2012 Nissan Sentra: Transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 Sentra report: transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 21 owner complaints, average mileage 94,550 miles.
NHTSA has 68 owner complaints for the 2012 Sentra in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11591810 (filed 05/31/2024): “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 o…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11580187 (filed 03/29/2024): “Leaking transmission oil. also burning engine oil a week after doing an oil change to the point there is no oil but no leaks.…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace transmission (10 reports) buy new transmission (2 reports) new transmission (2 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,370 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: transmission replacement (automatic or CVT, remanufactured unit)
Average shop cost
$835
Range $400–$1,390 (labor)
4.0–10.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$1,255
Range $600–$2,085 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2013 Chevrolet Cruze: Transmission went out · 2015 Dodge Durango: Transmission failure · 2015 Jeep Cherokee: Transmission failure check engine light on · 2015 Nissan Murano: Transmission failure · 2016 Subaru Forester: Transmission failure · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Check engine light came on transmission failure
Page last updated .