Reliable Auto DB

2012 Nissan Frontier reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Nissan Frontier holds 78 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Frontier years here — over the median of the other years, which is 4. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Fuses and circuit breakers, Hub, and Engine and engine cooling.

2012 Nissan Frontier
Photo by Ethan Llamas, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

78

Per year

6

Recalls

3

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (23 of 78), then Powertrain (20) and Engine (12). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Frontier has 48 complaints, 7 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Nissan Frontier. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall electrical system, wiring, fuses and circuit breakers 2014-02-12 · NHTSA campaign 14V052000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall suspension, front, hub 2012-09-20 · NHTSA campaign 12V462000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall Engine and engine cooling 2011-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 11V592000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (78 total)

Air bags
23
Powertrain
20
Engine
12
Structure
7
Electrical system
6
Seat belts
5
Speed control
5
Suspension
3
Seats
2
Wheels
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Steering
1
Show 6 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

620124201392014162015420169201742018720194202032021720233202422025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Structure · filed 2025-06-08
  • "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. This problem started about 2 months…"
    Electrical system · filed 2025-04-20
  • "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…"
    Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling · filed 2024-05-10
  • "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."
    Air bags · filed 2024-05-03
  • "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,…"
    Seat belts · filed 2024-02-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 3 stars
2012 Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2012 Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Frontier two-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic 5-speed Rear-wheel drive 17 22 19 MPG $3400
Frontier two-wheel drive 4L, 6-cyl Automatic 5-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 20 17 MPG $3800
Frontier two-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Rear-wheel drive 19 23 21 MPG $3100
Frontier two-wheel drive 4L, 6-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 20 17 MPG $3800
Frontier four-wheel drive 4L, 6-cyl Automatic 5-speed Four-wheel drive 14 19 16 MPG $4050
Frontier four-wheel drive 4L, 6-cyl Manual 6-speed Four-wheel drive 16 20 17 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

D40 generation, 2012–2021
Body styles Pickup
Oil 5W-30 (4.0L V6); 0W-20 or 5W-30 (2.5L 4-cyl per manual) , 5.4 qt capacity
Tire size 265/70R16 to 265/60R18 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 6,700 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 16V181000. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016 Frontier V6 vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to March 7, 2016. The starter motor wire harness may have been installed in an incorrect position, allowing the starter harness terminal to contact the heat shield and result in an electrical short. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the starter wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Compare

Next year 2013 Nissan Frontier See every Nissan Frontier model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Frontier reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Nissan Frontier holds 78 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Frontier years here — over the median of the other years, which is 4. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Fuses and circuit breakers, Hub, and Engine and engine cooling.

What are common problems with a 2012 Nissan Frontier?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (23 of 78), then Powertrain (20) and Engine (12). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2012 Nissan Frontier more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Frontier has 48 complaints, 7 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

Has the 2012 Nissan Frontier been recalled?

The 2012 Nissan Frontier has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Nissan Frontier?

Owners have filed 78 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Frontier with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Nissan Frontier get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Nissan Frontier is 17.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Nissan Frontier take?

D40 (through 2021): 5W-30 for the 4.0L V6. D41 (2022+): 0W-20 for the 3.8L V6 (about 5.3 qt with filter).

Does NHTSA campaign 23V273000 cover the Nissan Frontier?

It covers certain 2023 Frontier and Titan vehicles: tires may have a tear in the inner bead that can cause rapid pressure loss; dealers replace affected tires.

What generation is the 2020 Nissan Frontier?

D40 generation (2012-2021 in the years this site tracks). The D41 redesign starts in 2022.