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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

180 reports
22,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA WITH THE ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400-02 TIRES, SIZE: P205/55R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE TIRE WALLS. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA WITH THE ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400-02 TIRES, SIZE: P205/55R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE TIRE WALLS. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI #10576788

33,100 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Air Bags

WITHOUT A CRASH MY AIR BAGS EXPLODED FOR NO REASON ?// *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576332

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

SHIFTER ASSEMBLY BINDING. OF COURSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT INVESTIGATE WHY IT IS BINDING. THEY JUST WANT TO REPLACE IT FOR $637.00. IT HAD ONLY 56,000 MILES WHEN I DROVE IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN IT HAD 46,000 PLUS MILES…

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SHIFTER ASSEMBLY BINDING. OF COURSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT INVESTIGATE WHY IT IS BINDING. THEY JUST WANT TO REPLACE IT FOR $637.00. IT HAD ONLY 56,000 MILES WHEN I DROVE IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN IT HAD 46,000 PLUS MILES. IT IS A 2012 MAKE. I AM RESEARCHING ON THE COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE BINDING PROBLEM. HAD A PREVIOUS NISSAN IN THE EARLY NINETIES AND NO PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563581

21,200 miles · Feb 7, 2014
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT ABOUT 6:45 AM I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION AND HEARD GLASS CRACKING AND LOOKED AT SUNROOF. IT HAD EXPLODED AND BURST INTO PIECES. I CLOSED THE SUNSHIELD TO PROTECT MYSELF AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED 911 AND A GA STATE PATROL CAME AND INSPECTED THE INCIDENT AND STATED IT LOOK…

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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT ABOUT 6:45 AM I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION AND HEARD GLASS CRACKING AND LOOKED AT SUNROOF. IT HAD EXPLODED AND BURST INTO PIECES. I CLOSED THE SUNSHIELD TO PROTECT MYSELF AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED 911 AND A GA STATE PATROL CAME AND INSPECTED THE INCIDENT AND STATED IT LOOKED LIKE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WITH NO SIGN OF ANYTHING IMPACTING THE CAR. HE WROTE AN INCIDENT REPORT AND I HAD TO DRIVE ONTO WORK. NISSAN IS LOOKING AT MY CAR LATER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND I HOPE THEY DO THINGS RIGHT SO I DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET THIS RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563356

15,387 miles · Dec 27, 2013
Visibility

WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, OPEN SPACE - NOTHING ABOVE, THE SUN ROOF IMPLODED. IT WAS FINE WHEN WE PARKED THE CAR, BUT THE NEXT MORNING THE GLASS WAS BROKEN. NO IMPACT, TEMP 15 DEGREES F. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557409

30,000 miles · Dec 23, 2013
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,650. ..UPDATED 02-28-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE GLASS SUNROOF SHATTERED TWICE AND WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. UPDATED 03/19/2014*JS

NHTSA ODI #10557093

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2013
SteeringSuspension

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE VEHICLE DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. AS PART OF A WILL OWE FROM THE DEALERSHIP I ASKED FOR THIS TO BE REPAIRED. FIRST ALIGNMENT. AFTER THE ALIGNMENT WAS DONE I WAS INFORMED THE "SPECS" WERE FINE AND THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THIS COULD ALSO BE ROAD CROWN OR TORQUE PUL…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE VEHICLE DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. AS PART OF A WILL OWE FROM THE DEALERSHIP I ASKED FOR THIS TO BE REPAIRED. FIRST ALIGNMENT. AFTER THE ALIGNMENT WAS DONE I WAS INFORMED THE "SPECS" WERE FINE AND THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THIS COULD ALSO BE ROAD CROWN OR TORQUE PULL WHICH IS NORMAL FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. ?? I ASKED FOR A SECOND LOOK, THIS TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER WENT WITH ME FOR THE TEST DRIVE AND NOTICED THE DRIFTING AND KEPT THE VEHICLE. THEY DID ANOTHER ALIGNMENT (2ND) SPECS OK AND REPLACE THE OEM TIRES WITH A KNOCK- OFF SET.THE VEHICLE IS STILL DRIFTING. I INFORMED NISSAN AT THIS POINT TO SEE IF THEY CAN STEP IN. THEY RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THIRD ALIGNMENT. SPECS OK . I CONTINUED MY COMPLAINT WITH THE NISSAN REP. AND THEY HAD A ENGINEER COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. FOURTH ALIGNMENT. HIS OPINION IS: THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF SENTRA MODELS AND STATED NO ADJUSTMENTS, NO ABNORMALITIES AND IT DRIVES THIS WAY BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF STEERING COLUMN. WOW I WOULD THINK NISSAN WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT A DANGEROUS DRIVING "CHARACTERISTIC" ON ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES. THIS PROCESS HAS TAKEN TWO AND HALF MONTHS, FOUR ALIGNMENTS, THREE SEPARATE OPINIONS OF THE DRIFTING ISSUE AND OTHER THAN A REPLACEMENT OF A SET OF KNOCK-OFF TIRES THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO FIX. I HAVE SEEN ON CARCOMPAINTS.COM THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME DRIFTING ON THE SAME VEHICLE SO THAT PROVES THE ENGINEER RIGHT BUT NISSAN IS STILL NOT WILLING CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SAD AND DANGEROUS ATTITUDE TO HAVE. I AM CONFIDENT THIS WILL END UP ON A RECALL. FOR NOW I'M STUCK WITH A DANGEROUS VEHICLE THAT I WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555698

7,500 miles · Dec 11, 2013
Structure

BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW, AND ITS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD NOW - THE TRUNK LATCH BREAKS REPEATEDLY LEAVING THE TRUNK UNABLE TO BE CLOSED OR LOCKED. ITS BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES, WITH NEW PARTS ISSUED AND TESTED AND 'FIXED' EACH TIME, AND SAME ISSUES REPEATS ITSELF. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I COUNTED 9 USES BEFORE THE ISSUE REPEATED, THIS…

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BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW, AND ITS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD NOW - THE TRUNK LATCH BREAKS REPEATEDLY LEAVING THE TRUNK UNABLE TO BE CLOSED OR LOCKED. ITS BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES, WITH NEW PARTS ISSUED AND TESTED AND 'FIXED' EACH TIME, AND SAME ISSUES REPEATS ITSELF. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I COUNTED 9 USES BEFORE THE ISSUE REPEATED, THIS MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER NEW PARTS ISSUED: IT WAS USED 3 TIMES. IT RENDERS THE LATCH BY THE DRIVERS SEAT, THE KEY LATCH AND THE VEHICLES TRUNK LATCH ALL USELESS. HAS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555550

22,000 miles · Oct 17, 2013
Power Train

DURING ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD CLUNK THAT IS NOT ONLY HEARD BUT FELT ON THE FLOOR UNDER YOUR FEET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548201

33,144 miles · Sep 10, 2013
Air BagsStructureCrash

THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY HUSBAND WRECKED THE 2012 NISSAN SENTRA 6-24-13. MY HUSBAND SWERVED TO MISS A DEER THAT WAS IN THE ROAD, HIT A CULVERT, GOT AIR BORN, TOOK OUT A REFLECTOR SIGN, AND CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD +$7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE…

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THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY HUSBAND WRECKED THE 2012 NISSAN SENTRA 6-24-13. MY HUSBAND SWERVED TO MISS A DEER THAT WAS IN THE ROAD, HIT A CULVERT, GOT AIR BORN, TOOK OUT A REFLECTOR SIGN, AND CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD +$7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. IT GOT AIR BORN AND HIT A CULVERT. I THINK AN AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10542888

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.