2012 Nissan Frontier: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2012 / nissan / frontier
known issues	6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-09)
complaints	78 on file (2012-03-12 → 2025-06-08)
recalls	3
investigations	0
fars	34 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Automatic transmission shifter fails to engage drivePOWER TRAIN11 complaints2015-03 → 2015-05frontier-2012-shifter-wont-engage-drive

10702829 VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND STRANDED THE DRIVER. VEHICLE SHIFTER FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE SHIFTER CAN STOP OPERATING AT ANY TIME, LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD 8 OF THESE SHIFTERS REPLACED ON 8 DIFFERENT 2012 NISSAN FRONTIERS AND
10704425 TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE, STRANDING DRIVER AND VEHICLE IN CUSTOMER'S DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY THAT HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OTHER FRONTIERS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. VEHICLE IS DISABLED UNTIL REPAIRED. PARTS FOR THE REPAIR ARE DEALER ONLY AND
10702868 SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE STANDING THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE AND VEHICLE IS SITTING AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIR. NISSAN IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS THE 8TH 2012 NISSAN

Rear leaf spring fractureSUSPENSION2 complaints2017-04 → 2018-12frontier-2012-rear-leaf-spring-fracture

11156483 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF SALEM (33 MAIN ST, SALEM, NH) AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE NOISE GREW LOUDER. LATER, WHILE
10972005 NOTICED CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. REAR END BECAME LOOSE AND JUMPY OVER SMALL BUMP SIN THE ROAD AT EVEN LOW SPEEDS. INSPECTION AT SHOP DETERMINED THAT BOTH LEAF SPRINGS WERE CRACKED (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO)

Frame and floorboard corrosionSTRUCTURE2 complaints2020-07 → 2025-06frontier-2012-frame-floorboard-corrosion

11665563 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
11339509 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FLOORBOARD UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUSED BY EXTREME CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED

Airbag warning light illumination and inadvertent deploymentAIR BAGS11 complaints2012-03 → 2023-11frontier-2012-airbag-warning-light-deployment

10510496 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
10896442 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
10861860 PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY FLASHES WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE INDICATING AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED SEAT BELT TENSION WHICH TEMPORARILY ( 2 WEEKS) FIXED ISSUE. DEALERSHIP NOW RECOMMENDS A NEW PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION TO REMEDY PROBLEM AT OWNER

Airbag recall repair parts unavailableAIR BAGS5 complaints2023-03 → 2023-11frontier-2012-airbag-recall-parts-unavailable

11553068 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
11514792 The contact owns a 2012 Nisan Frontier. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving under 50 MPH, the supplemental air bag safety warning light remained illuminated. The VIN search confirmed that the vehicle has one open recall at this time NHTSA Campaign Number
11529756 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 not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the

Engine stalling linked to camshaft position sensorENGINE5 complaints2015-06 → 2021-03frontier-2012-engine-stall-camshaft-sensor

11403039 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN UNKNOWN WIRE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE WAS
11365826 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO NAPA NISSAN (510 SOSCOL AVE, NAPA, CA 94559) WHERE THE MECHANIC
11254640 MY TRUCK HAS HAD WHAT FEELS TO ME LIKE A ROUGH IDLE FOR ABOUT AS LONG AS I'VE HAD IT. IT WAS FINE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE TRUCK DIED AT A STOP LIGHT. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THIS FOR A MECHANIC SO I JUST KEPT

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
78	2012-03-12	2025-06-08	4	0	AIR BAGS:23; POWER TRAIN:20; ENGINE:12; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:9; STRUCTURE:7

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
14V052000	12/02/2014	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS	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 bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.	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.
11V592000	19/12/2011	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	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.	IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.	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.
12V462000	20/09/2012	SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB	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.	If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.	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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	34	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Nissan Frontier vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/nissan/frontier

@misc{wrenchpro_2012_nissan_frontier_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Nissan Frontier},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/nissan/frontier}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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