43 complaints reported

2012 Nissan Sentra Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
43
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2023

The Transmission is making a whining nose and smells terribly bad! When driving on the interstate and parkways; after the car reaches 60 -70 miles, the car starts shaking and slows down; almost coming to a complete stop and we have to either get over in the slow lane and/ or sometimes, we have to pull over, off the interstate, because it has came to a complete stop and would not accelerate and/or move forward ! We sat there for an hour waiting for help/ and I called my Granny! When she got there; she checked the oil, added a quart of oil! After sitting there for over an hour; the car accelerated and we drove onto a side road and drove it slowly back to the house! WE took it to Unitires on Charolette ! He told us, the whining noise appeared to be the Transmission ! He repaired the wheel bearing , which stopped some of the shaking; but not all of it!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2023
Sep 2022

--- What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Transmission malfunction, yes available for inspection by NHTSA. 28k miles on odometer. --- How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While driving and starting from a stop, the car loses power momentarily and then jerks forward, causing a dangerous driving condition. --- Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No. --- Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, an accident was not caused. --- Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? None. ----

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2022
Apr 2022

While driving at around 70 mph on the highway the car suddenly lost power and was no longer able to accelerate. This issue persisted for the duration of the drive and has happened now on more than one occasion. There were no warning lights or messages before or after the car stopped accelerating and this very nearly caused and accident when the car wouldn’t accelerate during a lane change even with the gas pedal fully depressed. After a few minutes of no acceleration the car also begins to accelerate suddenly and without warning. I haven taken the car to an auto shop and they were able to pull codes that indicate an issue with the transmission. I have not yet paid for the issue to be fixed and the car is available for inspection upon request.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2022
Feb 2022

Vehicle transmission appeared to slip from gear causing vehicle to lose power while in heavy interstate traffic at 70mph, vehicle lost acceleration and began to slow then "bucked" jolting vehicle several times almost suffered rear collision from following cars. Upon stopping to check fluid in transmission, stick read full for hot.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2022
Nov 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact drove at a slow speed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2021
Oct 2021

I was stopped at an intersection. When the light turned green, I pressed the gas pedal, and the car started forward, but it would lunge forward and stop repeatedly, all the way through the intersection until I pulled over and turned the car off. The "slip indicator" light was on when this was happening. The light was not on previously and did not come back on when I restarted the car. I believe the jerking motion was due to the CVT transmission or the Vehicle Dynamic Control system not operating properly,. This was dangerous because I didn't have control of how the car was accelerating. If this had occurred at a faster speed, someone could have easily crashed into me. The problem has only happened once, and has not been inspected by anyone other than me.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2021
Jul 2021

I purchased a 2012 Nissan Sentra for my daughter for school. Sunday July 25th she was driving on I95 when the vehicle began to lose speed while driving in the middle lanes. She proceeded to pull the vehicle over and turned it off to see if the car needed to cool down. Once started, the car was fine but the car began to lose speed once again. This was ongoing on a Sunday night while she was on here way home from DE into NJ (2hour drive). The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who diagnosed the car as having transmission failure and the car will need a new transmission. This is extremely frustrating and this car should be recalled based on the danger while on the road and continued reported issues with the CV.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Jul 2021

Continuously Variable transmission (CVT) failure. Specifically the torque converter and valve body. While operating the vehicle, without warning, it goes into safe mode, effectively losing all power. When in the mode, power to the engine stops and power steer and brakes are disabled. The risk of an accident, when this occurs, is extremely high and very dangerous. Especially with a newer driver (17 years old). No warning lights or chimes come on indicating a problem. The vehicle was taken to the Nissan dealership where it was confirmed that it needed a new transmission (99988). Nissan has extended the warranty for the CVT for model years 2003-2010 and for 2013 and later but not 2012 (or 2011). As there were no changes in the transmission for those two years, they are aware of the high risk of failure but appear not to be concerned with the increased risk of injury or death from an accident caused by the transmission going into safe mode.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Jul 2021

