Home › Cars › Nissan › Sentra › 2012
2012 Nissan Sentra problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
63% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Nissan Sentra are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 20 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 56%).
Does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 101 of 160 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Sentra concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (63%), and the largest group is filed under power train (68). For comparison, the 2011 scores 43% and the 2013 scores 71%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Nissan Sentra years
Of the 13 Nissan Sentra years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 5th-worst on engine and transmission share (63%). The worst is the 2015 (73%), the best the 2020 (8%). By volume, the 2012 drew 180 complaints (101 drivetrain), against 142 for the 2011 and 638 for the 2013.
Nissan Sentra years to avoid and best years →
2010 Sentra problems · 2011 Sentra problems · 2012 · 2013 Sentra problems · 2014 Sentra problems · 2015 Sentra problems · 2016 Sentra problems · 2017 Sentra problems · 2018 Sentra problems · 2019 Sentra problems · 2020 Sentra problems · 2021 Sentra problems · 2022 Sentra problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Nissan Sentra
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Nissan Sentra said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 101 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2012 Nissan Sentra? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2012 Nissan Sentra
Does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 101 of 160 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Sentra concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (63%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Nissan Sentra is power train: 68 of 180 complaints (38%) name it, followed by engine (39) and vehicle speed control (22). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2012 Nissan Sentra reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 63% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Nissan Sentra years we score, it ranks 5th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2012 Nissan Sentra.
Which Nissan Sentra years are better?
Among the Nissan Sentra years we track, the 2020 (8%), the 2021 (9%) and the 2022 (16%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (63%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-sentra
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.