CSR

Nissan · NHTSA safety record

2012 Nissan Frontier

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

78

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Nissan Frontier have filed 78 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2012 and June 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 23 of them (29%). The typical failure was reported at 43,000 miles, the median across the 65 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

14V052000 · February 12, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
The 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.

Nissan North America, Inc. · up to 13,535 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

12V462000 · September 20, 2012

The defect
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.
The risk
If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The 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.

Nissan North America, Inc. · up to 2,417 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

11V592000 · December 19, 2011

The defect
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.
The risk
IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The 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.

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 14,718 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 78.

AIR BAGS 23 29%
POWER TRAIN 20 26%
ENGINE 12 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 12%
STRUCTURE 7 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 8%
SEAT BELTS 5 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 6%
SUSPENSION 3 4%
SEATS 2 3%
WHEELS 2 3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 16.

2012 2015 2025
2012 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

2 injured · crash · towed · 72,000 miles

I BOUGHT NEW TIRES, SAME SIZE AND BRAND NAME AS THE LAST 4 TIRES BUT A DIFFERENT MODEL TYPE OF TIRES. AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A 2 LANE ROAD, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FLEW OFF THE RIM. THE RIM SCRAPED THE ROADWAY AND FLIPPED MY TRUCK UPWARDS AND SPUN THE VEHICLE UP IN THE AIR OVER A GUARD RAIL AND I HIT INTO A CONCRETE CULVERT. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED BY A SHOP, BALANCED AND ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK A FEW DAYS LATER TO THAT SAME SHOP DUE TO THE VEHICLE SHAKING VIGOROUSLY AT ROUGHLY 40 MPH. THE SHOP REBALANCED THE 4 TIRES AND ROTATED THEM. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE BACK DRIVER TIRE HAD LOST PSI AND WAS CLOSE TO 30 PSI, THE

NHTSA complaint 10967502, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 46,250 miles

I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ON A CITY STREET. THE CAR THAT HIT ME, A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, WAS TRAVELLING, I BELIEVE, BETWEEN 45-50 MPH. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. THE AIRBAG IN MY 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER DID NOT DEPLOY. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS NORMAL, BUT NISSAN WILL NOT COMMENT. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE ACCIDENT, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FROM NISSAN REGARDING THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT NOT BEING CALIBRATED PROPERLY. I FIND IT STRANGE THAT NISSAN WILL NOT COMMENT ON NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG, YET SENDS ME A RECALL NOTICE FOR AN OUT OF CALIBRATION AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT.

NHTSA complaint 11010841. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

Involved in a auto accident on June 11 2021. Airbags deployed, however, little rock type projectiles also exploded from the airbag landing all over the car and passenger causing a risk to the eyes, face and other body parts. Has not been taken to the dealer, auto I believe is totaled. Photos sent to adjuster along with photos of the car damage. No warnings. I have photos have the projectiles throughout the car and I have also collected a small sample in a zip bag.

NHTSA complaint 11421291. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · 43,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 10896442, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
I was sold the 2012 Nissan Frontier SL from Lynne's Nissan City in Bloomfield, NJ being told it was a safe vehicle and passed their inspection. After bringing it to my mechanic I was informed the frame was so rusted it was unsafe to drive. They are now trying to resell the vehicle not disclosing that information.

NHTSA complaint 11665563. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

179,002 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the steering was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The contact shifted into park(P); however, several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and had the cam shaft sensor replaced again. Additionally, the contact stated

NHTSA complaint 11588145, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
We were told about the recall, never got a recall letter in the mail. When we went to Nissan, they said they couldn’t help us if only we had the recall letter.

NHTSA complaint 11586752. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

83,333 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH in cold weather with the seat belt connected, the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side seat belt assembly and the sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 89,333.

NHTSA complaint 11572981. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Took vehicle to dealership for recall. Air bag light on dashboard was flashing. Dealer said air bag was ok and they did not go any further to find the problem. The light is still flashing, so I do not know if my air bags are safely operative. Thank you very much.1031

NHTSA complaint 11555023. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint 11553068. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Nissan Frontier

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 19 3
2023 64 1
2022 110 6
2021 17 2
2020 23 2
2019 28 1
2018 25 2
2017 38 1 1
2016 43 1
2015 33 0
2014 42 2
2013 48 1
2011 64 1
2010 59 4

Other 2012 Nissan models

Every Nissan on this site — 200 vehicles, 319 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst