YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Cube Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#4 most-complained of 5 Cube years

The 2012 Nissan Cube has 19 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 25, and zero recalls, ranking 4th of 5 model years with a "Good" verdict relative to other Cube years. Transmission & Powertrain issues lead at 32% of complaints.

Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27.5
25.5 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan Cube problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain6 (32%)
  2. Electrical System3 (16%)
  3. Engine3 (16%)
  4. Fuel System3 (16%)
  5. Other3 (16%)
  6. Airbags2 (11%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power and acceleration at highway speed, with speed dropping sharply without dashboard warning.
  • Some describe the CVT transmission entering a limp-home mode after pulling away from a stop, leaving the car unable to accelerate.
  • A few complaints mention RPM surging in 500-rpm jumps at highway speed after the engine warms up.
  • One owner reported the horn could not be heard in an emergency despite the dealer finding it "normal."
  • Another described the front passenger airbag warning light illuminating even when the seat was occupied and belted.
  • A driver's seat belt latch reportedly kept releasing while driving, requiring repeated re-latching.
2012 Nissan Cube complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2013Feb 2015Oct 2017Jun 2018Apr 2019Jul 2020Mar 2026
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2013 to Mar 2026; peak Jun 2018 (3).

2012 Nissan Cube recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Nissan Cube fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,350
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 Cube years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10056228
2011Avoid7531027.5
2012Good2519027.5
2013No verdict03127.5
2014Caution507127.5

All Nissan Cube years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Cube reliable?
NHTSA lists 19 complaints for the 2012 Cube with a Complaint Index of 25 and no recalls, giving it a "Good" verdict compared to other Cube model years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Nissan Cube?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 32% of all reports, the largest share, with a median failure mileage of 81,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Nissan Cube have any recalls?
No. NHTSA data shows zero recalls for the 2012 Cube, unlike the 2010, 2013, and 2014 model years which each have at least one.
How does the 2012 Cube compare to other Cube years?
It ranks 4th worst out of 5 model years, well below the 2010 (Complaint Index 100) and 2011 (75), which are rated "Avoid."
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan Cube?
EPA rates it at 27.5 mpg combined (25.5 city / 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,350.

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.