2012 Nissan Sentra Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 68about this part
- Share
- 38%of 180 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 71,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 68 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Nissan Sentra, 38% of the 180 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 71,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11299374, filed 2020-01, 118,000 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.”
NHTSA complaint #11139894, filed 2018-10, 71,000 miles“I was driving through town and was at a stop light when my car would not accelerate at all. No warning signs. No check engine light. It just wouldn't go. Took my car to the Nissan dealer and was advised the transmission has to be replaced. Nissan refuses to assist with any of the cost. It's an automatic CVT transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10790142, filed 2015-11, 87,000 miles“I bought a 2012 Nissan Sentra I kept up with all the work for the car so to be sure nothing would go wrong. About a year the car started making noise. I told the service dept. But they did nothing on 07-10-2012 the service dept told me I needed a new transmission the car is only two years old. The car began to run really bad. I had to get another car for fear that this might blow up.”
NHTSA complaint #10610015, filed 2014-07, 80,000 miles“Summer 2013 ,while driving on the freeway at 60 MPH, some tire debris off an 18 wheeler truck tire was on my lane,, to avoid hitting it and or the vehicles next to me I looked into my rear view mirror to check for cars behind me and made a sudden slow down, but not a complete stop,,I pressed the gas pedal to go around the debris and the engine revved up, but the car did not move. …”
NHTSA complaint #10541758, filed 2013-09, 6,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10233904Mar 29, 2023CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10222714Sep 27, 2022CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10199148Jun 9, 2021CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10116292Jun 20, 2017CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES section has been revised. No other changes have been…
- 10091575Sep 9, 2016"altima, sentra, and rogue; cvt fail-safe condition service information this bulletin has been amended. The applied vehicles section has been revised. No other changes have been…
- 10192628Aug 20, 2015Nissan is conducting this voluntary service campaign to reprogram the Transmission Control Module (TCM) for the CVT transmission on certain specific 2013 ? 2014 Sentra, 2012 ?…
- 10192627Aug 14, 2015Nissan is conducting this voluntary service campaign to reprogram the Transmission Control Module (TCM) for the CVT transmission on certain specific 2013 ? 2014 Sentra, 2012 ?…
- 10192615Aug 6, 2015SERVICE INFORMATION The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks. All fluid leaks, when properly diagnosed, should be…
- 10192605Jul 10, 2015IF YOU CONFIRM: Customers concern of a "clicking" noise coming from either left or right front/rear CV-type axles during take-off/acceleration. ACTION: Apply Molykote M77 grease…
- 10192474Nov 20, 2014SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 13% |
| 2024 | 9 | 22% |
| 2023 | 2 | 10% |
| 2022 | 6 | 7% |
| 2021 | 4 | 3% |
| 2020 | 10 | 5% |
| 2019 | 54 | 24% |
| 2018 | 46 | 25% |
| 2017 | 76 | 33% |
| 2016 | 127 | 47% |
| 2015 | 173 | 49% |
| 2014 | 182 | 48% |
| 2013 | 311 | 49% |
| 2012 | 68 | 38% |
| 2011 | 18 | 13% |
| 2010 | 18 | 13% |
| 2009 | 3 | 5% |
| 2008 | 20 | 12% |
| 2007 | 17 | 11% |
| 2006 | 8 | 7% |
| 2005 | 10 | 6% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% |
| 2002 | 20 | 7% |
| 2001 | 9 | 4% |
| 2000 | 8 | 5% |
| 1999 | 4 | 7% |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% |
| 1996 | 11 | 8% |
| 1995 | 4 | 3% |
| 1994 | 5 | 5% |
| 1993 | 12 | 21% |
| 1992 | 11 | 18% |
| 1991 | 8 | 13% |
| 1990 | 3 | 8% |
| 1988 | 2 | 5% |
| 1987 | 6 | 17% |
| 1986 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2012 Nissan Sentra
39 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsAir bags
20 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Nissan Sentra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology