YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Sentra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Sentra years

The 2012 Nissan Sentra has a complaint index of 20 and ranks 13th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other Sentra years. NHTSA lists 180 complaints, 0 recalls, and 10 crashes, with transmission and powertrain issues the top problem area.

Complaints
180
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
10 / 4
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23.5 city / 30 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan Sentra problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain68 (38%)
  2. Engine54 (30%)
  3. Other21 (12%)
  4. Airbags20 (11%)
  5. Structure & Body20 (11%)
  6. Electrical System14 (8%)
  7. Brakes11 (6%)
  8. Fuel System10 (6%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (6%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers10 (6%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in crashes, including a rollover after running off a wet road and a collision after swerving to avoid a deer.
  • Owners describe the engine smoking and catching fire while driving, in some cases after a piece fell out from under the car.
  • Some drivers report sudden loss of engine power and power steering while traveling at highway speed.
  • Brake pedal reportedly failed to slow the car at an intersection, resulting in a total loss of control.
  • A front tire reportedly blew out at low mileage, causing the vehicle to strike a wall.
  • One complaint describes automatic transmission gear changes not occurring properly, paired with airbag deployment concerns.
2012 Nissan Sentra complaints: complaints filed per quarter182011 Q32013 Q22015 Q12016 Q42018 Q32020 Q22022 Q22024 Q4
249 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q3 to 2025 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (18).

2012 Nissan Sentra recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Nissan Sentra fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23.5 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Sentra years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best7144326.5
2011Good33142226
2012Best20180026
2013Avoid100638633
2014Avoid93380532.5

All Nissan Sentra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Compared to other Sentra model years, the 2012 ranks well. It has a complaint index of 20 and ranks 13th worst out of 16 years, earning a "Best" verdict.
What problems does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA complaints point to transmission and powertrain issues (38% of complaints), engine problems (30%), and airbag concerns (11%), with a median mileage at failure of 64,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2012 Sentra, with no do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2012 Sentra compare to other years?
The 2012 Sentra's complaint index of 20 is far lower than the 2013 Sentra's index of 100, which is flagged "Avoid." Among all 16 model years, 2012 ranks 13th worst, making it one of the better years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
EPA rates the 2012 Sentra at 26 mpg combined (23.5 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.