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2012 Nissan Frontier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Frontier, most often about the air bags (29% of complaints, typically around 46,500 miles). It is 9th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2012 Nissan Frontier problems
Air bags
23 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: passenger side frontal.
I was hit from behind while completely stopped to make a left hand turn on a city street. The car that hit me, a 2006 Nissan altima, was travelling, I believe, between 45-50 MPH. Both vehicles were totaled. The airbag in my 2012 Nissan Frontier did not deploy. I don't believe that is normal, but Nissan will not…
On the weekend september 17 2016 a red air bag light on my dashboard was and is blinking intermittent. I called three Nissan dealers and was informed that it is most likely the ocs sensor. Upon asking about the recall on Nissan ocs sensor I was told that the Frontier was not on the recall list. We feel that the ocs…
Transmission
20 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 32,000 miles.
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.
Engine
14 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 26,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate beyond 30 MPH. The vehicle then began jerkin violently and caused the contact to bounce off a side railing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who advised that the electric control module failed. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with an unknown wire needing to be replaced. The contact stated that the wire was replaced however, the failure recurred. The…
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles.
The vehicle would randomly stall while driving, particularly when slowing for a traffic signal. The engine stopping would cause all power assisted functions to cease making it difficult to steer and brake. Most recently the vehicle would start extreme hesitation while driving and I could not get up to the posted speed…
Somewhere between sept., 2014, and may 2015. My air conditioner stopped working. Warranty expired in january, 2015. Problem is a faulty A/C clutch. Unfortunately, clutch and compressor are one unit. Nissan of north america said Nissan dealer had to diagnose problem for them to make a decision, since I was out of…
Electrical
7 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 27,500 miles.
My automobile was always serviced regularly by Nissan dealers and was last serviced on 04 aug 2015 at michael jordan Nissan, durham nc. At that time it was noted that a battery terminal was corroded, which I indicated I would repair myself. On 11 aug, I inspected my battery terminal and noticed that one of the battery…
Again! While traveling apx 55 MPH, vehicle lost power, engine surging, sputtering, some warning lights on dash illuminated. Was able to restart and drive another mile or 2. No luck. Vehicle was towed 80 plus miles back to dealer. Another crank position replaced and problem was fixed for now, this is the second time in…
Body and structure
7 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
When opening the driver side door the latching mechanism broke and the door would not latch closed. This happened on the driver side rear door and it was fixed by the dealer under my warranty. Both passenger doors are having the same problem of not latching when closing the door. When I pull on the handle sometimes it…
While hosing down the truck the paint on my front fenders started to peel in large chunks on the drivers side. According to the dealership it should not be peeling.
Speed control
5 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles.
The vehicle would randomly stall while driving, particularly when slowing for a traffic signal. The engine stopping would cause all power assisted functions to cease making it difficult to steer and brake. Most recently the vehicle would start extreme hesitation while driving and I could not get up to the posted speed…
Thursday morning september 20th 2018 during rush hour, wife's 2012 Nissan Frontier sv v6 suddenly lost speed control while driving on houston beltway 8 - a multi-lane toll road where traffic is at around 70 MPH. Tapping the gas pedal was not able to change or maintain the vehicle speed. As a result, vehicle went from…
Seat belts
5 complaints · 6%On the weekend september 17 2016 a red air bag light on my dashboard was and is blinking intermittent. I called three Nissan dealers and was informed that it is most likely the ocs sensor. Upon asking about the recall on Nissan ocs sensor I was told that the Frontier was not on the recall list. We feel that the ocs…
The seatbelt has been replace two time and the airbag light is still on, now you got to replace the seat cusion this cost 1766.67, this is a safety issue. Me and my wife was in lake city s.c. On hw 52 and the air bag starting flashing for the second time.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Nissan Frontier recalls
Electrical: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on march 17, 2014. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 frontier vehicles manufactured from november 28, 2012, through december 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the a-pillar.
Suspension: hub
Risk: If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on october 22, 2012. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 frontier, pathfinder, and xterra two-wheel drive vehicles manufactured from june 19, 2012, through july 12, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that may not meet the design hardness specifications. A wheel hub that was manufactured below hardness specification may wear prematurely and eventually crack.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2012 Nissan Frontier
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Frontier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (23 complaints, typically around 46,500 miles); transmission (20 complaints, typically around 32,000 miles); engine (14 complaints, typically around 26,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 12, 2014 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Nissan Frontier?
- It is 9th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints, with 79 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.