RecallMyCar

2012 Nissan Frontier Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2012 Nissan Frontier, and owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
78
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
16–21
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2012 Nissan Frontier

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)

    NHTSA 14V052000 Reported 13,535 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    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,…

    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.…

  2. Hub (suspension)

    NHTSA 12V462000 Reported 2,417 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    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…

    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…

  3. Engine and engine cooling

    NHTSA 11V592000 Reported 14,718 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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…

    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.

78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Nissan Frontier have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 52,189 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 16 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 fram”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 8, 2025 · Structure

“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 start”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 20, 2025 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 Nissan Frontier (Frontier 2WD, Frontier 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16–21 mpg
City / Highway14–19 / 19–23
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd

Compare Nissan Frontier model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Frontier model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1998 Nissan Frontier2129
1999 Nissan Frontier278
2000 Nissan Frontier3189
2001 Nissan Frontier3134
2002 Nissan Frontier4124
2003 Nissan Frontier477
2004 Nissan Frontier166
2005 Nissan Frontier3532
2006 Nissan Frontier4617
2007 Nissan Frontier1520
2008 Nissan Frontier5136
2009 Nissan Frontier337
2010 Nissan Frontier459
2011 Nissan Frontier164
2012 Nissan Frontier378
2013 Nissan Frontier148
2014 Nissan Frontier242
2015 Nissan Frontier033
2016 Nissan Frontier143
2017 Nissan Frontier138
2018 Nissan Frontier225
2019 Nissan Frontier128
2020 Nissan Frontier223
2021 Nissan Frontier219
2022 Nissan Frontier6112
2023 Nissan Frontier166
2024 Nissan Frontier322
2025 Nissan Frontier38
2026 Nissan Frontier110

Checking a specific 2012 Nissan Frontier

How do I know if my 2012 Nissan Frontier has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Nissan Frontier; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V592000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.