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2012 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder are lower than the model-year median of 97.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 97

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
200940
201045
201123
2012890
2013574
2014320
2015
Compare all Pathfinder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine
5Suspension
5Unknown Or Other
5Air Bags
4Electrical System
3
All reported categories
Power Train
2Service Brakes
2Steering
2Structure
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Visibility
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
134,336 miles · Aug 8, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I BOUGHT MY NISSAN PATHFINDER JUNE 2012 BRAND NEW...I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 2, 2018 IN MY GARAGE I TRIED TO START IT BUT IT WOULDN'T CRANK. I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN SERVICE....I WAS TOLD IT SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR CAR NEW...AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY COMPUTER (ECM)SO, …

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I BOUGHT MY NISSAN PATHFINDER JUNE 2012 BRAND NEW...I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 2, 2018 IN MY GARAGE I TRIED TO START IT BUT IT WOULDN'T CRANK. I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN SERVICE....I WAS TOLD IT SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR CAR NEW...AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY COMPUTER (ECM)SO, IS THAT NORMAL FOR A 6 YEAR OLD CAR?ALSO, NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING..

NHTSA ODI #11118530

Official recalls

2

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.