2012 Nissan SentraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 180 owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Sentra. Most complaints involve power train (68) and engine (39). The EPA rates it 24–29 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Power train68
- Engine39
- Vehicle speed control22
- Air bags20
- Structure17
- Electrical system13
- Visibility10
- Fuel/propulsion system9
- Steering9
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Sentra model year we’ve synced.
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 171 |
| 2001 | 245 |
| 2002 | 333 |
| 2003 | 180 |
| 2004 | 197 |
| 2005 | 170 |
| 2006 | 116 |
| 2007 | 154 |
| 2008 | 167 |
| 2009 | 55 |
| 2010 | 144 |
| 2011 | 142 |
| 2012 | 180 |
| 2013 | 638 |
| 2014 | 380 |
| 2015 | 352 |
| 2016 | 270 |
| 2017 | 231 |
| 2018 | 185 |
| 2019 | 223 |
| 2020 | 207 |
| 2021 | 133 |
| 2022 | 81 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 31 |
| 2026 | 19 |
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 4
- Injuries reported
- 10
- Deaths reported
- 0
What owners report most
Power train
“Our nissan Sentra with 106K miles the car lost nearly all power as my son was turning onto the freeway. He could only drive 16 miles an hour and it was hopping and jumping through a 8 lane freeway/highway intersection while he tried to get into a parking lot off the road. He turned it off, waited 5 minutes, and turned it back on, but it was still slowly hopping and jumping. After another 10 minutes my husband drove it for about 10 minutes and it operated normally. This same behavior happened in 2019 with 82k miles at a large intersection. It suddenly lost power and slowly hopped through the intersection. At 60k the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel quit working. When we asked the Nissan Dealership about it, we were told that was typical and it would slowly lose all the functionality of the steering wheel controls. All the functionality was gone by 70k miles. We have learned that Nissan's transmissions are very problematic and these situations are typical as you get closer to 120k miles. We planned to have this car for several more years. If we sell it and buy a different car we are out several thousand dollars or if we keep it we will likely have to…”
Engine
“The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,504.”
Vehicle speed control
“car stalled no power in gas pedal traveling across for lane traffic just lost power to the gas pedal. was able to pull over and tuned off car after a few minutes of sitting power was restore and was able to drive again I have been told this is a transmission issue I am not sure but defiantly a safety issue losing power like that”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl
- Transmissions
- Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic (AV-S6) · Manual 6-spd
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentra Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 34 | 29 | $2,200 | 306 |
| Sentra Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,450 | 342 |
| Sentra Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 30 | 26 | $2,450 | 342 |
| Sentra Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | $3,300 | 370 |
- 29mpg comb.
- 26mpg comb.
- 26mpg comb.
- 24mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Frontal crash
- 3 of 5
- Side crash
- 3 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 11.6%
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
2012 Sentra questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Nov 3, 2026.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Sentra problems?
Owners filed 180 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (68), engine (39), vehicle speed control (22). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2012 Nissan Sentra get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Sentra at 24–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).
How safe is the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2012 Nissan Sentra 4 out of 5 stars overall.