YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Sentra Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 20 airbag complaints for the 2012 Nissan Sentra, 11% of its 180 total complaints, tied to 8 crashes, 1 fire, and 5 injuries. The median mileage at failure was 72,000, and no related recall is on file for this issue.

Airbags complaints
20
11% of 180
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
72,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe airbags failing to deploy during moderate to high-speed crashes, including rollovers and collisions with fixed objects, sometimes leading to serious injuries.
  • Some drivers report the passenger-side airbag failing to deploy in a crash while other airbags in the vehicle activated normally.
  • Several complaints describe curtain and seat airbags deploying unexpectedly when a door was closed or slammed while the car was parked or stationary.
  • Other owners noticed the airbag warning light illuminating alongside unrelated dashboard issues, raising concern about the reliability of the deployment sensors.
  • One complaint reports no airbag deployment despite significant vehicle damage after striking a road hazard, with the owner suspecting a manufacturing defect.

When 2012 Nissan Sentra airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 8, 2013, latest Nov 18, 2024.

2012 Nissan Sentra airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2013Apr 2014Jun 2015Dec 2018May 2019Feb 2020
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2013 to Nov 2024; peak Apr 2019 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2012 Nissan Sentra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Sentra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200521 (12%)
  2. 200630 (26%)
  3. 200741 (27%)
  4. 200853 (32%)
  5. 200915 (27%)
  6. 201031 (22%)
  7. 201120 (14%)
  8. 201220 (11%)
  9. 201396 (15%)
  10. 201451 (13%)
  11. 201544 (13%)
  12. 201624 (9%)
  13. 201726 (11%)
  14. 20189 (5%)
  15. 201914 (6%)
  16. 20200 (0%)
  17. 20210 (0%)
  18. 20222 (2%)
  19. 20230 (0%)
  20. 20242 (5%)
  21. 20251 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists 20 airbag complaints for the 2012 Sentra, which is 11% of the 180 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Nissan Sentra airbags?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for airbag problems on the 2012 Sentra.
How serious are the reported airbag problems?
NHTSA data tied to these complaints shows 8 crashes, 1 fire, and 5 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 72,000.
What kind of airbag failures do owners report?
Owners report both non-deployment during crashes and unexpected deployment while the vehicle was stationary, such as when a door was closed.
Is the 2012 Sentra worse than other years for airbag complaints?
The 2012 Sentra's 11% share of complaints in this area is lower than the 2010 (22%) and 2013 (15%) model years, based on NHTSA's per-year breakdown.

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.