2012 Nissan Sentra: complete transmission failure

Filed May 31, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · UT

Our nissan Sentra with 106K miles the car lost nearly all power as my son was turning onto the freeway. He could only drive 16 miles an hour and it was hopping and jumping through a 8 lane freeway/highway intersection while he tried to get into a parking lot off the road. He turned it off, waited 5 minutes, and turned it back on, but it was still slowly hopping and jumping. After another 10 minutes my husband drove it for about 10 minutes and it operated normally. This same behavior happened in 2019 with 82k miles at a large intersection. It suddenly lost power and slowly hopped through the intersection. At 60k the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel quit working. When we asked the Nissan Dealership about it, we were told that was typical and it would slowly lose all the functionality of the steering wheel controls. All the functionality was gone by 70k miles. We have learned that Nissan's transmissions are very problematic and these situations are typical as you get closer to 120k miles. We planned to have this car for several more years. If we sell it and buy a different car we are out several thousand dollars or if we keep it we will likely have to pay for a new transmission also several thousand dollars.

Filed Jul 26, 2022 · TX

Transmission died. For a few weeks, the transmission will randomly have a high whine at about 55mph, sometimes hard shifting or high revving when I feel it should have shifted. A mechanic told me the CVT transmission wasn't good and would eventually need replacement. As I made a left turn, the car started jerking and lunging. The vehicle behind had to stop fast to avoid hitting me. I was almost stranded in the intersection, but was able to limp the car out of traffic. No warning lights. I had the car towed home. I am trying to sell it as is.

Filed Nov 15, 2021 · Transmission · 144,000 miles · IN

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.

Filed Jul 28, 2021 · Transmission · NJ

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.

Filed Jul 27, 2021 · Transmission · GA

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.

Filed Jul 19, 2021 · Transmission · KS

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.

Filed Apr 2, 2021 · Transmission · NY

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.

Filed Jan 14, 2020 · Transmission · 118,000 miles · GA

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.

Filed Jul 29, 2019 · Acceleration · 55 miles · AZ

On my way home visiting my son, I was on the freeway driving 75 MPH, when I began to experience acceleration loss in my 2012 nissan sentra sl. My CVT transmission was overworking and you can clearly hear the transmission trying to change gears, my car dropped from 75 MPH to under 50 MPH on a busy freeway, the RPM's were running high while the car had zero power, my foot was completely pressed down to assist the car to accelerate and it would not. I managed to move my car over to the far right lane to try and recover my vehicles speed. This is an absolute hazard to those experiencing this same problem, it's a safety hazard for anyone traveling long distances, on a busy highway during, with children in your vehicle when your car drops to limp mode out of nowhere. My brother in law who just retired from the marine corp after 20 years of service took the vehicle to be serviced due to the recall on this model for the transmission failure just a year ago and is still showing signs of the same CVT transmission failure even after it was taken to nissan for repairs.

Filed Apr 2, 2019 · Engine · KS

I have a 2012 sentra that I bought in 2014. I started to experience random loss of power on highway, and RPM would up at random times, like it was stuck in gear. Last yr I discovered that my CVT transmission was going bad and already had to replace the transmission (bought used). Less than a yeat later, im starting to experience the same problem. Nissan needs to extend the warranty thru the 2012 mdels, on any CVT transmission to 10 yrs. Very aggrivating considering I'm still making payments! I would never recommend this vehicle to anyone.

Filed Apr 30, 2018 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · NC

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.

Filed Dec 8, 2017 · Transmission · 78,000 miles · MD

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.