2012 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
87,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 23 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Engine: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 4; Suspension: 4; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10520580 · 2013-06-18 (June 18, 2013)
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH (POSTED SPEED LIMIT) AT 1150PM WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE NEAR VICINITY IN FRONT OF ME OR BEHIND ME WHEN THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED ON MY 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE AND THE DEALER STATED NISSAN WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY OR DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,748 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583934 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING I WAS HEARING A RUMBLING SOUND EVERYTIME I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN OF BRANDON ON 4-11-14 AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAVE CROSS CONTAMINATION OF ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. NISSAN ADVISED IT WOULD BE $5800 TO FIX. THERE WAS A CIVIL LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST NISSAN TO REPAIR OR REIMBURSE THE OWNERS FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE LAW SUIT ONLY COVERED UP TO 100,000 MILES AND I'M AT 130,000 NISSAN WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10764180 · 2015-09-16 (September 16, 2015)
STEERING THE VEHICLE, GRADUALLY BECAME HARDER (IT WOULD PULL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. WHEN CHECKING AIR PRESSURE, I NOTICED THE FRONT TIRES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, WHERE I WAS TOLD I MUST HAVE HIT A CURVE OR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NEITHER WAS THE CASE. I HAD TO HAVE THE COMPLETE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE REPLACED BY AUTO NATION SOUTH BAY NISSAN OF HAWTHORNE,CA INVOICE #685460, WHICH INCLUDED: RACK AND PINION, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, GEAR AND LINKAGE, SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMBINATION, AND CORE.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,535 miles reported. Look up ODI 10764180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10778272 · 2015-09-28 (September 28, 2015)
I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER, TOOK MY CAR IN, THEY SAID IT WAS DONE, IT WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY, I TOOK IT BACK WAS TOLD IT WAS A CLIP NOT CLIPPED CORRECTLY,. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. I CALLED AND TOLD THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY.. I'M DRIVING W IT FLASHING STILL.. I FEAR ONE DAY IT WILL GO OFF ON ITS OWN. I AM 68 YRS OLD AND LOW INCOME ... I CANNOT PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT REPAIRED... MY CAR WAS FINE BEFORE THEY TOUCHED IT ...HOW DO I GET THEM TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10778272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789170 · 2015-11-09 (November 9, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808991 · 2015-12-08 (December 8, 2015)
WE BOUGHT A 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2015 USED FOR $27,999.00. WE PUT $3,000.00 DOWN PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION, AND WERE TOLD BY OUR SALESMAN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY WI TAXES AND THAT ANY OTHER TAXES WOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR LOAN. THAT PROVED TO BE FALSE! IF WE WOULD'VE KNOWN THE IL TAXES WASN'T INCLUDED, WE WOULDN'T HAVE PUT SUCH A LARGER DOWN PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE. WE'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE NOW FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS AND WERE THINKING,... "WHY MAKE PAYMENTS ON SOMETHING THAT HAS A LOT OF MILES, W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10808991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825803 · 2016-02-12 (February 12, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, A DEER JUMPED INTO THE ROAD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO IT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10825803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838927 · 2016-02-29 (February 29, 2016)
I WAS IN A 40MPH CAR ACCIDENOT AND MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838927 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V592000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2011-12-19 (December 19, 2011)
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 RESULT, THE BOLT MAY BREAK AT THE OIL FILTER ATTACHMENT POINT AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE OIL LEAK.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗12V462000 · Suspension:Front:Hub
Reported: 2012-09-20 (September 20, 2012)
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 hardness specification may wear prematurely and eventually crack.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