YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Quest Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

91/100

#2 most-complained of 12 Quest years

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

The 2012 Nissan Quest has 93 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 91 out of 100 — #2 highest of 12 Quest model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (28 complaints, 30% of the total). Complaints report 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 injuries.

Complaints
93
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 24 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan Quest problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain28 (30%)
  2. Engine22 (24%)
  3. Fuel System20 (22%)
  4. Electrical System18 (19%)
  5. Other12 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body10 (11%)
  7. Brakes6 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (5%)
  9. Airbags4 (4%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (1%)
2012 Nissan Quest complaints: complaints filed per quarter102012 Q12013 Q32015 Q32017 Q22019 Q12021 Q12023 Q2
130 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q1 to 2025 Q4; peak 2021 Q3 (10).

2012 Nissan Quest recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 12V076000Feb 29, 2012Electrical System23,531 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 nissan quest vehicles, manufactured from july 29, 2010, through february 21, 2012. Due to software programming, while driving at slow speeds or idling on a decline with â¼ tank fuel or less, there may be an insufficient supply of fuel to the engine. As a result, the engine may stall.

    Risk: Vehicle stalling could increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 2, 2012. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

2012 Nissan Quest fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
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 Quest years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Good4522219
2011Caution7366121
2012Avoid9193121
2013Best1818021
2014Good3618021

All Nissan Quest years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Quest a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Nissan Quest ranks #2 of 12 among Quest model years (Complaint Index 91/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 93 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Quest?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (28 complaints), engine (22 complaints), and fuel system (20 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Nissan Quest have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Nissan Quest, most recently reported 2012, covering electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan Quest?
EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Quest at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.