THE VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO TRANSMISSION. CVT FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS SOME 93,000 MILES. VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION DID NOT MOVE. I HAD TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.
2012 Nissan Quest
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Quest do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 66.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Quest 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
70 reports with mileage · 23 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.
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
93 reportsTHE VAN BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SEEMINGLY MISFIRE ONCE SHIFTED INTO GEAR. I SUSPECTED A CASE OF CLOGGED FUEL INJECTORS AND PRESSED FIRMLY WITH THE THROTTLE TO CLEAR THE LINE OF DEBRIS. THE VAN THEN STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED ITSELF AND PROVIDED NO GEAR RESISTANCE. FORTUNA…
Read full complaint
THE VAN BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SEEMINGLY MISFIRE ONCE SHIFTED INTO GEAR. I SUSPECTED A CASE OF CLOGGED FUEL INJECTORS AND PRESSED FIRMLY WITH THE THROTTLE TO CLEAR THE LINE OF DEBRIS. THE VAN THEN STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED ITSELF AND PROVIDED NO GEAR RESISTANCE. FORTUNATELY THE TIMING OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALLOWED ME TO COAST OUT OF THE INTERSECTION, USING THE DOWNWARD GRADE OF A NEARBY ALLEY IN ORDER TO EXIT THE STREET. INSPECTION OF THE VAN REVEALED OBD II CODES: P0500 AND P0720. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN EXISTING RECALL FOR AUTOMOBILES OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, THAT EXHIBIT THE EVENTS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. I BELIEVE THAT RECALL:12V076000 RECALL DATE 02/29/2012 SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VIN DUE TO THE SIMILARITY OF EVENTS ENCOUNTERED AS WELL AS THE HAZARD THEREBY CREATED. I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT GETTING T-BONED. BELOW ARE REFERENCE QUOTES AND LINKS THAT FURTHER DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE AND ILLUSTRATE THE IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PROMPTED THE EXISTING RECALL. REFERENCE A: HTTP://P0500.ENGINETROUBLECODE.COM/NISSAN-QUEST P0500 OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC POWERTRAIN (P) TROUBLE CODE DESCRIPTION P0500 OBD-II TROUBLE CODE THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR OUTPUTS A 4 PULSE SIGNAL FOR EVERY REVOLUTION OF THE ROTOR SHAFT, WHICH IS ROTATED BY THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT VIA THE DRIVEN GEAR. AFTER THIS SIGNAL IS CONVERTED INTO A P0500 CODE. REASON FOR P0500 CODE THE REASON OF P0500 OBD-II ENGINE TROUBLE CODE IS FUEL COMPOSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. PARTS OR COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED WITH REFERENCE TO ONLY A P0500 DTC. THE VEHICLE SERVICE MANUAL SHOULD BE CONSULTED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE FAULT, ALONG WITH REQUIRED TESTING. REFERENCE B: HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/RECALLS/NISSAN-QUEST-2012/ SEE ATTACH. THANKS
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 107K MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN (3930 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL BLVD, DURHAM, NC 27707, (919) 489-3800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.
THERE IS A FUEL SYSTEM GLITCH IN THE SOFTWARE. THE CAR STALLS WHEN IDLING OR TRAVELING AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 40 MPH. IT ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPENS AT STOP LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AS WELL. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT EVEN DRIVE BUT IT WILL REVERSE. I AM ABLE TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPOT BUT AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD. IT IT'S VERY IN…
Read full complaint
THERE IS A FUEL SYSTEM GLITCH IN THE SOFTWARE. THE CAR STALLS WHEN IDLING OR TRAVELING AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 40 MPH. IT ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPENS AT STOP LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AS WELL. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT EVEN DRIVE BUT IT WILL REVERSE. I AM ABLE TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPOT BUT AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD. IT IT'S VERY INCONSISTENT AND WILL HAPPEN FREQUENTLY FOR WEEKS, THEN GO A COUPLE WEEKS WITHOUT HAPPENING BEFORE IT STARTS BACK AGAIN. A MESSAGE POPS UP ON THE SCREEN ABOUT A SOFTWARE ERROR WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS. IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE 2011-2012 QUESTS BUT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO GET REPAIRED TWICE AND NO ONE COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER IT WOULD NOT DRIVE AT ALL YESTERDAY, A NEW MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM AND THE BULLETIN ABOUT THE RECALL BUT NISSAN WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER DOESN'T MATCH.
