2012 Nissan Xterra Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2012 Nissan Xterra, and owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2012 Nissan Xterra
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hub (suspension)
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…
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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…
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.
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Nissan Xterra have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 13,758 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Was driving on highway with my children when a loud sound filled the cabin as if I had just runover something large. About a minute later we began hearing a thumping sounds and the car was losing mome”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 21, 2026 · Tires
“1) Rubber stopper under clutch pedal has failed multiple times, preventing vehicle from starting in various locations, usually parking lots and mostly after dark which presents potential safety concer”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 25, 2024 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Nissan Xterra (Xterra 2WD, Xterra 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–16 / 20–22 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Nissan Xterra model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Xterra model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Nissan Xterra | 3 | 214 |
| 2001 Nissan Xterra | 3 | 150 |
| 2002 Nissan Xterra | 5 | 157 |
| 2003 Nissan Xterra | 3 | 72 |
| 2004 Nissan Xterra | 2 | 84 |
| 2005 Nissan Xterra | 3 | 845 |
| 2006 Nissan Xterra | 3 | 780 |
| 2007 Nissan Xterra | 1 | 557 |
| 2008 Nissan Xterra | 6 | 119 |
| 2009 Nissan Xterra | 3 | 19 |
| 2010 Nissan Xterra | 4 | 38 |
| 2011 Nissan Xterra | 2 | 24 |
| 2012 Nissan Xterra | 2 | 16 |
| 2013 Nissan Xterra | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 Nissan Xterra | 0 | 10 |
| 2015 Nissan Xterra | 0 | 10 |
Checking a specific 2012 Nissan Xterra
How do I know if my 2012 Nissan Xterra 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2012 Nissan Xterra; 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
- Altima15,472 complaints
- Pathfinder7,355 complaints
- Rogue7,322 complaints
- Maxima6,955 complaints
- Murano5,958 complaints
- Sentra5,954 complaints
- Frontier3,357 complaints
- Versa3,325 complaints
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.