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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model 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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

5 reports
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77,961 miles · Jun 25, 2020
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY WHEN SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE ENGINE STOPPING WOULD CAUSE ALL POWER ASSISTED FUNCTIONS TO CEASE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND BRAKE. MOST RECENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD START EXTREME HESITATION WHILE DRIVING AND I COULD NOT GET UP TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 5…

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THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY WHEN SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE ENGINE STOPPING WOULD CAUSE ALL POWER ASSISTED FUNCTIONS TO CEASE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND BRAKE. MOST RECENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD START EXTREME HESITATION WHILE DRIVING AND I COULD NOT GET UP TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH. I HAD TO USE MY FLASHERS TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT MY SPEED WAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY WHERE VEHICLES RAPIDLY APPROACHED FROM THE REAR. IT WOULDN'T NEGOTIATE A LARGE HII (LACK OF POWER) AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME. RECEIPT BELOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11330938

120,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, WHILE AT A STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, WHILE AT A STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11271506

91,345 miles · Sep 21, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

THURSDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 20TH 2018 DURING RUSH HOUR, WIFE'S 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER SV V6 SUDDENLY LOST SPEED CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON HOUSTON BELTWAY 8 - A MULTI-LANE TOLL ROAD WHERE TRAFFIC IS AT AROUND 70 MPH. TAPPING THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE OR MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE SPEED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WENT FROM 70 MPH TO A…

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THURSDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 20TH 2018 DURING RUSH HOUR, WIFE'S 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER SV V6 SUDDENLY LOST SPEED CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON HOUSTON BELTWAY 8 - A MULTI-LANE TOLL ROAD WHERE TRAFFIC IS AT AROUND 70 MPH. TAPPING THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE OR MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE SPEED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WENT FROM 70 MPH TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK CAN BE RESTARTED AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES THOUGH.

NHTSA ODI #11130550

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

1,800 miles · Feb 25, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/21/13

NHTSA ODI #10500012

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.