The Lemon Index2012 Nissan Sentra.
The 2012 Nissan Sentra is better than average by owner complaints: 62 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 51, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 0 recalls, and it gets 24 to 29 mpg combined. The best Nissan Sentra year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 180 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Sentra year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 25K to 89K miles on the car (129 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 32K–93K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 50K–106K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 22K–99K miles
Recalls 0
No safety recalls on record.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 107 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Door lock/unlock inoperative with intelligent key
- After certain continuous operation and vehicle speed has been reduced due to the fail safe
- "altima, sentra, and rogue; cvt fail-safe condition service information this bulletin has been…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–3300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
During acceleration the vehicle makes a loud clunk that is not only heard but felt on the floor under your feet.
2012 Nissan Sentra owner · NHTSA complaint 10548201
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Nissan Sentra reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 51; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Sentra year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Sentra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (26%), body structure (18%) and visibility (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
None: NHTSA has no safety recalls on record for it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Sentra get?
24 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Nissan Sentra safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Sentra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 25,000 and 89,500 miles. The middle report was at 64,000 miles, from 129 complaints.
Does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 26% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Nissan Sentra cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $3300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Nissan Sentra have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Nissan Sentra year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2017 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works