2012 Nissan Xterra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2012 Nissan Xterra has a complaint index of 30, ranking 8th out of 11 model years, with a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 16 complaints, 2 recalls, and no crashes, fires, or injuries tied to this year.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #8 of 11 Xterra years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 16
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 16 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2012 Nissan Xterra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (38%)
- Airbags4 (25%)
- Engine4 (25%)
- Fuel System1 (6%)
- Other1 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the clutch slipping or failing prematurely, in one case at 1,782 miles and in another around 47,291 miles.
- Some describe sudden loss of acceleration power traced to clutch and flywheel replacement needs, with one failure logged at 23,633 miles.
- A broken clutch pedal stopper reportedly prevented the vehicle from starting at 1,540 miles.
- Owners describe oil leaks and one engine seizure blamed on low oil with no warning light, reported around 6,800 miles.
- Side curtain airbags reportedly deployed spontaneously at low speeds, especially on dirt roads.
- Some owners who received the 23E012000 airbag recall notice said replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period.
2012 Nissan Xterra recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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 Xterra 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 Xterra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Nissan Xterra reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Xterra has a complaint index of 30 and a Good verdict, ranking 8th best out of 11 model years for this model.
- What problems does the 2012 Nissan Xterra have?
- NHTSA complaints for this year are led by transmission and powertrain issues (38% of complaints, median mileage at failure 12,707.5), followed by airbag issues (25%) and engine issues (25%, median mileage 1,540).
- Does the 2012 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Xterra: one for front wheel hub assemblies and one for engine connector bolts. Neither is marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2012 Xterra compare to other years?
- The 2012 model's complaint index of 30 is far lower than the worst years, 2006 (100) and 2005 (90), both rated Avoid, but higher than the top years, 2014 and 2015, which score 0 and 10 and are rated Best.
- What is the top complaint area for the 2012 Xterra?
- Transmission and powertrain problems make up 38% of complaints, mostly clutch-related failures, with a median mileage at failure of 12,707.5.