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2012 Nissan Frontier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Frontier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 64.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

65 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

78 reports
43,000 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemInjury

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 SOME SORT OF REP TO LOCAL DEALER TO DOWNLOAD DATA FROM THE TRUCK TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT "THE CONDITIO…

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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 SOME SORT OF REP TO LOCAL DEALER TO DOWNLOAD DATA FROM THE TRUCK TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT "THE CONDITIONS WERE NOT MET" FOR AIRBAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED. THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND RETURNED IT TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION AT NO COST TO MYSELF. OTHER THAN THAT THEY DECLINED MULTIPLE TIMES TO HELP ME IN ANYWAY TO GET INTO ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE, I WAS WILLING TO STAY WITH NISSAN IF THEY WOULD HAVE WORKED WITH ME AND BOUGHT IT BACK AND/OR GOT ME INTO A NEWER FRONTIER. I WAS WILLING TO DO THIS BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE 2011 AND 2012 MODEL FRONTIERS ARE THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS DEFECT, AS A RESULT OF THEIR ROLLOVER ANTICIPATION SOFTWARE WHICH FIRES THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WHEN IT "THINKS" THAT A ROLLOVER IS EMINENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR FRONTIER WITH ONE INCIDENT RESULTING IN PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WERE IN THE FRONTIER. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA FOR THIS ISSUE THAT WAS STARTED BY ONE OF THE VICTIMS TO THIS NEGLIGENCE. APPARENTLY NISSAN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL. THEY ALSO APPARENTLY REFUSED TO REPAIR SOME OF THE AIRBAGS IN SOME OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE LAWSUIT. NOT HAPPY WITH NISSAN ALLOWING THIS VEHICLE TO STAY ON THE ROAD SINCE IT ALLOWS FOR A DANGEROUS POSSIBILITY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A BUSY ROAD WITH OTHERS AROUND, AND FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE FRONTIER MENTIONED. NOT HAPPY AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GET LEGAL COUNSEL TO HELP ME. *DSY - SEE 10896442.

NHTSA ODI #10898639

43,000 miles · Aug 16, 2016
Air BagsInjury

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WRONGFULLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH, WITH NO CRASH, AND ON A FLAT ROAD. CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. THIS TRUCK HAS FAULTY PROGRAMMING THAT CONTROLS THESE AIRBAGS. THEY STATE THAT, INSTEAD OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING IN A CRASH, THEY A…

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SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WRONGFULLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH, WITH NO CRASH, AND ON A FLAT ROAD. CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. THIS TRUCK HAS FAULTY PROGRAMMING THAT CONTROLS THESE AIRBAGS. THEY STATE THAT, INSTEAD OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING IN A CRASH, THEY ARE PROGRAMMED TO "ANTICIPATE" A CRASH AND THEN DEPLOY. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA SENT AN ENGINEER TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DOWNLOAD DATA FROM THE TRUCK TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, AND I ONLY RECEIVED LIMITED DATA UPON MY REQUEST. THEY SENT ME A FEW PAGES OF "HIGH FREQUENCY DATA" CHARTED IN COLUMNS WITH THE FIRST PAGE CONTAINING "FRONTAL DELTA-V" AND "LATERAL DELTA-V", THE SECOND PAGE WITH "FRONTAL G" AND "LATERAL G", AND THE THIRD PAGE WITH "VEHICLE SPEED" AND "ENGINE REVOLUTION". *DSY - SEE 10898639.

NHTSA ODI #10896442

50,000 miles · Apr 27, 2016
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY FLASHES WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE INDICATING AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED SEAT BELT TENSION WHICH TEMPORARILY ( 2 WEEKS) FIXED ISSUE. DEALERSHIP NOW RECOMMENDS A NEW PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION TO REMEDY PROBLEM AT OWNER EXPENSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL ISSUE. …

