YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Armada Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

27/100

#12 most-complained of 16 Armada years

The 2012 Nissan Armada has a complaint index of 27, ranking 12th of 16 model years, and NHTSA labels it a "Good" year relative to other Armadas. It logged 17 complaints, 1 recall, 1 fire, and 1 injury, with Brakes as the top problem area.

Complaints
17
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14.5
12.5 city / 18.5 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan Armada problems

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

  1. Brakes4 (24%)
  2. Fuel System4 (24%)
  3. Structure & Body4 (24%)
  4. Electrical System3 (18%)
  5. Other3 (18%)
  6. Airbags2 (12%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal going soft or sinking to the floor before the vehicle slows, sometimes with the brake and VDC lights on.
  • Some describe the parking brake failing to hold the vehicle, letting it roll away after being parked.
  • Owners report a fire starting near the steering column, console, and accelerator pedal while the vehicle was parked.
  • Some describe the engine shuddering and stalling around 45-50 mph on the highway, making steering difficult.
  • Owners report the rear liftgate housing cracking, affecting the latch and rear window operation.
  • Some describe window motors failing repeatedly, either while parked or while driving.
2012 Nissan Armada complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2013Oct 2014May 2015Nov 2017Apr 2018Jun 2020Apr 2023Apr 2025
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2013 to Jun 2025; peak Aug 2014 (3).

2012 Nissan Armada recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 12V143000Apr 4, 2012Other26,626 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 titan and armada vehicles, manufactured from august 12, 2011, through march 13, 2012. The part 567 certification labels on the vehicles do not contain rim size information. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, â“tire selection and rims.â”

    Risk: The omission of the rim size may lead to an incorrect tire/wheel combination which may increase the likelihood of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will supply owners with a new label and instructions on how install the label or the owner will have the option of taking their vehicle to a nissan dealer to have the new label installed free of charge. The safety recall began on may 28, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-615-725-1000.

2012 Nissan Armada fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12.5 MPG
Highway
18.5 MPG
Combined
14.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,475
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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 Armada years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution6748414
2011Caution6040114.5
2012Good2717114.5
2013Good3317214.5
2014Best712114.5

All Nissan Armada years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Armada reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2012 Armada a complaint index of 27, the 12th-worst of 16 model years, and rates it "Good" compared to other Armada years.
What problems does the 2012 Nissan Armada have?
NHTSA lists 17 complaints for the 2012 Armada, with Brakes, Fuel System, and Structure & Body each accounting for 24% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 18%.
Does the 2012 Nissan Armada have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Armada, covering a certification label on the vehicle that lacked rim size information. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
What mileage do problems tend to show up at on the 2012 Armada?
The median mileage at failure across reported complaints is 48,500 miles, though brake issues showed a median of 68,000 miles and airbag issues 102,016 miles.
How does the 2012 Armada compare to other Armada years?
The 2012 Armada's complaint index of 27 is lower than 2010 (67), 2011 (60), and much lower than 2017-2019, which are rated "Avoid" with indexes of 93, 80, and 87.

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.