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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

Structure complaints

17 reports
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8,800 miles · Jul 5, 2013
StructureVisibility

I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA OVER I-25 AND SUDDENLY MOON ROOF EXPLODED. I HEARD A GUNSHOT AND GLASSES FLYING.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN MUST ISSUE RECALL OR REPLACEMENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. IT SOUNDS LIKE VEHICLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I READ SEVERAL FORUMS ON INTERNET AND CAME TO KNOW THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE E…

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I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA OVER I-25 AND SUDDENLY MOON ROOF EXPLODED. I HEARD A GUNSHOT AND GLASSES FLYING.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN MUST ISSUE RECALL OR REPLACEMENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. IT SOUNDS LIKE VEHICLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I READ SEVERAL FORUMS ON INTERNET AND CAME TO KNOW THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH SEVERAL OTHER CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523304

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2013
Structure

2012 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WATER LEAK CAUSING VEHICLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED EVERY TIME IT RAINED, IT LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASH. THE DEALER STATED THE WATER WAS COMING THROUGH THE FIREWALL.

NHTSA ODI #10522357

6,629 miles · Feb 8, 2013
Air BagsEngineStructureCrash

VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, JUST BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, AND STRUCK A TRAILER THAT WAS NOT CLEARLY NOTICEABLE (DID NOT HAVE CLEAR REFLECTORS). AT 5 MPH, THE HOOD WAS CRUNCHED LIKE AN ACCORDION, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED. WHAT WOULD THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN IF STRIKING SOMETH…

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VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, JUST BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, AND STRUCK A TRAILER THAT WAS NOT CLEARLY NOTICEABLE (DID NOT HAVE CLEAR REFLECTORS). AT 5 MPH, THE HOOD WAS CRUNCHED LIKE AN ACCORDION, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED. WHAT WOULD THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN IF STRIKING SOMETHING AT 30, 40, OR 50 MPH? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496817

68 miles · Sep 5, 2012
Power TrainStructure

UPON ACCELERATING AFTER FIRST STARTING AND GOING ABOUT HALF A MILE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE LIKE YOU HAVE RAN OVER SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVEN'T. DOES THIS ALL THE TIME AFTER FIRST STARTING AND TAKING OFF. ALSO TRUNK HAD TROUBLE CLOSING AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A GAP IN TRUNK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473871

123 miles · May 24, 2012
Service BrakesStructure

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 DEFECTIV…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10459504

1,700 miles · May 21, 2012
Service BrakesStructureSuspension

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 F…

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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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,700.

NHTSA ODI #10459067

5 miles · Mar 7, 2012
Structure

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10450631

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.