Cars › Nissan › Frontier › 2012
2012 Nissan Frontier problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
60% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Nissan Frontier are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 80% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 26 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
Does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 31 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Frontier concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (60%), and the largest group is filed under power train (20). For comparison, the 2011 scores 31% and the 2013 scores 35%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Nissan Frontier
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 31 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Nissan Frontier?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Nissan Frontier involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
Risk: IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Nissan Frontier? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2012 Nissan Frontier
Does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 31 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Frontier concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (60%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Nissan Frontier?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Nissan Frontier involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 11V592000 (engine and engine cooling). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Nissan Frontier years are better?
Among the Nissan Frontier years we track, the 2018 (22%), the 2022 (28%) and the 2011 (31%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (60%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2012 Nissan Frontier?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2012 Nissan Frontier has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.