How the 2012 compares
One of the better Pathfinder years
Owners filed about 78% fewer complaints than a typical Pathfinder year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Pathfinder years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The most reported problem area is the engine and cooling (6, 26% of complaints), followed by the suspension and the air bags. That is the fewest complaints of any Pathfinder year from 2012 to 2024 on file. It has 2 recalls.
Complaints23filed with NHTSA
Recalls2for this model year
Crashes21 injury reported
Fires1reported in complaints
Own one?
Get recall alerts for your 2012 Pathfinder
Add it to My Garage, free. We email you when a new recall is issued for it, plus service reminders and what it is worth each month.
Add it to My GarageShopping for one?
Start a free car search
Tell us what you want in a 2012 Pathfinder and your budget. We review every request and show you how we can help you find a good one and skip the bad years.
Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder before you buy.
Engine and cooling
6 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
While vehicle is in motion, the engine will all of a sudden seize. This has happened 5 times, 2 times on the freeway at 55 - 65 MPH, seized in motion, stepped all the way down on gas after engine seized, engine revs, hardly any power, almost down to 10 MPH in less than 10 seconds. Both times, was afternoon rush hour and while trying to…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 82,000 miles
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 [VIN] was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 28,000 miles
Suspension
5 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
Right lower control arm snapped while driving at highway speed (65MPH) causing vehicle into a 360 spin. Vehicle spun, was hard to control and tire blew out at speed. Others behind me or in front may have gotten involved if traffic was heavier at the time. Vehicle wasnt inspected, no police involved. No warning before incident. Incident…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Rear lower control arm broke while driving. Vehicle had to be moved on a rollback. Upon replacing control arm, cracks have been found at several points on the crossmember subframe. As it stands, the vehicle is a danger to have on the road.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Air bags
4 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
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 [VIN] was notified of the failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2016
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…Owner complaint, filed 2015
Electrical system
3 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked on the road outside his friend's residence. The contact stated that as he approached the vehicle, he saw smoke coming from the windows. The contact stated that when he opened the vehicle, he saw that the headliner of the vehicle and the seats had…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 111,000 miles
We purchased the truck in 2018. Starting last year the truck starting losing power, not cutting on. Replaced the battery and have had 5 mechanics check it. Not one mechanic has been able to find the issue. Today my truck cut off in a tunnel with my children in the car. This could have and felt like an extremely dangerous situation. Upon…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Brakes and stability control
3 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
When I stepped on the brakes they seemed to react normally. Then the pedal went to the floor. At that point it was braking but not as efficiently as it should. The inefficiency of the brakes would have caused me to overshoot the stopping point of the intersection. Rather than stop in the middle of the intersection, I applied the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 64,000 miles
I bought my nissan pathfinder june 2012 brand new...I haven't had any issues with my vehicle until august 2, 2018 in my garage I tried to start it but it wouldn't crank. I had it towed to nissan service....I was told it shouldn't be doing this if you bought your car new...after diagnosis they told me it was my computer (ecm)so, is that…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 134,336 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
Check engine light comes on and vehicle will not cycle through gears. Will go into drive, reverse, neutral but not 1st, second, third. Vehicle will go back to normal after I disconnect the battery for a few minutes but the same issue will happen a few days laterOwner complaint, filed 2022
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…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 130,000 miles
Steering
2 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
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…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 37,535 miles
There was no incident but now I’m scared to drive my vehicle that I’m still paying for and my insurance telling me if I don’t get the recall resolve it’s going to be an issue.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Body, doors and structure
2 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he noticed that the rear tires were abnormally damaged. The contact stated that upon further inspection, he noticed that the subframe was severely corroded and fractured. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided an estimate for the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to wobble as if the steering wheel was being turned to the left and to the right repeatedly. The contact stated the vehicle wobbled more violently after driving over bumps in the road. The contact stated no warning light…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 156,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
2 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
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.Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 8,748 miles
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…Owner complaint, filed 2015
Nissan Pathfinder complaints by year
Compare the 2012 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2012 midsize SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Nissan Pathfinder | One of the better years | 2 |
| 2012 Toyota Highlander | About average | 2 |
| 2012 Honda Pilot | One of the better years | 9 |
| 2012 Ford Explorer | One of the better years | 7 |
2012 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Suspension Hub
- Risk
- If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Engine and 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.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
2012 Nissan Pathfinder questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most reported problem areas on the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder are the engine and cooling (6 complaints), the suspension (5 complaints) and the air bags (4 complaints).
Is the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder a good year to buy?
One of the better Pathfinder years. Owners filed about 78% fewer complaints than a typical Pathfinder year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Pathfinder years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder have?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The most recent, from Sep 2012, covers the hub. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
Which Nissan Pathfinder years should I avoid?
The Pathfinder years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2013, 2014 and 2015. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012 and 2020. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model