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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
180Owner complaints

Model-year median: 116

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2012 Nissan Sentra

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 180 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Power Train: 68 reports
  • Engine: 39 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 22 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 21 reports
  • Air Bags: 20 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    55
    2009    144
    2010    142
    2011    180
    2012    638
    2013    380
    2014    351
    2015
    Compare all Sentra years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Power Train
    68    Engine
    39    Vehicle Speed Control
    22    Unknown Or Other
    21    Air Bags
    20
    All reported categories
    Structure
    17    Electrical System
    13    Visibility
    10    Fuel/propulsion System
    9    Steering
    9    Suspension
    6    Service Brakes
    5    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    4    Wheels
    3    Latches/locks/linkages
    2    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    2    Tires
    2    Engine And Engine Cooling
    1    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Seats
    1    Visibility/wiper
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    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

    Vehicle Speed Control complaints

    22 reports
    Clear category filter
    31,796 miles · Sep 17, 2014
    Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

    WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ACCELERATING TOWARD 70 MPH. ACCELERATOR DROPPED AWAY FROM UNDER MY FOOT, TACHOMETER "PEGGED" 5000 RPM. QUICK SCAN OF INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED CAR WAS NOW IN NEUTRAL, NOT DRIVE. MY HANDS WERE BOTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL; I DIDN'T TOUCH THE GEARSHIFT LEVER. THE CAR SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. THIS STARTED A SERIES OF…

    Read full complaint

    WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ACCELERATING TOWARD 70 MPH. ACCELERATOR DROPPED AWAY FROM UNDER MY FOOT, TACHOMETER "PEGGED" 5000 RPM. QUICK SCAN OF INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED CAR WAS NOW IN NEUTRAL, NOT DRIVE. MY HANDS WERE BOTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL; I DIDN'T TOUCH THE GEARSHIFT LEVER. THE CAR SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. THIS STARTED A SERIES OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT CONTINUE TO ESCALATE; TRANSMISSION WILL OVERRIDE BRAKING (CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS 2 WEEKS APART); ON A 500-MILE (1-WAY) BUSINESS TRIP IN JULY, CAR WENT INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE 3 TIMES - LOSS OF POWER, ACCELERATOR NON-FUNCTIONAL. CAR TAKEN OFF THE ROAD BY NISSAN CORP, BUT NO REPAIRS DONE; AFTER 49 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE, CAR WAS RELEASED TO ME, CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NOW THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY HARD TO OPERATE, AS IF THERE'S NO POWER STEERING IN THE CAR. WHEN TRANSMISSION OVERRIDES BRAKES, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BEING PUSHED, THEN CHOKES DOWN (NOSE OF CAR DIPS), THEN IS CATAPULTED IN THE SAME DIRECTION (D OR R); IN THIS SEQUENCE, BRAKES FULLY APPLIED WILL NOT STOP THE CAR. NISSAN'S ONLY RESPONSE IS TO SELF-PROTECT AGAINST A LAWSUIT; NO CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF SOMEONE DRIVING A CAR IN THIS CONDITION! *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10633827

    13,300 miles · Jun 29, 2013
    EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

    AT ABOUT 1130 PM ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, APPROACHING A INTERSECTION, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CAR SEEMED TO INCREASE SPEED AND WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION THROUGH LAWN AND STRIKING ANOTHER CAR, TOTAL LOSE OF CONTROL, NO BRAKES, A REAL SCARY FEELING. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10522401

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.