CVT STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 115,000 MILES WHEN TAKING OFF ON INCLINE. REALLY BAD SLIPPING AND HAD FLUID CHANGED AT 121,000 MILES. SURGING AND LOSING POWER ON THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC. WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 130,000 MILES LEAVING MY FAMILY STRANDED.
VAN STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND IT DIDN'T RESPONDED UNTIL SEVERAL SECONDS LATER (5-10), IT STARTED SLOWLY AND THEN IT ACCELERATES SLOWLY. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STOPS, THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTOZONE STORE, AND THEY FOUND TH…
Read full complaint
VAN STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND IT DIDN'T RESPONDED UNTIL SEVERAL SECONDS LATER (5-10), IT STARTED SLOWLY AND THEN IT ACCELERATES SLOWLY. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STOPS, THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTOZONE STORE, AND THEY FOUND THE ERROR CODE P1778, WHICH IS CVT TRANSMISSION ERROR. I TOOK THE VAN THEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THE SAME ERROR CODE, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT APPROX $3800 DLS. THE VAN HAS 76,000 MILES. AND SO FAR, I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS SITES THAT HAVE CLAIMS AND LIST PROBLEMS WITH NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS, AND NISSAN IS NOT TAKING CARE OF CUSTOMERS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CROSS A STREET AND THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND. ALSO ITS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT NISSAN DOESN'T HELP OR DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR FIX THIS ISSUE.
ON 8/7/17 MY WIFE WAS HIT IN THE LEFT SIDE OF HER EYE/HEAD AREA BY THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WHILE SHE WAS TRYING TO GET OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON OUT OF THE CAR. OUR CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE WENT INSIDE OUR HOME TO GET A BAG FOR A BEACH DAY WITH OUR 5 CHILDREN, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES, SHE DIDN'T COME BACK TO THE CAR.…
Read full complaint
ON 8/7/17 MY WIFE WAS HIT IN THE LEFT SIDE OF HER EYE/HEAD AREA BY THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WHILE SHE WAS TRYING TO GET OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON OUT OF THE CAR. OUR CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE WENT INSIDE OUR HOME TO GET A BAG FOR A BEACH DAY WITH OUR 5 CHILDREN, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES, SHE DIDN'T COME BACK TO THE CAR. I WENT INSIDE WITH OUR CHILDREN TO FIND OUT WHAT SHE WAS DOING, AND I FOUND HER ON THE FLOOR, HEAD DOWN, WITH A POOL OF BLOOD BEHIND HER HEAD, AND SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS. I CALLED 911 AND MY SON BEGAN CPR, AS SHE HAD FOAM COMING FROM HER MOUTH. MY SON AFTER NUMEROUS CONTINUOUS PUMPS TO HER CHEST, AROUND 5 MINUTES, SHE FINALLY TOOK A BREATH. WHEN THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVED, THEY TOOK MY WIFE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE CONTINUED TO HAVE A VERY HARD TIME BREATHING AND UPON ARRIVAL TO THE HOSPITAL, SHE WAS INTUBATED WITH A VENTILATOR TO HELP HER BREATH. TESTS REVEALED SHE HAD A BRAIN HEMORRHAGE AND SEVERAL LACERATIONS TO HER HEAD. SHE WAS KEPT IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 11 DAYS, AND WAS DISCHARGED HOME TO BED REST AND GRADUAL WALKING WITH THE HELP OF A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, NURSE AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. WE HAVE 5 CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM CAN BE HIT BY THE SLIDING DOOR IF THE ELECTRICAL BUTTON IS PUSHED ON. WE NOW LEAVE THAT BUTTON OFF, AS WE FEAR THEY WILL ALSO GET HIT BY THE DOOR, AS THE SENSOR DOES NOT WORK IF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IS IN THE DOOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON A DECLINE. ONCE THE CONTACT REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE DECLINE, SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON A DECLINE. ONCE THE CONTACT REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE DECLINE, SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V076000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
VAN HAS HAD ISSUES SLIPPING ON HILLS AFTER STOP WITH GEARS GRINDING AND JERKING. BROUGHT IN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE. I MENTIONED I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TRANSMISSION AND HOW WE CAN DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. THEY RECOMMENDED FLUSHING TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR $125 WHICH I DID. LESS THAN MONTH LATER, SLIPPING STI…
