The Lemon Index
201120134th generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 18,275 in the U.S. in 2012 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 30 complaints in its first 3 years.
Better years to buy
30 owner complaints, first 3 years 21 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2012 Mazda5 402012 Chrysler Town & Country 2292012 Toyota Sienna 38
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
What breaks most on the 2012 Nissan Quest
- Engine stalling19 complaintsmostly at 2,000–80,000 miles (3,200–129,000 km)
- Transmission failure10 complaintsmostly at 74,000–107,000 miles (119,000–173,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Nissan Quest (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 2,000 and 42,000 miles (3,200–68,000 km) (the middle half of the 28 complaints, of all 30 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 12V076000 (electrical) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Nissan sent dealers 120 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “SERVICE INFORMATION Information necessary to service the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Nissan's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 30 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
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.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 42K miles (3K to 68K km) on the car (28 of all 30 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 120 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- SERVICE INFORMATION Information necessary to service the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)…
- SERVICE INFORMATION Design and process changes have been made to improve battery voltage at…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Electrical · recall issued 2012
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 29, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2012.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedGwinnett place nissan / quest recall2012–2014
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Quest VAN FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,850 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
Every Nissan Quest year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2012 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/nissan-quest/?y=2012" title="Nissan Quest reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/nissan-quest/2012/">Lemon Index</a> (2012 Nissan Quest reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2012 Nissan Quest reliable?
We can't score it: only 18,275 were sold in the U.S. in 2012 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 30 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Quest problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (27%), speed control (17%) and fuel system (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Quest have?
1 safety recall (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 Quest get?
21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Quest problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 2,000 and 42,000 miles (3,200–68,000 km) (the middle half of the 28 complaints, of all 30 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2012 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2012 Nissan Quest have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2012 Nissan Quest cost in fuel a year?
About $2,850 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Nissan Quest have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Quest year is better than the 2012?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2007 drew the fewest (about average).
The Lemon Index counts owner 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 years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works