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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

Power Train complaints

68 reports
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76,000 miles · Jun 2, 2019
Power Train

BLIGHTY VEHICLE USED AT ROUTE 46, TOTOWA, NJ IN 2017. IT HAS 76K MILES AND WE JUST MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND. MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING BY HERSELF UP I 95 WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HAD THE VEHICLE DECELERATE SEVERAL TIMES DOWN TO 40 MPH DESPITE PURSUING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR. AT ONE POINT WITH SEMI TRUCKS ALL AROUND HER IT DROPPED T…

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BLIGHTY VEHICLE USED AT ROUTE 46, TOTOWA, NJ IN 2017. IT HAS 76K MILES AND WE JUST MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND. MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING BY HERSELF UP I 95 WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HAD THE VEHICLE DECELERATE SEVERAL TIMES DOWN TO 40 MPH DESPITE PURSUING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR. AT ONE POINT WITH SEMI TRUCKS ALL AROUND HER IT DROPPED TO 25 MPH WHERE SHE HAD TO PUT THE HAZARDS ON WHILE THESE TRUCKS WHIPPED BY HER. SHE GOT HERE BUT WAS FREAKED OUT. MY ODB PICKED UP ERROR CODE P074 FOR A CLUTCH SOLENOID ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. KNOWN ISSUE TO NISSAN. HOW MANY OF THESE DO WE HAVE TO REPORT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED TO GET THIS LISTED AS A RECALL TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION? NHTSA YOU HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT US AND ORDER NISSAN TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11217393

71,000 miles · May 10, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BEDFORD NISSAN (18115 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BEDFORD NISSAN (18115 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #11206882

57,000 miles · Apr 22, 2019
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL WHISTLING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL WHISTLING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF NORWICH (691 W THAMES ST, NORWICH, CT 06360, (860) 892-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 35185453. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH SIXTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #11202856

71,000 miles · Oct 11, 2018
Power Train

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, CAR CAN NO LONGER BE DRIVEN IT WILL ONLY GO INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED I WAS WAITING AT THE LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND IT WOULDNT SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS…

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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, CAR CAN NO LONGER BE DRIVEN IT WILL ONLY GO INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED I WAS WAITING AT THE LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND IT WOULDNT SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS.

NHTSA ODI #11139894

103,000 miles · May 8, 2018
Power Train

*CVT TRANSMISSION CRAP* REPORTED THE ISSUE YESTERDAY WITH THE SENTRA GOING INTO LIMP MODE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING DROPPING FROM 70 MPH TO 10 MPH. CODES P0744, P1722, P1788 TRANSMISSION CODES. P0744 MEANS YOU HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE NEW TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID UNIT AS YOU CANNOT JUST REPLACE THE SOLENOID. COST OF THE UNIT $1,1…

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*CVT TRANSMISSION CRAP* REPORTED THE ISSUE YESTERDAY WITH THE SENTRA GOING INTO LIMP MODE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING DROPPING FROM 70 MPH TO 10 MPH. CODES P0744, P1722, P1788 TRANSMISSION CODES. P0744 MEANS YOU HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE NEW TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID UNIT AS YOU CANNOT JUST REPLACE THE SOLENOID. COST OF THE UNIT $1,116.00. THE P1788 CODE IS THE STEP MOTOR THAT IS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. AAMCO WILL NOT EVEN REBUILD THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THEY TOLD ME CHEAPER TO BUY ANOTHER TRANSMISSION THAN TO FIX THIS ONE. TIME NISSAN IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR CUTTING CORNERS ON THEIR TRANSMISSIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE PROFIT. THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE 2007 - 2010 CARS, TIME TO ADD 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 - ? SINCE CVT TRANSMISSIONS ARE JUNK. DAUGHTER SENTRA ONLY HAS 103,000 MILES ON IT AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. FOR A CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE WITH NO WARNING IS WAITING FOR A FATAL CRASH. LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO MY DAUGHTER. APPEARS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NISSAN PLACED ON 2007 - 2010 MODELS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS MY DAUGHTER HAS WITH HER SENTRA. SHE GRADUATED COLLEGE AND NOW IS FACED WITH A 2000+ BILL FOR A REPAIR SINCE SHE CANNOT AFFORD A CAR PAYMENT YET. WHAT A WAY TO WELCOME SOMEONE TO THE REAL WORLD AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE 3 DAYS AGO.

NHTSA ODI #11092407

107,000 miles · May 7, 2018
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ACCELERATION DROPS AND WILL NOT COME BACK WITH THE PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR, WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. AT A STOPLIGHT WHEN TAKING OFF THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE ISSUE IS THE CVT TRANSMISSION. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YR 1200000 MILE ON T…

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WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ACCELERATION DROPS AND WILL NOT COME BACK WITH THE PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR, WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. AT A STOPLIGHT WHEN TAKING OFF THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE ISSUE IS THE CVT TRANSMISSION. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YR 1200000 MILE ON THIS TRANSMISSION. I CALLED TO SCHEDULE AND WAS TOLD MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. WHY?

