2012 Nissan Pathfinder Reliability
The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder has 23 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and engine. Compared with other Pathfinder model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Pathfinder's typical year, while the 2013 drew 891 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
23
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
2
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Nissan Pathfinder complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2013 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 5 | 22% |
| Engine | 5 | 22% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 22% |
| Air bags | 4 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 13% |
| Body structure | 2 | 9% |
| Steering | 2 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 2 | 9% |
2012 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V592000 | Dec 19, 2011 | 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… |
| 12V462000 | Sep 20, 2012 | Suspension — front / hub | 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… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Pathfinder years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Pathfinder analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 40 | 5 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2011 | 45 | 2 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2012 (this page) | 23 | 2 | Suspension | Better year |
| 2013 | 891 | 11 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2014 | 585 | 12 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Nissan Pathfinder
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Nissan Pathfinder can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Nissan Pathfinder reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder has 23 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and engine. Compared with other Pathfinder model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Pathfinder's typical year, while the 2013 drew 891 complaints.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder are suspension (5), engine (5), unknown or other (5), air bags (4). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, including 11V592000 (engine & cooling) and 12V462000 (suspension — front / hub). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 45 complaints and 2 recalls (better year); the 2013 has 891 complaints and 11 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 23 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Nissan Pathfinder?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Pathfinder research
Other Nissan Pathfinder model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Pathfinder, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.