YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Xterra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

30/100

#8 most-complained of 11 Xterra years

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

The 2012 Nissan Xterra has 16 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 30 out of 100 — #8 highest of 11 Xterra model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (6 complaints, 38% of the total).

Complaints
16
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
16 city / 20 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan Xterra problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain6 (38%)
  2. Airbags4 (25%)
  3. Engine4 (25%)
  4. Fuel System1 (6%)
  5. Other1 (6%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
2012 Nissan Xterra complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2013Jun 2013Mar 2015Jul 2017May 2023Sep 2023Jun 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2013 to Jun 2026; peak Jan 2024 (3).

2012 Nissan Xterra 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 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution6038417
2011Good4024217
2012Good3016217
2013No verdict204017
2014Best010017

All Nissan Xterra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Xterra a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Nissan Xterra ranks #8 of 11 among Xterra model years (Complaint Index 30/100, verdict: Good). It has 16 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Xterra?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (6 complaints), airbags (4 complaints), and engine (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 4,291 miles.
Does the 2012 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Nissan Xterra, most recently reported 2012, covering suspension, wheels & tires and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan Xterra?
EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Xterra at 17 MPG combined (16 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. 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.