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2012 Nissan FrontierProblems: Top Complaints, Recalls & Failures (NHTSA)

Every owner complaint and safety recall the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has on file for the 2012 Nissan Frontier, ranked by the component that failed most.

Complaints on file

78

Recalls issued

3

Crashes reported

4

Fires reported

0

What breaks most

  • Air Bags23 complaints · 29.5%
  • Power Train20 complaints · 25.6%
  • Engine12 complaints · 15.4%
  • Structure7 complaints · 9%
  • Electrical System6 complaints · 7.7%

Recalls on this model year

  • 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 circ

    Campaign 14V052000 · reported 12/02/2014 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • 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

    Campaign 11V592000 · reported 19/12/2011 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

  • 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 manuf

    Campaign 12V462000 · reported 20/09/2012 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer

What owners report

Air Bags

  • We were told about the recall, never got a recall letter in the mail. When we went to Nissan, they said they couldn’t help us if only we had the recall letter.
  • Took vehicle to dealership for recall. Air bag light on dashboard was flashing. Dealer said air bag was ok and they did not go any further to find the problem. The light is still flashing, so I do
  • The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated

Power Train

  • TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS SON WHO OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESUMED N
  • BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY REAR AXLE HOUSING BREATHER VALVE. GEAR OIL BEGAN LEAKING ON TO REAR BRAKE PADS CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, SEALS AND BEARINGS COULD NOT BE REPLACED IND
  • THE 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER HAS A RUBBER GROMMET ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH TRIGGERS SAFTEY SWITCH. THE GROMMET GOES BAD AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. CANNOT BE JUMPED. MUST BE TOWD OR FIXED ON THE SPOT

Engine

  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART A
  • THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY WHEN SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE ENGINE STOPPING WOULD CAUSE ALL POWER ASSISTED FUNCTIONS TO CEASE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND B

Structure

  • I was sold the 2012 Nissan Frontier SL from Lynne's Nissan City in Bloomfield, NJ being told it was a safe vehicle and passed their inspection. After bringing it to my mechanic I was informed the fram
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FLOORBOARD UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUSED BY EXTREME CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED N
  • WHILE HOSING DOWN THE TRUCK THE PAINT ON MY FRONT FENDERS STARTED TO PEEL IN LARGE CHUNKS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT SHOULD NOT BE PEELING.

Electrical System

  • CD player will not play any CD's and my CD's are stuck inside. The radio only works intermittently and you can hear a sound like there is an electrical connection problem somewhere. This problem s
  • The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the steering was difficult to turn. The contact stated t
  • SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH ON FLAT ROAD. ALMOST KNOCKED ME OUT AND LEFT ME CONFUSED FOR AWHILE, AND CAUSED MY EARS TO RING ALL DAY. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA SENT

Excerpts are anonymized owner complaints as filed with NHTSA, trimmed to 200 characters.

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