10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,486 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Nissan Sentra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Nissan Sentra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #48

Feb 202019

Sentra

  • 4,444 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, without warning the vehicle began to jerk as the brake pedal shakes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer premier Nissan of san jose 1120 w capitol expy, san jose, ca 95136 (408) 978-1234 to be diagnosed. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or retrieve any diagnostic trouble codes. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle then was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximate 4,444.

- Foster City, CA, USA

problem #47

Sep 182019

Sentra

  • 118,000 miles
Right after purchasing our Nissan Sentra, my daughter went on a road trip to South Carolina and the car lost power and started stuttering. As it turns out the cvt transmission went out. We had to purchase a used transmission to get the car running. The car only had 118,000 miles when this occurred which is riduclous.

- Duluth, GA, USA

problem #46

Oct 142019

Sentra

  • miles
2012 Nissan Sentra was bought 3 weeks prior with no problems. While traveling 60 - 70 mph on a highway the car suddenly stop running and the power steering went out and the vehicle was unable to steer out of the troubled area on the highway. The vehicle broke down in the middle of a highway. After research it seem to be the same actions that has happened to thousands of other Nissan Sentra. The defected cvt transmission causes this to happen. Luckily my son was not killed during a accident that was caused after he was rear ended and the vehicle was totaled.

- Orange Park, FL, USA

problem #45

Nov 222019

Sentra

  • 74,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When taking off from any location engine revs to 4000 RPM until up to speed, need to be very easy on gas to get going up to speed, can be dangerous at intersections to get moving quickly if needed

- Parish, NY, USA

problem #44

Sep 012019

Sentra

  • 8,900 miles
It looses power and then it turns off, , and this happens on highway, really dangerous, then I had to turn off the key switch and and turn a break back on it turns on and then it keeps going slow but it keeps going, eventually goes back to normal

- Liberty, NY, USA

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problem #43

Aug 192019

Sentra

  • 89,000 miles
Car won't go over 20 mph. Rpms increase but no additional speed. The panel flickers of and then right back on. The wheel jerks. Has happened repeatedly. Twice while turning. Once while driving straight. Luckily I was. It on a highway only residential streets and rte 5. it happened in front of a mechanic for the dealership.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #42

Aug 312019

Sentra

  • 105,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission started slipping they told me that was normal now after 100K it slips all the time at highway speeds and the transmission overheats and the car not be driven more then 20 to 30 miles without over heating the transmission. Nissan should have done a recall. All they did was extend the warranty to 110 which by the time I reported I am at 112000 miles and now I have no recourse. I feel that these companies are avoiding recalls and doing these extensions to avoid having multiple claims. The government is failing to hold them accountable for defective products!!!

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #41

Jul 042019

Sentra

  • 95,000 miles
When driving on the highway in my 2012 Nissan Sentra it sometimes deaccelerates gradually to the point where you can't go past 60 mph and when trying to accelerate it is sluggish

- Macomb, MI, USA

problem #40

Jul 032019

Sentra

  • 64,332 miles
Goes limp, delay when pressing the gas while in motion, applicable to both city street and highway. Based on information gathered, it appears the transmission cooler is not providing adequate fluid cooling when driving in high temperatures resulting in the transmission fluid to get hot and the car to go limp (stalled acceleration) which creates an unsafe operating condition. Various dates...

- O'fallon, MO, USA

problem #39

May 122018

Sentra

  • 85,000 miles
2012 Nissan Sentra lost power at highway speeds with family in car. No response from gas pedal. Coasted to a stop on side of highway and had to wait approximately 30 minutes until car was responding to gas pedal. Not safe for anyone to be driving this car. Many complaints about Nissan's cvt transmission without a solution from Nissan. Car had approximately 85,000 miles on it at the time. Same thing occurred around 102,000 miles. My car is regularly serviced and cared for. It is parked in a closed garage every night.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #38

May 182019

Sentra

  • 76,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Blighty vehicle used at route 46, totowa, NJ in 2017. It has 76K miles and we just moved to Rhode Island. My 18 year old daughter driving by herself up I 95 while driving 65 mph had the vehicle decelerate several times down to 40 mph despite pursuing the gas to the floor. At one point with semi trucks all around her it dropped to 25 mph where she had to put the hazards on while these trucks whipped by her. She got here but was freaked out. My odb picked up error code P074 for a clutch solenoid issue with the transmission. Known issue to Nissan. How many of these do we have to report before someone gets killed to get this listed as a recall to fix the transmission? NHTSA you have a duty to protect us and order Nissan to fix this issue.

- Foster, RI, USA

problem #37

Mar 112019

Sentra

  • 71,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan versa. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled. No warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer bedford Nissan (18115 rockside rd, bedford, oh 44146) where the transmission fluid was flushed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.

- Fairview Park, OH, USA

problem #36

Dec 012018

Sentra

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. While driving various speeds, the vehicle jerked and stalled. Additionally, there was an abnormal whistling noise emerging from the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to Nissan of norwich (691 w thames St, norwich, ct 06360, (860) 892-6000) where it was diagnosed that the belt needed to be replaced and there was metal in the transmission, which needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 35185453. The manufacturer stated that they would assist with sixty percent of the repair costs. The failure mileage was 57,000.

