2012 NISSAN FRONTIER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
98
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER
The 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER has received a total of 98 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by Nissan North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (22 complaints), Power Train (20 complaints), and Engine (12 complaints).
Recalls for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, potentially affecting up to 30,670 vehicles.
Recall 14V052000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
| 13,535 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the A-pillar.
Consequence: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
View full details →Recall 12V462000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
| 2,417 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 11V592000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
| 14,718 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER
98 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 22 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Power Train | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bagspassenger Side Frontalcushion | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginecrankcamshaft Position Sensor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkages | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblyhead Restraint | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodydoor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodytailgate | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structureframe And Members | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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 frame was so rusted it was unsafe to drive. They are now trying to resell the vehicle not disclosing that information.
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 started about 2 months ago. I am presently in Florida and have a long drive home back to Pennsylvania. My cellphone # is [XXX] and my email is [XXX] . My home address is as follows: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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 that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The contact shifted into park(P); however, several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and had the cam shaft sensor replaced again. Additionally, the contact stated that the ignition key was no longer working and turning the ignition switch. The contact then drove the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle failure had reoccurred, and the vehicle was not taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
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 that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The contact shifted into park(P); however, several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and had the cam shaft sensor replaced again. Additionally, the contact stated that the ignition key was no longer working and turning the ignition switch. The contact then drove the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle failure had reoccurred, and the vehicle was not taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
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.
Safety Rating for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER
Nissan North America, Inc. has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
NTB23-081C — AIR BAGS
VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005-2013 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA; DRIVER AIR BAG COVER CAMPAIGN ID #: PC945 and PC948 APPLIED VEHICLES: 2005-2013 Frontier (D40) 2005-2012 Pathfinder (R51) 2005-2013 Xterra (N50) Check Service COMM or Dealer Business Systems (DBS) National Service History to confirm campaign eligibility. INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this...
NTB20-026 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005-2019 FRONTIER; HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP SERVICE PART SERVICE INFORMATION The mounting stud diameter for the high-mounted stop lamp service part has changed from 5 mm to a 6 mm. If for any reason the high-mounted stop lamp needs to be replaced, the mounting hole will need to be enlarged to...
NTB14033B — EQUIPMENT
SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement 5-speed rear wheel drive Automatic Transmission (A/T) assemblies and replacement control valves (valve bodies) now come with blank Transmission Control Modules (TCMs). Blank TCMs come without software and must be programmed (not reprogrammed) and then configured after they are installed. When ordering a replacement A/T or control...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the NISSAN FRONTIER
- 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER — 699 complaints
- 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER — 187 complaints
- 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER — 44 complaints
- 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER — 76 complaints
- 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER — 84 complaints
- 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER (current)
- 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER — 64 complaints
- 2014 NISSAN FRONTIER — 49 complaints
- 2015 NISSAN FRONTIER — 48 complaints
- 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER — 55 complaints
- 2017 NISSAN FRONTIER — 44 complaints
Other NISSAN Models
- NISSAN ALTIMA — 20,037 total complaints
- NISSAN PATHFINDER — 10,111 total complaints
- NISSAN ROGUE — 9,608 total complaints
- NISSAN MAXIMA — 8,834 total complaints
- NISSAN SENTRA — 8,129 total complaints
- NISSAN MURANO — 7,410 total complaints
- NISSAN VERSA — 4,436 total complaints
- NISSAN TITAN — 4,412 total complaints