The 2012 Nissan Frontier has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 30,670 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to…
Consequence
The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
SUSPENSION12V4620002012-09-202,417 affected
Defect
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 specifications. A wheel hub that was manufactured below…
Consequence
If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on October 22, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11V5920002011-12-1914,718 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
22
2crashes6injuries
POWER TRAIN
20
1crashes
ENGINE
12
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
9
1crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
1injuries
SEAT BELTS
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
STRUCTURE:BODY
3
SUSPENSION
3
WHEELS
2
1crashes2injuries
Total complaints98
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I was sold the 2012 nissan frontier sl from lynne's nissan city in bloomfield, nj being told it was a safe vehicle and passed their inspection. After bringing it to my mechanic I was informed the frame was so rusted it was unsafe to drive. They are now trying to resell the vehicle not disclosing…”
“Cd player will not play any cd's and my cd's are stuck inside. The radio only works intermittently and you can hear a sound like there is an electrical connection problem somewhere. This problem started about 2 months ago. I am presently in florida and have a long drive home back to pennsylvania.…”
“The contact owns a 2012 nissan frontier. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the steering was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the…”
“The contact owns a 2012 nissan frontier. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the steering was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the…”
“The contact owns a 2012 nissan frontier. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph in cold weather with the seat belt connected, the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side seat belt assembly and…”
“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 not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount…”
“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 not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Nissan Frontier as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.