IllustrationTRANSMISSION 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!
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
Compare all Frontier years →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
180–25K
2025–50K
1350–75K
675–100K
5100–150K
3150K+
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 reportsSHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE AND VEHICLE IS SITTING AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIR. NISSAN IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS THE 8TH 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER SHIFTER FAILURE SO FAR OUT OF THE 66 2012 N…
Read full complaint
SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE AND VEHICLE IS SITTING AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIR. NISSAN IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS THE 8TH 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER SHIFTER FAILURE SO FAR OUT OF THE 66 2012 NISSAN FRONTIERS WE HAVE IN OUR NJ FLEET. NO TSB OR RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS HIGH FREQUENCY ISSUE, AND NISSAN IS REFUSING COVER THE COST OF THE DEFECTIVE SHIFTER REPAIRS FOR BEING 3000 MILES OUT OF THE 36K BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE REFUSAL TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR; CASE #18171024. NISSAN C.A. TOOK 3 WEEKS TO RESPOND WITH A DENIAL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR OVER 3 WEEKS AND COUNTING AND THE REPAIR COST IS $595. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO PAY THE COSTS TO REPAIR, ESPECIALLY DEALERSHIP RATES AND PART PRICES BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE DEALER ONLY ITEMS, HIGH FREQUENCY FAILURES CAUSED BY KNOWN DEFECTS.
SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR
SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR
SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR
SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR
SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR
SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR
VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND STRANDED THE DRIVER. VEHICLE SHIFTER FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE SHIFTER CAN STOP OPERATING AT ANY TIME, LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD 8 OF THESE SHIFTERS REPLACED ON 8 DIFFERENT 2012 NISSAN FRONTIERS AND COUNTING. *TR
NOTICE THAT MY DASH WAS BECOMING SHINY, WHEN I TOUCH IT WAS TACKY. I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. *TR
Official recalls
314V052000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.