The Lemon Index2012 Nissan Frontier.
The 2012 Nissan Frontier is better than average by owner complaints: 35 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 58, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 16 to 21 mpg combined. The best Nissan Frontier year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 79 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Frontier year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 21K to 69K miles on the car (65 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 43K–66K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 21K–51K miles
Recalls 3
- electrical 2014
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.
- suspension 2012
These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that may not meet the design hardness specifications.
- engine 2011
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 N…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 113 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- ALL MODEL YEAR 2012 AND NEWER NISSAN VEHICLES; EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION…
- NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT…
- SERVICE INFORMATION Starting with 2010 Model Year, Nissan vehicles have been gradually…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
| Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3050–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.
2012 Nissan Frontier owner · NHTSA complaint 10702843
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Nissan Frontier reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.7× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 58; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Frontier year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Frontier problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (51%), engine (17%) and airbags (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have?
3 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Frontier get?
16 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Frontier problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 21,400 and 69,800 miles. The middle report was at 43,000 miles, from 65 complaints.
Does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 51% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Nissan Frontier cost in fuel a year?
About $3050 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Frontier year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2018 and 2014.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works