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2012 Nissan Sentra Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2012 Nissan Sentra has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “CVT transmission power loss and limp mode.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2012 Nissan Sentra.

Reported to NHTSA

CVT transmission power loss and limp mode

POWER TRAIN

67 NHTSA complaints · 2011-12 → 2024-05

“*CVT TRANSMISSION CRAP* REPORTED THE ISSUE YESTERDAY WITH THE SENTRA GOING INTO LIMP MODE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING DROPPING FROM 70 MPH TO 10 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11092407
“CVT Transmission Failure: My son was driving on an Interstate at 75 miles per hour when suddenly the 2012 Nissan Sentra he was driving, suddenly powered down and he was not able to go over 40 miles per hour”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11425388
“TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10441543

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass shattering while parked or driving

VISIBILITY

11 NHTSA complaints · 2013-07 → 2017-07

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10557093
“I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN SENTRA OVER I-25 AND SUDDENLY MOON ROOF EXPLODED. I HEARD A GUNSHOT AND GLASSES FLYING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10523304
“MY SUNROOF EXPLODED ON MY 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT JUST EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10652611

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Door and trunk latch failure

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

5 NHTSA complaints · 2013-12 → 2021-12

“The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while leaving the ignition on and exiting the vehicle, the doors would lock independently after closing the door. The contact stated she had to leave a window down to be able to manually open the door from the inside”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11443889
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10555550
“DOOR LOCKS NOT RELIABLE OR SECURE. THEY WILL NOT CONSISTENTLY LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED IN BOTH KEYS AND ISSUE IS STILL OCCURING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10939123

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal failure and noise

SERVICE BRAKES

6 NHTSA complaints · 2011-08 → 2025-02

“THE BRAKES ON MY 2012 SENTRA STOPPED WORKING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE PEDAL AT ALL. I WAS TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND HAD TO CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC TO GET INTO THE SAFETY LANE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10714904
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCK ON THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO A GAP NEAR THE LOCK. THE REAR SUSPENSION MADE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10459067
“My ABS light and skid light is staying on all the time”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11642312

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag warning light and deployment malfunction

AIR BAGS

15 NHTSA complaints · 2013-05 → 2024-11

“AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE HORN DON'T WORK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11308165
“RAINY NIGHT 55 MPH CRASH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WET ROAD, CAR RAN OFF ROAD, HIT A SIGN POST, WENT DOWN EMBANKMENT, FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER INTO DITCH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11206122
“I HAVE A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA AND THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND SEAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SLAMMED. THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION BUT THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10513832

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unexpected engine stall and no-start condition

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

11 NHTSA complaints · 2014-08 → 2024-03

“The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled and, on several occasions, and the vehicle failed to restart”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11575624
“DAUGHTER DRIVING CAR ON INTERSTATE WHEN ENGINE DIED. WAS DRIVING IN LEFT LANE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED GETTING HIT WHEN MANEUVERING TO SHOULDER ON RIGHT. PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE DEFECTIVE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10633009
“THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND HAS LOCKED UP MY CAR. I BOUGHT IT IN 2015 AND IT SHUTDOWN ON ME IN EARLY 2018. IT WAS DRIVING FINE AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM QUIT AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11180410

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering failure and wheel drift

STEERING

7 NHTSA complaints · 2012-11 → 2022-01

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM TURNING THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10486563
“POWER STEERING ASSIST (ELECTRIC IN THIS VEHICLE) SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET AT 25 MPH. THE "PS" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, AND I HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11076544
“WE OWN A NISSAN SENTRA 2012. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC IN ORDER TO DO AN OIL CHANGE. FIVE BLOCKS BEFORE ENTERING THE MECHANIC SHOP, I HEARD A STRONG METALLIC NOISE ON THE LEFT BOTTOM PART OF MY CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10746693

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

144 crashes 1990–2024

How the 144 occupant deaths break down

120

driver deaths

24

passenger deaths

144

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2011 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

10

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2012 Nissan Sentra reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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