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Nissan · NHTSA safety record

2012 Nissan Pathfinder

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

Owners have filed 23 safety complaints about the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the suspension and the engine and its cooling.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 5 complaints, 22% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 87,000 miles, the median across the 12 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers June 2013 to November 2025 · How this is counted

What is on file

23 complaints on file

23

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 5 · 22%
SUSPENSION 5 · 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 22%
AIR BAGS 4 · 17%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 13%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 9%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 9%
STEERING 2 · 9%
STRUCTURE 2 · 9%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 · 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 4%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 23.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 4.

8 6 4 2
13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2013 to 2025.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2012 Nissan PATHFINDER, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV 4WD SUV RWD
Overall Not rated Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated Not rated
Frontal, driver Not rated Not rated
Frontal, passenger Not rated Not rated
Side crash Not rated Not rated
Side barrier Not rated Not rated
Side pole Not rated Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover 22.8% 23.7%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

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

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 36,000 miles

I WAS IN A 40MPH CAR ACCIDENOT AND MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint 10838927. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 111,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked on the road outside his friend's residence. The contact stated that as he approached the vehicle, he saw smoke coming from the windows. The contact stated that when he opened the vehicle, he saw that the headliner of the vehicle and the seats had burned. The contact stated that the fire had extinguished itself as the windows were closed. The contact stated that he was able to start the vehicle and drive it to his residence. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was

NHTSA complaint 11440673, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, A DEER JUMPED INTO THE ROAD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO IT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 10825803. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Right lower control arm snapped while driving at highway speed (65MPH) causing vehicle into a 360 spin. Vehicle spun, was hard to control and tire blew out at speed. Others behind me or in front may have gotten involved if traffic was heavier at the time. Vehicle wasnt inspected, no police involved. No warning before incident. Incident happened with no symtons or prior knowledge

NHTSA complaint 11700670. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Rear subframe sagging and unsafe due to rust and corrosion.

NHTSA complaint 11662905. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

133,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he noticed that the rear tires were abnormally damaged. The contact stated that upon further inspection, he noticed that the subframe was severely corroded and fractured. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there would be no assistance because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

NHTSA complaint 11582196. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Rear lower control arm broke while driving. Vehicle had to be moved on a rollback. Upon replacing control arm, cracks have been found at several points on the crossmember subframe. As it stands, the vehicle is a danger to have on the road.

NHTSA complaint 11574413. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION:REAR

156,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to wobble as if the steering wheel was being turned to the left and to the right repeatedly. The contact stated the vehicle wobbled more violently after driving over bumps in the road. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact’s husband checked the under carriage and observed that the driver's side rear tire was nearly rusted through. Additionally, there was an inch of room above the wheel well. The contact stated that wheel was turned inward

NHTSA complaint 11517890, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
There was no incident but now I’m scared to drive my vehicle that I’m still paying for and my insurance telling me if I don’t get the recall resolve it’s going to be an issue.

NHTSA complaint 11510111. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Nissan Pathfinder

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 51 1 —
2024 81 2 —
2023 104 1 —
2022 135 5 —
2020 48 0 —
2019 76 2 —
2018 77 3 —
2017 186 2 —
2016 105 2 —
2015 320 5 —
2014 574 11 —
2013 890 11 —
2011 45 2 —
2010 40 4 —

Other 2012 Nissan models

Every Nissan on this site — 205 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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