Read full complaint
VAN HAS HAD ISSUES SLIPPING ON HILLS AFTER STOP WITH GEARS GRINDING AND JERKING. BROUGHT IN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE. I MENTIONED I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TRANSMISSION AND HOW WE CAN DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. THEY RECOMMENDED FLUSHING TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR $125 WHICH I DID. LESS THAN MONTH LATER, SLIPPING STILL OCCURRED ON HILLS AFTER STOPS. ON WAY HOME THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS GOING ABOUT 30-40 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A STOP LIGHT ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 5-10MPH WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I THEN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE GEAR GRINDED AND I HAD NO POWER. AS I PRESSED THE GAS NO POWER WAS COMING TO VAN AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAIT A MINUTE OR SO AND AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE VEHICLE SEEMED NORMAL AGAIN. I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO WAS NOW ON. BROUGHT THE VAN IN TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER DOING A DRIVE TEST AND REPLICATING ON A HILL, THEY CONFIRMED THE SLIPPING. THEY ALSO DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND CONFIRMED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO TUNE OF $4100. LOOKING UP THIS CASE THERE APPEARS TO BE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSIONS. NISSAN ALSO PROVIDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR PRIOR VAN MODELS FROM 2003-2010 TO 100K MILES. MY VEHICLE IS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST WITH 81K MILES. WITH ALL THE NISSANS HAVING CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES, IT APPEARS THERE IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN.
Official recalls
112V076000 · Electrical System:software; Fuel System, Gasoline
Feb 29, 2012
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 29, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2012. DUE TO SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING, WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR IDLING ON A DECLINE WITH ¼ TANK FUEL OR LESS, THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY STALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE STALLING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 29, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2012. DUE TO SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING, WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR IDLING ON A DECLINE WITH ¼ TANK FUEL OR LESS, THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY STALL.
Consequence: VEHICLE STALLING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
Fuel System, Gasoline
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 29, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2012. DUE TO SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING, WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR IDLING ON A DECLINE WITH ¼ TANK FUEL OR LESS, THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY STALL.
Consequence: VEHICLE STALLING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE 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
1AQ12003 · Gwinnett Place Nissan / Quest Recall
Opened Oct 25, 2012 · Closed Dec 12, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software
NHTSA opened Audit Query (AQ) 12-003 to determine whether Gwinnett Place Nissan of Duluth, Georgia complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and noncompliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. ? 30120(i). NHTSA issued an information request (IR) to Gwinnett Place Nissan on October 31, 2012. Gwinnett Place Nissan responded to this request on November 19, 2012. NHTSA then issued an IR to Nissan North America, Inc. on March 11, 2013. Nissan North America, Inc. responded to this request on April 5, 2013.NHTSA's investigation indicated that Gwinnett Place Nissan sold and delivered 28 recalled vehicles that did not have the recall remedy completed at the time the vehicles were delivered to the customers. Gwinnett Place Nissan did not contest this finding. NHTSA therefore concluded that Gwinnett Place Nissan was liable for civil penalties for violations of the Safety Act, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. ? 30165. Under a Settlement Agreement dated November 24, 2014, Gwinnett Place Nissan paid compromised civil penalties in the amount of $110,000.This AQ is closed.
Illustration