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2012 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

129 reports with mileage · 51 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2018
Air Bags

I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 56,000 NOW IT HAS 96,000, IT HAS CVT TRANSMISSION, THE STEP MOTOR IS NO LONGER USEFUL; AFTER HAVING RUN ONLY 40,000 MILES IS NOT FAIR !!!! I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR, THE FACTORY SHOULD FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, I STILL OWE THE BANK .. $ 7,000 AND THE RE…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 56,000 NOW IT HAS 96,000, IT HAS CVT TRANSMISSION, THE STEP MOTOR IS NO LONGER USEFUL; AFTER HAVING RUN ONLY 40,000 MILES IS NOT FAIR !!!! I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR, THE FACTORY SHOULD FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, I STILL OWE THE BANK .. $ 7,000 AND THE REPAIR COSTS ME $ 4,000. YOU THINK IT'S FAIR TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY, WHEN I'M SURE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT ????

NHTSA ODI #11162605

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2017
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ON AND IT WONT GO OFF.

NHTSA ODI #10965804

81,680 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Air Bags

I WAS DROPPING OFF MY PASSENGER, I WAS IN DRIVE AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SO THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, AND HE CLOSED THE DOOR, MAYBE SLAMMED A LITTLE AS HE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND THEN THE AIR BAGS ON THE ROOF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED, ALONG WITH THE AIR BAGS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS IN SHOCK SINCE …

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I WAS DROPPING OFF MY PASSENGER, I WAS IN DRIVE AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SO THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, AND HE CLOSED THE DOOR, MAYBE SLAMMED A LITTLE AS HE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND THEN THE AIR BAGS ON THE ROOF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED, ALONG WITH THE AIR BAGS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS IN SHOCK SINCE I KNOW I'VE SLAMMED MY CAR DOOR BEFORE AND THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED AND THERE ARE NO DAMAGES TO MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10781718

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2015
Air Bags

2012 NISSAN SENTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIRBAGS CONCERN. *SMD THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE BRAND OF THE AIR BAG IN HIS VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10726056

60,000 miles · May 14, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN NOVEMBER. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER BROKE THEIR NOSE AND THEN FLED THE SCENE. I WAS UNCONSIOUS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN WMTS ARRIVED AND DO TO THE DRIVER FLEEING I WAS CHARGED WITH THE ACCIDENT AND INSURANCE FAILED TO PAY THE SETTLEMENT. ALL ON CLAIMS THAT HAD I BEEN IN THE PA…

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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN NOVEMBER. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER BROKE THEIR NOSE AND THEN FLED THE SCENE. I WAS UNCONSIOUS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN WMTS ARRIVED AND DO TO THE DRIVER FLEEING I WAS CHARGED WITH THE ACCIDENT AND INSURANCE FAILED TO PAY THE SETTLEMENT. ALL ON CLAIMS THAT HAD I BEEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE WENT OFF. I KNOW THAT NISSAN HAS AIRBAG PROBLEMS ALL AROUND THE YEAR OF MY CAR BUT AM TRYING TO FIND IF ANY OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE IN MY CAR AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A NON DEPLOYMENT. THE COPS ESTIMATED THAT WE WERE GOING 50 MPH AND HIT A TREE. I WAS ASLEEP IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SO AM NOT SURE OF HOW MY BODY WAS POSITIONED IF IT HAD EFFECT ON THE PRESSURE SWITCH. I WAS SEVERLY INJURED 4 BROKEN RIBS BROKEN NEXK AND MULTIPLY FACIAL LACERATIONS FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHEILD.

NHTSA ODI #10716583

2,500 miles · Nov 24, 2014
Air BagsStructureWheelsCrashInjury

ON AUGUST 25, 2014 WHILE I DID ESCAPE WITH MY LIFE AND MY WHOLE BODY INTACT, AFTER A WITNESS WAS ON SCENE SHE SAID SHE HER A LOUD POP, WELL THAT LOUD POP WAS MY FRONT LEFT (IMMEDIATE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE) AND I ENDED UP IN A BRICK WALL. NOT PLEASED WITH BRIDGESTONE, AS MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD NO MORE THAN 8000 MILES ON IT, BUT VERY PL…

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ON AUGUST 25, 2014 WHILE I DID ESCAPE WITH MY LIFE AND MY WHOLE BODY INTACT, AFTER A WITNESS WAS ON SCENE SHE SAID SHE HER A LOUD POP, WELL THAT LOUD POP WAS MY FRONT LEFT (IMMEDIATE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE) AND I ENDED UP IN A BRICK WALL. NOT PLEASED WITH BRIDGESTONE, AS MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD NO MORE THAN 8000 MILES ON IT, BUT VERY PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT'S FEATURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660530

33,100 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Air Bags

WITHOUT A CRASH MY AIR BAGS EXPLODED FOR NO REASON ?// *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576332

33,144 miles · Sep 10, 2013
Air BagsStructureCrash

THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY HUSBAND WRECKED THE 2012 NISSAN SENTRA 6-24-13. MY HUSBAND SWERVED TO MISS A DEER THAT WAS IN THE ROAD, HIT A CULVERT, GOT AIR BORN, TOOK OUT A REFLECTOR SIGN, AND CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD +$7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE…

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THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY HUSBAND WRECKED THE 2012 NISSAN SENTRA 6-24-13. MY HUSBAND SWERVED TO MISS A DEER THAT WAS IN THE ROAD, HIT A CULVERT, GOT AIR BORN, TOOK OUT A REFLECTOR SIGN, AND CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. THE CAR HAD +$7,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. IT GOT AIR BORN AND HIT A CULVERT. I THINK AN AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10542888

18,319 miles · May 28, 2013
Air BagsSeats

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. TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT THINK THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE…

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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. TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT THINK THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR ACCIDENT 3 MONTHS PRIOR BUT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ONLY THE TRUNK WAS SMASHED IN. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS TO THE TRUNK COULD HAVE CAUSED A MALFUNCTION. THE CAR WAS ONLY EXAMINED AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE WAS INVOLVED BUT NEVER WAS CALLED NOR HAS THE CAR BEEN INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL. THIS TOO ME IS VERY UNSAFE AND INCONSIDERATE OF NISSAN TO IGNORE THIS MATTER. WHAT IF THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHAT TYPE OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED. I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST INSPECTED THE CAR BY A PROFESSIONAL TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT A SENSOR ISSUE AND TO CONFIRM THAT IT NOT THEIR FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513832

6,629 miles · Feb 8, 2013
Air BagsEngineStructureCrash

VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, JUST BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, AND STRUCK A TRAILER THAT WAS NOT CLEARLY NOTICEABLE (DID NOT HAVE CLEAR REFLECTORS). AT 5 MPH, THE HOOD WAS CRUNCHED LIKE AN ACCORDION, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED. WHAT WOULD THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN IF STRIKING SOMETH…

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VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, JUST BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, AND STRUCK A TRAILER THAT WAS NOT CLEARLY NOTICEABLE (DID NOT HAVE CLEAR REFLECTORS). AT 5 MPH, THE HOOD WAS CRUNCHED LIKE AN ACCORDION, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED. WHAT WOULD THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN IF STRIKING SOMETHING AT 30, 40, OR 50 MPH? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496817

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.