repaired · 2015 Q2
Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk. The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
2012 Nissan FrontierProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 80 owner complaints about the 2012 Nissan Frontier, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-052 the manufacturer reports only 80% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 20, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Nissan Frontier has problems
80 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
23Air bags4 crash/fire/injury
20Power train1 crash/fire/injury
13Engine1 crash/fire/injury
7Structure
7Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
5Vehicle speed control
5Seat belts
3Suspension
2Wheels
76 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 23 | 4 |
| Power train | 20 | 1 |
| Engine | 13 | 1 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 1 |
| 6 other systems | 7 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2012 Nissan Frontier recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Front: hub
Risk. If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Frontier year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Frontier median. How we score
'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Nissan Frontier safety ratings
2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (19.8% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Frontier owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
We were told about the recall, never got a recall letter in the mail. When we went to Nissan, they said they couldn’t help us if only we had the recall letter.
Took vehicle to dealership for recall. Air bag light on dashboard was flashing. Dealer said air bag was ok and they did not go any further to find the problem. The light is still flashing, so I do not know if my air bags are safely operative. Thank you very much.1031
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
Own a 2012 Frontier?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.