- New Haven, CT, USA

problem #35

Oct 092018

Sentra

  • 71,000 miles
Car could not change gear while driving had to take foot off the gas, when shifting gears from park it was very loose and slippery, car can no longer be driven it will only go into neutral. When the incident happened I was waiting at the light with my foot on the break and it wouldnt shift back to drive when I stepped on the gas.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #34

Apr 272018

Sentra

  • 103,000 miles
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. Codes P0744, P1722, P1788 transmission codes. P0744 means you have to buy a whole new torque converter solenoid unit as you cannot just replace the solenoid. Cost of the unit $1,116. The P1788 code is the step motor that is inside the transmission. Aamco will not even rebuild the cvt transmission. They told me cheaper to buy another transmission than to fix this one. Time Nissan is held accountable for cutting corners on their transmissions in order to make profit. They are held accountable for the 2007 - 2010 cars, time to add 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 - ? since cvt transmissions are junk. Daughter Sentra only has 103,000 miles on it and well taken care of. For a car to go into limp mode with no warning is waiting for a fatal crash. Luckily this did not happen to my daughter. Appears the extended warranty Nissan placed on 2007 - 2010 models experiencing the same problems my daughter has with her Sentra. She graduated college and now is faced with a 2000+ bill for a repair since she cannot afford a car payment yet. What a way to welcome someone to the real world after graduating from college 3 days ago.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #33

Apr 072018

Sentra

  • 107,000 miles
When going highway speeds the acceleration drops and will not come back with the peddle to the floor, was almost rear ended. At a stoplight when taking off the car would not accelerate. This has happened several times. Researched and found the issue is the cvt transmission. Nissan has extended warranty to 10 yr 1200000 mile on this transmission. I called to schedule and was told my VIN is not covered. Why?

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #32

Apr 272018

Sentra

  • 103,000 miles
"cvt transmission issues" 2012 Nissan Sentra sr 2.0L with 103,000 miles on the vehicle and maintained adequately since getting the vehicle in 2013. For the last six months, I have been experiencing my vehicle loss of acceleration on only being able to go 10 mph max when my vehicle goes into limp mode. This happens to me on the interstate 64 westbound from richmond, va to harrisburg, va going uphill where I was going 70 - 75 mph when the vehicle loss acceleration and my speed dropped dramatically almost causing a wreck. This is due to being in the left lane and having nowhere, I could pull off the interstate readily available. To me, this is a significant safety concern as this is happening now after being driven for 30 minutes to an hour. Took the vehicle to midas where I had them run a diagnostic test on the car to see if there are any codes on the car since there is "no check engine light on." The technician came back with the following: 'tech found that the cvt transmission is having internal problems-vehicle us not safe to drive. Tech found code P1722 est vehicle speed signal, P0744 at TR sw function, P1778 step motor. Also, vehicle needs front struts and rear shocks - no control of steering wheel.' It appears Nissan has had problems with the cvt transmission from their 2007 - 2010 Sentra and issued an extended ten year - 120,000 miles warranty. Nissan needs to extend the warranty to every year that Nissan has used the cvt transmission as they are unreliable and eventually will cause a fatal accident on the highways with their transmission going into limp mode.would like my vehicle added to the cvt extended warranty - 10 years + 120,000 miles since my vehicle is experiencing the same issues as the 2007 - 2010 vehicles. Occurred on interstate, highway, and city.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #31

Apr 272018

Sentra

  • 103,000 miles
"cvt transmission issues" 2012 Nissan Sentra sr 2.0L with 103,000 miles on the vehicle and maintained adequately since getting the vehicle in 2013. For the last six months, I have been experiencing my vehicle loss of acceleration on only being able to go 10 mph max when my vehicle goes into limp mode. This happens to me on the interstate 64 westbound from richmond, va to harrisburg, va going uphill where I was going 70 - 75 mph when the vehicle loss acceleration and my speed dropped dramatically almost causing a wreck. This is due to being in the left lane and having nowhere I could pull off the interstate readily available. To me, this is a significant safety concern as this is happening now after being driven for 30 minutes to an hour. Took the vehicle to midas where I had them run a diagnostic test on the car to see if there are any codes on the car since there is "no check engine light on." The technician drove the car for 30 minutes and experienced the same issue I've been experiencing. The vehicle went into limp mode, and he had to wait an hour before the car would accelerate again. The technician came back with the following: 'tech found that the cvt transmission is having internal problems-vehicle us not safe to drive. Tech found code P1722 est vehicle speed signal, P0744 at TR sw function, P1778 step motor. Also, vehicle needs front struts and rear shocks - no control of steering wheel. It appears Nissan has had problems with the cvt transmission from their 2007 - 2010 Sentra and issued an extended ten year - 120,000 miles warranty. Nissan needs to extend the warranty to every year that Nissan has used the cvt transmission as they are unreliable and eventually will cause a fatal accident on the highways with their transmission going into limp mode. Please look into this matter for all Nissan Sentra 2011, 2012, etc. This is a problem.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #30

Apr 302018

Sentra

  • 70,000 miles
Cvt transmission failure no recall option. The transmission has been slowly failing over the last 6 months slipping no recourse but to replace the vehicle has less then 100,000 miles.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #29

Dec 052017

Sentra

  • 78,000 miles
Transmission failed with no warning. Vehicle would not move after braking while still in gear. Only 78,000 miles logged.5.5 years old. Exact event: Backing slowly out of a driveway (in reverse); braked at end of driveway to look both directions; resumed acceleration (in reverse) as I turned and nothing happened. Vehicle would not "land" in any gear (drive, reverse, low drive, etc). Had to be towed from location to my mechanic. My mechanic diagnosed the transmission as inoperable and needing replacement. Recommended I tow to a Nissan dealer for hopeful coverage by Nissan. Nissan confirmed need to replace at the cost of $4156.

- Crofton, MD, USA

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