YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Pathfinder Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#15 most-complained of 15 Pathfinder years

The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder ranks best among 15 model years, with a complaint index of 0, 23 complaints, and 2 recalls. Engine issues lead reported problems at 26% of complaints, with median failure mileage of 82,000.

Complaints
23
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 20 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan Pathfinder problems

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

  1. Engine6 (26%)
  2. Other5 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (22%)
  4. Airbags4 (17%)
  5. Brakes3 (13%)
  6. Electrical System3 (13%)
  7. Steering2 (9%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (9%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain2 (9%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Engine suddenly seizes while driving, sometimes at highway speeds between 55 and 65 mph, with power loss down to about 10 mph.
  • Airbags failed to deploy during a crash at 75 mph after hitting a deer.
  • A recall repair for an airbag clip was reportedly done incorrectly, leaving the airbag warning light flashing.
  • Parking brake reportedly fails to hold the vehicle on an incline when the transmission is in neutral.
  • Subframe found severely corroded and fractured at 133,000 miles, discovered while the vehicle was parked.
  • Steering pulled to the right and front tires wore excessively at 37,535 miles, with the dealer blaming a curb strike that the owner denied.
2012 Nissan Pathfinder complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2013Nov 2015May 2018Apr 2019Jun 2021Mar 2023Apr 2024
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to Nov 2025; peak Jun 2021 (3).

2012 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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 Pathfinder fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,000
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 Pathfinder years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best1440416.5
2011Best745216
2012Best023216
2013Avoid1008901121.5
2014Avoid935741124

All Nissan Pathfinder years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Among 15 model years of the Pathfinder, 2012 ranks best, with a complaint index of 0 and only 23 total complaints logged with NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder?
Engine problems make up 26% of complaints, followed by suspension, wheels and tires at 22% and airbag issues at 17%. Median mileage at engine failure was 82,000.
Does the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2012 Pathfinder: one for front wheel hub assemblies (campaign 12V462000) and one for engine connector bolts (campaign 11V592000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2012 Pathfinder compare to other years?
The 2012 model has a complaint index of 0, far below years like 2013 (100) and 2014 (93), which are rated Avoid. It compares closely to 2010 and 2011, which are also rated Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder?
EPA rates the 2012 Pathfinder at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 20 highway, with an annual fuel cost of $5,000.

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.