2012 Nissan QUEST: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
93 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 70 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 93 complaints (30.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 26.9% |
| Engine operation | 21 | 22.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 12.9% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 8.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 28 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
Power Train: 28; Electrical System: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Engine: 13; Unknown Or Other: 12; Structure:Body: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Service Brakes: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2012: 11; 2013: 7; 2014: 4; 2015: 8; 2016: 8; 2017: 10; 2018: 7; 2019: 10; 2020: 6; 2021: 13; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 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 10445761 · 2012-01-29 (January 29, 2012)
PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 NISSAN QUEST JUST WEEKS AGO, CURRENT MILEAGE 320. ENGINE STALLED WITH LITTLE LESS THAN QUARTER TANK OF GAS IN A SLOW TURN. COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VAN HAD ENOUGH GAS FOR 30 MILES TRAVEL. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CARS BEHIND US, SO I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND RESTART THE CAR TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE ADVISER ADVISED ME TO MAKE SURE NOT TO LET THE GAS TANK GO DOWN BELOW 1/4 TANK. AFTER READING ALL OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM CURRENT QUEST OWNERS, I WILL BE …
Owner-reported narrative. 320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446754 · 2012-02-05 (February 5, 2012)
MY NEW 2012 NISSAN QUEST WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE FRONT SLIGHTLY FACING DOWN LOOKING AT THE ROAD WITH LESS THAN QUARTER TANK OF GAS. THE VAN WOULD START BUT WOULD NOT STAY IDLE AND THE DASH BOARD INDICATED THAT THE VAN HAD ENOUGH GAS TO GO 25 MILES. I HAD TO PUT THE VAN IN NEUTRAL TO ROLL IT DOWN THE STREET (FLAT SURFACE) BEFORE IT CAN BE STARTED AND KEPT ON IDLE. WHEN YOU ROLL THE VAN DOWN IN NEUTRAL WITH THE ENGINE OFF YOU LOOSE YOUR POWER BRAKES, SO I HAD TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO CARS COMING FROM EITHER SIDE. I REPORTED THE IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10446754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447506 · 2012-02-11 (February 11, 2012)
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING UP A 2-3% GRADE. IT APPEARED TO RUN OUT OF FUEL ALTHOUGH THE NAVIGATION DISPLAY INDICATED THERE WERE 21 MILES UNTIL EMPTY. THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO INDICATED FUEL REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH AND FORTUNATELY IT COASTED TO THE TOP OF THE GRADE. AT THAT POINT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RECEIVING FUEL ONCE AGAIN AND KICKED IN. THIS APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ON THE 2011 MODEL YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE NARROW ROAD AROUND A BLIND CURVE WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450004 · 2012-03-01 (March 1, 2012)
VAN WAS PARKED NOSE DOWN ON APPROX. 10 TO 12 DEGREE HILL. VAN REFUSED TO START AND HAD BE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD NISSAN WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS WORKING ON A FIX. WAS THAN TOLD TO KEEP AT LEAST HALF A TANK OF GAS IN VAN AT ALL TIMES. *TR ....
Owner-reported narrative. 413 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454376 · 2012-04-06 (April 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL AND THE CONTACT ADDED AN ADDITIONAL ONE FOURTH A TANK OF GASOLINE BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454665 · 2012-04-10 (April 10, 2012)
MY NEW 2012 NISSAN QUEST GOES DEAD AND WILL NOT START WHEN SITTING ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE IN THE FRONT. IT HAS GAS BUT IT WILL SPUTTER AND WILL NOT START. MY DRIVEWAY GOES DOWNHILL AND I CANNOT EVEN PARK IN DRIVEWAY I HAVE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I PUT VAN IN NEUTRAL TO POSSIBLY GET IT LEVEL AND WITHOUT NOTICE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK WHEN IN NEUTRAL AND MY BRAND NEW VAN RAN THRU THE GARAGE DOOR!!!!! WHEN YOU PAY ALL THAT MONEY FOR A NISSAN THAT YOU CONSIDER RELIABLE REALLY BOTHERS ME!!! TAKING IT TO THE DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465241 · 2012-07-11 (July 11, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL. WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR GENERATE A TROUBLE DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 7/31/12 *CN UPDATED 08/01/12
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472967 · 2012-08-29 (August 29, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT ACCURATELY DISPLAYING THE LEVEL OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DUE TO LOW FUEL ALTHOUGH THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS HALF FULL. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 12V076000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: SOFTWARE) BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472967 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V076000 · Electrical System:Software | Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2012-02-29 (February 29, 2012)
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 29, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2012. DUE TO SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING, WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR IDLING ON A DECLINE WITH ¼ TANK FUEL OR LESS, THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY STALL.
Consequence: VEHICLE STALLING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