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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

    Wheels complaints

    3 reports
    Clear category filter
    57,000 miles · May 15, 2018
    SuspensionWheels

    THUMPING NOISE FROM LEFT REAR SUSPENSION AT 30MPH ON CITY STREETS

    NHTSA ODI #11093966

    54,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015
    SteeringVehicle Speed ControlWheels

    THE VEHICLE DRIFTS BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE DRIVING, WHEN BRAKING IT SERIOUSLY PULLS RIGHT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 6 WEEKS AND HAVEN'T HIT ANYTHING YET BUT IF THERE ARE NARROW LANES WITH PARKED CARS I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS THE HEAT SHIELDS THAT COVER THE EXHAUST COME LOOSE AND THE AIR SENSORS IN THE TIRES L…

    Read full complaint

    THE VEHICLE DRIFTS BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE DRIVING, WHEN BRAKING IT SERIOUSLY PULLS RIGHT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 6 WEEKS AND HAVEN'T HIT ANYTHING YET BUT IF THERE ARE NARROW LANES WITH PARKED CARS I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS THE HEAT SHIELDS THAT COVER THE EXHAUST COME LOOSE AND THE AIR SENSORS IN THE TIRES LEAK SO YOU NEED TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRES WEEKLY.

    NHTSA ODI #10733737

    2,500 miles · Nov 24, 2014
    Air BagsStructureWheelsCrashInjury

    ON AUGUST 25, 2014 WHILE I DID ESCAPE WITH MY LIFE AND MY WHOLE BODY INTACT, AFTER A WITNESS WAS ON SCENE SHE SAID SHE HER A LOUD POP, WELL THAT LOUD POP WAS MY FRONT LEFT (IMMEDIATE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE) AND I ENDED UP IN A BRICK WALL. NOT PLEASED WITH BRIDGESTONE, AS MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD NO MORE THAN 8000 MILES ON IT, BUT VERY PL…

    Read full complaint

    ON AUGUST 25, 2014 WHILE I DID ESCAPE WITH MY LIFE AND MY WHOLE BODY INTACT, AFTER A WITNESS WAS ON SCENE SHE SAID SHE HER A LOUD POP, WELL THAT LOUD POP WAS MY FRONT LEFT (IMMEDIATE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE) AND I ENDED UP IN A BRICK WALL. NOT PLEASED WITH BRIDGESTONE, AS MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD NO MORE THAN 8000 MILES ON IT, BUT VERY PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT'S FEATURES. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10660530

    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.