2012 Nissan Frontier Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Nissan Frontier has a Complaint Index of 70, ranking 7th worst out of 21 model years, and earns a Caution verdict. Airbags, transmission, and engine issues account for most of its 78 complaints, and it carries 3 recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 70/100
- #7 of 21 Frontier years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 78
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 16 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2012 Nissan Frontier problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags23 (29%)
- Transmission & Powertrain20 (26%)
- Engine16 (21%)
- Other9 (12%)
- Structure & Body9 (12%)
- Electrical System6 (8%)
- Seat Belts5 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (5%)
- Fuel System1 (1%)
- Steering1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the vehicle refusing to accelerate past 30 mph before jerking violently, traced to a failed electric control module.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a rear-end collision, then a related recall notice arrived shortly after.
- Owners describe side airbags deploying unexpectedly while driving over bumpy off-road terrain with no crash involved.
- Some report sudden jerking and loud noise from the drivetrain caused by bolts detaching between the front drive and transfer box.
- Instrument panel flickering has been reported, with the display losing accurate readings for speed, turn signals, and warning alerts.
- Engine surging, sputtering, and loss of power at highway speed has been reported, in one case requiring a repeat crank position sensor replacement.
2012 Nissan Frontier recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 14V052000Feb 12, 2014Electrical System13,535 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
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: 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.
- NHTSA 12V462000Sep 20, 2012Suspension, Wheels & Tires2,417 vehicles
Suspension:front:hub
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: 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.
- NHTSA 11V592000Dec 19, 2011Engine14,718 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Remedy: 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.
2012 Nissan Frontier fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 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 Frontier years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Nissan Frontier reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2012 Frontier a Complaint Index of 70, the 7th worst among 21 model years, resulting in a Caution verdict relative to other Frontier years.
- What are the most common problems on the 2012 Nissan Frontier?
- Airbags account for 29% of complaints, transmission and powertrain issues 26%, and engine problems 21%, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Frontier, covering the electrical circuit breaker orientation, front wheel hub assemblies, and engine connector bolts.
- At what mileage do 2012 Frontier problems typically show up?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 43,000, with airbag issues reported around 46,250 miles and transmission issues around 32,215 miles.
- Is the 2012 Frontier better or worse than other Frontier years?
- It ranks 7th worst of 21 years with a Complaint Index of 70, worse than years like 2015, 2018, and 2021, which earn Best verdicts with indexes of 20, 0, and 10.