YearToAvoid

2012 Infiniti M37 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

50/100

#2 most-complained of 3 M37 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Infiniti M37 has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 2nd worst out of 3 model years tracked, behind the 2011 (index 100). Steering complaints dominate, at 35% of the 31 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 65,534.

Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy

Top 2012 Infiniti M37 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering11 (35%)
  2. Airbags8 (26%)
  3. Engine7 (23%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain6 (19%)
  5. Brakes4 (13%)
  6. Electrical System4 (13%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (10%)
  8. Fuel System1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel column pops apart or becomes loose when the tilt or telescopic adjustment is used, sometimes locking the wheel so it cannot be turned.
  • Some drivers report the steering becomes impossible to turn left or right while tilting the wheel downward, even at low speed.
  • Transmission shifts erratically, bangs into gear, or drops multiple gears at once, causing sudden high engine revs and violent shaking.
  • Brakes reportedly fail to stop the car quickly from highway speed, with owners describing near-misses during hard braking.
  • One owner reported the car would not start repeatedly despite replacing the battery twice, with no cause found by the dealer.
  • A fuel system failure led to visible smoke and flames shooting from underneath the front of the vehicle while driving at highway speed.
2012 Infiniti M37 complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2012Jan 2016Sep 2016Mar 2018Feb 2019Nov 2020Aug 2022Aug 2026
44 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2012 to Aug 2026; peak Nov 2012 (3).

2012 Infiniti M37 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Infiniti M37 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other M37 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011No verdict10031021
2012No verdict5031021
2013No verdict016021

All Infiniti M37 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Infiniti M37 reliable?
NHTSA data shows 31 complaints for the 2012 M37, with a Complaint Index of 50, making it the second-worst of the three M37 model years tracked. Steering issues account for 35% of all complaints.
What is the top problem with the 2012 Infiniti M37?
Steering is the top problem area, with 11 complaints, 35% of the total, and a median failure mileage of 65,534.
Does the 2012 Infiniti M37 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2012 Infiniti M37.
How does the 2012 M37 compare to other years?
The 2012 M37 has a Complaint Index of 50, better than the 2011 model's index of 100 but worse than the 2013 model's index of 0.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Infiniti M37?
The 2012 M37 gets 21 mpg combined (18 city / 26 highway) and costs an estimated $3,800 per year in fuel.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.