NHTSA ODI #11092249

103,000 miles · May 7, 2018
Power TrainSuspension

"CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES" 2012 NISSAN SENTRA SR 2.0L WITH 103,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND MAINTAINED ADEQUATELY SINCE GETTING THE VEHICLE IN 2013. FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MY VEHICLE LOSS OF ACCELERATION ON ONLY BEING ABLE TO GO 10 MPH MAX WHEN MY VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME ON TH…

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"CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES" 2012 NISSAN SENTRA SR 2.0L WITH 103,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND MAINTAINED ADEQUATELY SINCE GETTING THE VEHICLE IN 2013. FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MY VEHICLE LOSS OF ACCELERATION ON ONLY BEING ABLE TO GO 10 MPH MAX WHEN MY VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME ON THE INTERSTATE 64 WESTBOUND FROM RICHMOND, VA TO HARRISBURG, VA GOING UPHILL WHERE I WAS GOING 70 - 75 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOSS ACCELERATION AND MY SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THIS IS DUE TO BEING IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAVING NOWHERE, I COULD PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE READILY AVAILABLE. TO ME, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS IS HAPPENING NOW AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS WHERE I HAD THEM RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE CAR TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY CODES ON THE CAR SINCE THERE IS "NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON." THE TECHNICIAN CAME BACK WITH THE FOLLOWING: 'TECH FOUND THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS HAVING INTERNAL PROBLEMS-VEHICLE US NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TECH FOUND CODE P1722 EST VEHICLE SPEED SIGNAL, P0744 AT TR SW FUNCTION, P1778 STEP MOTOR. ALSO, VEHICLE NEEDS FRONT STRUTS AND REAR SHOCKS - NO CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL.' IT APPEARS NISSAN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION FROM THEIR 2007 - 2010 SENTRA AND ISSUED AN EXTENDED TEN YEAR - 120,000 MILES WARRANTY. NISSAN NEEDS TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO EVERY YEAR THAT NISSAN HAS USED THE CVT TRANSMISSION AS THEY ARE UNRELIABLE AND EVENTUALLY WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAYS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION GOING INTO LIMP MODE.WOULD LIKE MY VEHICLE ADDED TO THE CVT EXTENDED WARRANTY - 10 YEARS + 120,000 MILES SINCE MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE 2007 - 2010 VEHICLES. OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE, HIGHWAY, AND CITY.

NHTSA ODI #11092190

103,000 miles · May 7, 2018
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

"CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES" 2012 NISSAN SENTRA SR 2.0L WITH 103,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND MAINTAINED ADEQUATELY SINCE GETTING THE VEHICLE IN 2013. FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MY VEHICLE LOSS OF ACCELERATION ON ONLY BEING ABLE TO GO 10 MPH MAX WHEN MY VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME ON TH…

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"CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES" 2012 NISSAN SENTRA SR 2.0L WITH 103,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND MAINTAINED ADEQUATELY SINCE GETTING THE VEHICLE IN 2013. FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MY VEHICLE LOSS OF ACCELERATION ON ONLY BEING ABLE TO GO 10 MPH MAX WHEN MY VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME ON THE INTERSTATE 64 WESTBOUND FROM RICHMOND, VA TO HARRISBURG, VA GOING UPHILL WHERE I WAS GOING 70 - 75 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOSS ACCELERATION AND MY SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THIS IS DUE TO BEING IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAVING NOWHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE READILY AVAILABLE. TO ME, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS IS HAPPENING NOW AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS WHERE I HAD THEM RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE CAR TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY CODES ON THE CAR SINCE THERE IS "NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON." THE TECHNICIAN DROVE THE CAR FOR 30 MINUTES AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE, AND HE HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN CAME BACK WITH THE FOLLOWING: 'TECH FOUND THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS HAVING INTERNAL PROBLEMS-VEHICLE US NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TECH FOUND CODE P1722 EST VEHICLE SPEED SIGNAL, P0744 AT TR SW FUNCTION, P1778 STEP MOTOR. ALSO, VEHICLE NEEDS FRONT STRUTS AND REAR SHOCKS - NO CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL. IT APPEARS NISSAN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION FROM THEIR 2007 - 2010 SENTRA AND ISSUED AN EXTENDED TEN YEAR - 120,000 MILES WARRANTY. NISSAN NEEDS TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO EVERY YEAR THAT NISSAN HAS USED THE CVT TRANSMISSION AS THEY ARE UNRELIABLE AND EVENTUALLY WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAYS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION GOING INTO LIMP MODE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR ALL NISSAN SENTRA 2011, 2012, ETC. THIS IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11092167

70,000 miles · Apr 30, 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 HAS LESS THEN 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11090943

78,000 miles · Dec 8, 2017
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 OUT OF A DRIVEWAY (IN REVERSE); BRAKED AT END OF DRIVEWAY TO LOOK BOTH DIRECTIONS; RESUMED ACCELERATION (IN REVERSE) AS I TURNED AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE WOULD …

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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 OUT OF A DRIVEWAY (IN REVERSE); BRAKED AT END OF DRIVEWAY TO LOOK BOTH DIRECTIONS; RESUMED ACCELERATION (IN REVERSE) AS I TURNED AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT "LAND" IN ANY GEAR (DRIVE, REVERSE, LOW DRIVE, ETC). HAD TO BE TOWED FROM LOCATION TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE TRANSMISSION AS INOPERABLE AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT. RECOMMENDED I TOW TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR HOPEFUL COVERAGE BY NISSAN. NISSAN CONFIRMED NEED TO REPLACE AT THE COST OF $4156.

NHTSA ODI #11053405

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.