROD ISSUE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT I THEN RECORDED ON MY PHONE THE SHAKE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I LATER FOUND OUT THE BLINKING LIGHT WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT NOT THE SEAT BELT LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL. THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. I GOT IN A SMALL FENDER BENDER AND THE INSURANCE IS NOW TOTALING MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11220636

62,500 miles · May 7, 2019
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

RAINY NIGHT 55 MPH CRASH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WET ROAD, CAR RAN OFF ROAD, HIT A SIGN POST, WENT DOWN EMBANKMENT, FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER INTO DITCH. DAUGHTER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED... 4 BROKEN LOWER BACK VERTEBRAE, 9 BROKEN RIBS, NUMEROUS PELVIC FRACTURES, LACERATED SPLEEN AND KIDNEY. SEEMS LIKE THESE INJURIES COULD HAVE B…

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RAINY NIGHT 55 MPH CRASH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WET ROAD, CAR RAN OFF ROAD, HIT A SIGN POST, WENT DOWN EMBANKMENT, FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER INTO DITCH. DAUGHTER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED... 4 BROKEN LOWER BACK VERTEBRAE, 9 BROKEN RIBS, NUMEROUS PELVIC FRACTURES, LACERATED SPLEEN AND KIDNEY. SEEMS LIKE THESE INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LESS SEVERE IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.*DT *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11206122

156,000 miles · Apr 27, 2019
Air Bags

PURCHASED A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, DUE TO AN AIRBAG DEFECT (AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PER MANUAL) BECAUSE OF THIS I DO NOT HAVE A HORN. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

NHTSA ODI #11204126

72,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Air BagsEngineFuel/propulsion SystemCrash

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT APPEARS THAT THE ENGINE IS NOT CHANGING GEARS AUTOMATICALLY. OR IT COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #11194990

134,264 miles · Jan 30, 2019
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #11173027

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.