Representative model. Photo: Ethan Llamas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Nissan Frontier recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 79
Latest campaign: Feb 12, 2014

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Electrical system	1	Feb 12, 2014	14V052000
Suspension	1	Sep 20, 2012	12V462000
Engine and engine cooling	1	Dec 19, 2011	11V592000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Feb 12, 2014Latest campaign


Feb 12, 201414V052000	Electrical system: wiring fuses and circuit breakers The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V052000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 14V052000 · Feb 12, 2014
Sep 20, 201212V462000	Suspension: front hub If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 12V462000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 12V462000 · Sep 20, 2012
Dec 19, 201111V592000	Engine and engine cooling IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 11V592000 What's wrong 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. 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. 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. Campaign NHTSA 11V592000 · Dec 19, 2011

Feb 12, 201414V052000

Electrical system: wiring fuses and circuit breakers

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

DetailsHide details for campaign 14V052000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 14V052000 · Feb 12, 2014

Sep 20, 201212V462000

Suspension: front hub

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

DetailsHide details for campaign 12V462000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 12V462000 · Sep 20, 2012

Dec 19, 201111V592000

Engine and engine cooling

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

DetailsHide details for campaign 11V592000

What's wrong: 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.
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.
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.
Campaign: NHTSA 11V592000 · Dec 19, 2011

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Nissan recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2012 Nissan Frontier? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component79

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

79Complaints filed

4Involving a crash

0Involving a fire

8Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Injuries
Air bags	23	29	2	6
Power train	20	25	1	0
Engine	13	16	1	0
Unknown or other	9	11	1	2
Electrical system	7	9	0	1
Structure	7	9	0	0
Seat belts	5	6	0	0
Vehicle speed control	5	6	0	0
Suspension	3	4	0	0
Seats	2	3	0	0
Wheels	2	3	1	2
Engine and engine cooling	1	1	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	1	1	0	0
Steering	1	1	1	2
Latches/locks/linkages	1	1	0	0

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Electrical system
“1. Frequent repeated multiple breakdown and damages to all and any MAF sensors, camshaft position sensors bank 2, VVT solenoid sensors as cause of short circuited and fire hazard high risk of IPDM and main loom wiring…”
Filed 10/07/2026 · ODI 11769697
Structure
“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.”
Filed 06/08/2025 · ODI 11665563
Electrical system
“CD player will not play any CD's and my CD's are stuck inside. The radio only works intermittently and you can hear a sound like there is an electrical connection problem somewhere.”
Filed 04/20/2025 · ODI 11655718

Other Nissan Frontier model years

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2012 Nissan Frontier recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Nissan Frontier. The most recent, 14V052000 (reported February 12, 2014), concerns electrical system. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Nissan Frontier?

Air bags is the most-reported component, named in 23 complaints out of 79 filed with NHTSA (29%). Across all complaints, owners reported 4 crashs and 0 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 Nissan Frontier?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Nissan recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Nissan dealer.

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