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. No warning lights came on and the only indicator was the vehicle making a knocking sound and jerking around on the highway. This created a very dangerous situation with other traffic going 75 MPH or faster. He pulled onto the shoulder to avoid a wreck and being rear-ended. He called a tow company to take him and the vehicle to the nearest town and to a non-Nissan dealership which was the only option. They did a diagnostic and stated that they thought it was the CVT transmission but recommended we tow to a Nissan dealership. We then had to tow the vehicle over 100 miles back to our hometown and to a Nissan dealership. They ran diagnostics and found that the CVT transmission went out and would need to be replaced. Counting a 100 mile tow, this CVT transmission problem is going to cost my family around $5,000 for repairs. I can't believe that the 2012 Nissan Sentra is not included in the Nissan Extended Warranty for the CVT transmission as it is basically the exact same transmission of the other years that were having the same problem. In researching this problem, I found that hundreds if not thousands of 2012 Nissan Sentra owners were having the same problem. Imagine going 75 MPH on an interstate and suddenly your vehicle drops down to 40 MPH in traffic with traffic behind you. That is a very serious safety risk and I am thankful that my son was able to pull over before getting in an accident.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Mar 2021

I was going on a road trip with my sister that should have taken 5 hours and I had enough gas to make it there with no stops. I had gotten an emissions test done a few days prior for registration purposes and the car passed (there were no engine lights present). When we started the drive between Nevada and Arizona, there were many steep inclines and downhill areas. The first few inclines were fine, but about an hour into the trip we were going up a hill and I could not get the car to accelerate past 45mph with the pedal fully to the floor. At first I suspected that I may have made poor use of my momentum, but after cross-checking my RPM gauge, I noticed that the car was not making effort to go over 3000 RPM's. I was very fearful being that the car was barely able to hold 45mph in the 65mph zone and we may not be able to make it over the hill. After suffering through many steep inclines in the middle of nowhere, I was finally able to pull over and turn the car completely off. There were no mechanics within an hour drive in either direction, so I chose to continue. I got back on the highway and the car was behaving normally again. I thought the whole thing was a hoax until it happened again on another bout of uphill stretches. We were trying to find another town to pull over in and hit a thunderstorm at one point. It was absolutely terrifying because we were practically crawling up the hills and unable to hold a constant speed, but it was not safe to pull over because of the weather. We eventually made it through and were able to turn the car off. The problem went away again for a short time and came back a final time on a flat stretch of road. I was unable to accelerate over 70mph. The only problem that I've ever had with the car was that the transmission wasn't changing gears smoothly, and it caused an engine light at one point. I got the engine light checked and it was for the transmission, but the engine light went away soon after and has not come back.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Feb 2021

I REALIZED I WAS LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE SAGTIKOS PARKWAY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART. THE CAR WOULD START, BUT WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO DRIVE, NOR REVERSE (OR WOULD NOT REGISTER). I WAS EFFECTIVELY STRANDED ALONG THE PARKWAY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY CAR EXPERIENCED -- WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE -- TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE CAR ONLY SIX (6) MONTHS AGO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Jan 2021

WAS DRIVING ON SNOW WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, UPON RUNNING A CODE SCAN IT SHOWED TCM LOST COMMUNICATION. WHEN DEALER CHECKED THEY SAID THEY DETECTED A SHUTTER IN THE CVT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020
Sep 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT AND HER DAUGHTER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO ROCKING NISSAN OF STAFFORD (1 COACHMAN CIR, STAFFORD, VA 22554) AND NISSAN OF ORANGEBURG (2827 ST MATTHEWS RD, ORANGEBURG, SC 29118) ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND BOTH DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A TRANSMISSION ISSUE LINKED TO THE RPM'S. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2016
Jan 2020

TL* 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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2019
Jan 2020

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2019
Nov 2019

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2019
Oct 2019

TL* 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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2019
Sep 2019

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2019
Sep 2019

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!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2019
Jun 2019

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2018
Feb 2019

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2019
Jan 2019

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...

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2019
Nov 2018

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2018
Aug 2018

*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. 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 $1,116.00. 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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2018
Apr 2018

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 NISSAN SENTRA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Nissan Sentra has 43 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.