Verdict
2012 Nissan Sentra: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2012 Nissan Sentra — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for sedan.
Owners filed 180 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 63% of 2012 sedans. Power Train leads the reports (36%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2012 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
180
Reports to NHTSA, 2012
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
26
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 63% of 2012 sedans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2012 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Power Train issues lead owner complaints (36% of 180 reports), followed by air bags (11%).
+ 12 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 180 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11291934, ODI 11591810, ODI 11580187, ODI 11500622, ODI 11485164.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2012 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentra | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 26 | 34 | 29 |
| Sentra | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 24 | 30 | 26 |
| Sentra | 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 23 | 30 | 26 |
| Sentra | 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2012 Nissan Sentra: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
Owners filed 180 NHTSA complaints about the 2012 Nissan Sentra — more complaints than 63% of comparable 2012 sedans, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Nissan Sentra?
The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (36% of complaints) and air bags (11%).
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2012 Nissan Sentra as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Sentra get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Sentra between 24 and 29 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.