2012 Sentra Front Thumping Noise?

Tiny
DRTUCK318
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 114,655 MILES
Yesterday, I was backing my daughter's Sentra into my driveway when I heard what initially sounded like a clicking noise. Thinking that it might be a CV axle issue, I drove down into my neighborhood cul-de-sac and did several turns with the steering wheel turned all the way to the left and right.I did not hear the clicking sound. As I backed the car into the driveway, I heard a loud thumping sound. When I paused, the noise went away and when I shifted into other gears (including neutral and park), there was no noise. When I continued backing, the noise returned. It was so loud inside the vehicle, I was able to record it with my cellphone, which I have included.

The noise sounded like it was coming from the left front of the vehicle.

Thank you.
Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 AT 12:54 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Good call with the video but I don't see it here can you reload it, it takes some time. It can be have an engine toque mount that needs to be replaced. When this mount goes out the engine can move excessively which will make the noise. If you lift the hood and watch the engine as you have a helper get in the car with there foot on the brake and then shift the car from drive to park you should be able to see the engine move, (it should only be a little bit) is you get big swings back and fourth the toque mount is bad.
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Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 AT 10:12 AM
Tiny
DRTUCK318
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  • 10 POSTS
Thank you for your response. I tried to upload the video yesterday, however, it did not work. I entered my question a second time and it seemed the video loaded. However, I am not certain that you saw the latter question.
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Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 AT 10:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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No sorry, I didn't see the other question with the video. So this noise you are hearing are you driving or is the engine just running in park that you hear the noise from? If that is the noise in the video it is not the engine mounts, also can you tell where it is coming from?
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Thursday, December 11th, 2025 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
DRTUCK318
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Good evening. I only heard it when I was backing. It sounded like it was coming from the left front of the vehicle.

After I sent the above paragraph, I went out, drove the car around, and then backed into the driveway at a faster speed. The attached recording is the sound I heard.
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Thursday, December 11th, 2025 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Nice! That video helps a lot, it sounds like the CV axle has gone out, the front brake caliper is loose or the wheel itself is loose. I would raise the car in the front and remove the left front wheel to inspect for the problem. This video can help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLFn_bMkZc0

If everything look okay, I would replace the CV axle, (these can go bad even though they are not leaking). Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Friday, December 12th, 2025 AT 8:26 AM

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