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PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY FLASHES WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE INDICATING AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED SEAT BELT TENSION WHICH TEMPORARILY ( 2 WEEKS) FIXED ISSUE. DEALERSHIP NOW RECOMMENDS A NEW PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION TO REMEDY PROBLEM AT OWNER EXPENSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL ISSUE. IN REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM, NISSAN AND/OR SUB~CONTRACTORS PROVIDING SEAT CUSHIONS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL SERVICE AND PARTS AND ANY ACCIDENTS AND/OR INJURIES INCURRED WHEN AIR BAG IS NOT DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #10861860

15,000 miles · Dec 29, 2015
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

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. THESE GROMMETTS GO BAD IN 15,000 MILES AND IT COST 15.00 FOR A NEW ONE. YOU CANNOT MAINTAIN A PIECE OF RUBBER ON TE CLUTCH. REDI…

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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. THESE GROMMETTS GO BAD IN 15,000 MILES AND IT COST 15.00 FOR A NEW ONE. YOU CANNOT MAINTAIN A PIECE OF RUBBER ON TE CLUTCH. REDICULOUS

NHTSA ODI #10816669

27,600 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Electrical System

MY AUTOMOBILE WAS ALWAYS SERVICED REGULARLY BY NISSAN DEALERS AND WAS LAST SERVICED ON 04 AUG 2015 AT MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN, DURHAM NC. AT THAT TIME IT WAS NOTED THAT A BATTERY TERMINAL WAS CORRODED, WHICH I INDICATED I WOULD REPAIR MYSELF. ON 11 AUG, I INSPECTED MY BATTERY TERMINAL AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE BATTERY CELL CAP…

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MY AUTOMOBILE WAS ALWAYS SERVICED REGULARLY BY NISSAN DEALERS AND WAS LAST SERVICED ON 04 AUG 2015 AT MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN, DURHAM NC. AT THAT TIME IT WAS NOTED THAT A BATTERY TERMINAL WAS CORRODED, WHICH I INDICATED I WOULD REPAIR MYSELF. ON 11 AUG, I INSPECTED MY BATTERY TERMINAL AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE BATTERY CELL CAPS WAS MISSING AND THE TOP OF THE BATTERY WAS DAMP AND DEBRIS HAD FALLEN INTO THE BATTERY CELLS AND THE POSITIVE BATTERY CLAMP WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. LOOKING ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT NISSAN FRONTIER BATTERIES BLOWING THEIR CAPS OFF AND EVEN DESTROYING THE ECMS. WHEN I ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP I WAS ONLY OFFERED A REPLACEMENT BATTERY CAP AND A CHARGE OF $30 TO CLEAN THE TERMINALS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PATTERN OF FAILURE HERE THAT IS EQUIPMENT RELATED AND I AM DISTURBED THAT NISSAN IS NOT INTERESTED IN SOLVING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. HAVING A BATTERY THAT BLOWS THE CAPS AND SPEWS ACID IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY TO ME.

NHTSA ODI #10749470

61,600 miles · Aug 16, 2015
Power Train

I NOTICED A LEAK IN THE REAR END OF MY 2012 FRONTIER, COMING FROM THE RACK & PINION SEAL. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. IT TURNS OUT THAT A BREATHER/SCREEN HAD RUSTED AND CAUSED PRESSURE TO BUILD, CAUSING THE SEAL TO LEAK. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER W…

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I NOTICED A LEAK IN THE REAR END OF MY 2012 FRONTIER, COMING FROM THE RACK & PINION SEAL. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. IT TURNS OUT THAT A BREATHER/SCREEN HAD RUSTED AND CAUSED PRESSURE TO BUILD, CAUSING THE SEAL TO LEAK. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY, SAYING THAT NISSAN CONSIDERS IT "ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES". I KNOW OF OTHER MAKES AND MODELS THAT GO 100,000 OR 200,000+ MILES WITHOUT READ END ISSUES. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER FRONTIER OWNERS AND FOUND THAT THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES, WITH AS LITTLE AS 13,000 MILES AND TRUCKS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NISSAN SHOULD REPAIR THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10749003

