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2012 Nissan Sentra Nismo
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
180 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (38% of complaints, typically reported near 78k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#27 of 408Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Nissan Sentra Nismo ranks #27, scoring higher than 92% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2012 Nissan Sentra 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 12%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Nissan Sentra Nismo, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (20) · Body & structure (17)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
38%68 complaints · typically near 78k mi
“Leaking transmission oil. Also burning engine oil a week after doing an oil change to the point there is no oil but no leaks.”
Engine
22%39 complaints · typically near 60k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“Leaking transmission oil. Also burning engine oil a week after doing an oil change to the point there is no oil but no leaks.”
Speed control
12%22 complaints · typically near 100k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“car stalled no power in gas pedal traveling across for lane traffic just lost power to the gas pedal. was able to pull over and tuned off car after a few minutes of si…”
Airbags
11%20 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE HORN DON'T WORK”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 180 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 15 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Nissan before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 78k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 60k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Nissan SENTRA NISMO beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Sentra Nismo model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Nissan Sentra Nismo against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.