2012 Nissan Frontier recalls and problems

The 2012 Nissan Frontier has 3 recalls and 80 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

How the 2012 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 27 Frontier model years — 9th most.

3recalls

80complaints

4crashes

0fires

8injuries

43,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Electrical System

Feb 12, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V052000 · 13,535 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Suspension

Sep 20, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V462000 · 2,417 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Dec 19, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V592000 · 14,718 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Air Bags23

Power Train20

Engine14

Unknown or other9

Electrical System7

Structure7

Seat Belts5

Vehicle Speed Control5

Suspension3

Seats2

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2012 vs. other Nissan Frontier years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2012. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2012 Nissan Frontier, the latest from Feb 12, 2014 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Frontier?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (23), power train (20), engine (14). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.