18,130 miles · Jun 30, 2015
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I FIRST NOTICED THE INCIDENT TODAY IN A DOWNTOWN AREA, SPEED OF 35 MPH. UPON REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR THE RPM DROPPED TO 1000, NOT LOWER, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AT THE 35 MPH. AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY I WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT. AS I ENTERED OUR STREET I BRAKED REDUCING SPEED. THE VEHICLE RPM REMA…

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I FIRST NOTICED THE INCIDENT TODAY IN A DOWNTOWN AREA, SPEED OF 35 MPH. UPON REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR THE RPM DROPPED TO 1000, NOT LOWER, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AT THE 35 MPH. AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY I WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT. AS I ENTERED OUR STREET I BRAKED REDUCING SPEED. THE VEHICLE RPM REMAINED AT 1000 AND THE SPEED WAS LOWER,BUT REQUIRING BRAKING TO SLOW COMPLETLY. I INSPECTED THE ACCELATOR PEDAL AREA, WITH MY WIFE TO VERIFY THAT NOTHING WAS BLOCKING THE ACCELATOR. MY WIFE AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE ON ANOTHER TEST DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT, CRUSING AT 35 MPH WITH NO FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, RPM AT 1000. THE OUTSIDE TEMP. WAS APPROX. 102/104F. WEATHER CLEAR AND DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS USED OVER THE WEEKEND FOR A ROUND TRIP OF APPROX. 700 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS, MILEAGE UPON PARKING WAS 18,135. I THINK THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10731379

28,000 miles · May 28, 2015
Power Train

VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO PUT INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID SOMETHING MUST HAVE SPILLED DOWN BY THE SHIFTER LINKAGE. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER, AND I DO NOT THINK THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT COULD NOT BE ABSOLUTELY SURE. I AM ONLY SUBMITTING THIS, BECAUSE I SAW SEVERAL OTHER POSTS WHERE PEOPLE COULD…

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VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO PUT INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID SOMETHING MUST HAVE SPILLED DOWN BY THE SHIFTER LINKAGE. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER, AND I DO NOT THINK THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT COULD NOT BE ABSOLUTELY SURE. I AM ONLY SUBMITTING THIS, BECAUSE I SAW SEVERAL OTHER POSTS WHERE PEOPLE COULD NOT SHIFT THEIR VEHICLES OUT OF PARK, NISSAN WOULD NOT HELP OUT WITH THE EXPENSE OF REPAIR SINCE THEY WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. ANYONE READING THIS SHOULD THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE PURCHASING A NISSAN. THEY ARE NOT THE HIGH QUALITY VEHICLES THEY WERE AT ONE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10722059

40,000 miles · May 27, 2015
Unknown Or Other

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SEPT., 2014, AND MAY 2015. MY AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JANUARY, 2015. PROBLEM IS A FAULTY A/C CLUTCH. UNFORTUNATELY, CLUTCH AND COMPRESSOR ARE ONE UNIT. NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA SAID NISSAN DEALER HAD TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM FOR THEM TO MAKE A DECISION, SINCE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I…

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SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SEPT., 2014, AND MAY 2015. MY AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JANUARY, 2015. PROBLEM IS A FAULTY A/C CLUTCH. UNFORTUNATELY, CLUTCH AND COMPRESSOR ARE ONE UNIT. NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA SAID NISSAN DEALER HAD TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM FOR THEM TO MAKE A DECISION, SINCE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I DID SO, AND NISSAN NORTH AMERICA SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP, SINCE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NISSAN IS NOT THE NISSAN OF YEARS AGO. POOR QUALITY, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. DO NOT GET STUCK LIKE ME. DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE BUYING.

NHTSA ODI #10721803

51,946 miles · Apr 8, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE, STRANDING DRIVER AND VEHICLE IN CUSTOMER'S DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY THAT HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OTHER FRONTIERS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. VEHICLE IS DISABLED UNTIL REPAIRED. PARTS FOR THE REPAIR ARE DEALER ONLY AND THE REPAIR IS OVER $600! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704430

Official recalls

3

14V052000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Feb 12, 2014

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 & remedy

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.

12V462000 · Suspension:front:hub

Sep 20, 2012

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 & remedy

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.

11V592000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Dec 19, 2011

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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.