10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,086 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Nissan Frontier drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Nissan Frontier Owner Comments

problem #20

Jan 132020

Frontier

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact called on behalf of his son who owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shuddered without warning. The vehicle resumed normal operation after experiencing the failure. The vehicle was taken to metro Nissan of montclair 9440 autoplex St, montclair, ca 91763, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

- Walnut, CA, USA

problem #19

Jul 262018

Frontier

  • 83,000 miles
Both rear axle seals failed due to a faulty rear axle housing breather valve. Gear oil began leaking on to rear brake pads creating a safety issue. Also, seals and bearings could not be replaced independently. A $15 part failure (breather valve) caused both rear axles to be replaced in excess of $1000. Nissan would not provide any consideration of good will help unless I paid a diagnostic fee at local dealer. This came with no guarantee of help.

- Edinboro, PA, USA

problem #18

Dec 122015

Frontier

  • 15,000 miles
The 2012 Nissan Frontier has a rubber grommet on the clutch pedal which triggers saftey switch. The grommet goes bad and the vehicle will not start. Cannot be jumped. Must be towd or fixed on the spot. These grommetts go bad in 15,000 miles and it cost $15 for a new one. You cannot maintain a piece of rubber on te clutch. Rediculous

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #17

Aug 102015

Frontier

  • 61,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I noticed a leak in the rear end of my 2012 Frontier, coming from the rack & pinion seal. I purchased the extended warranty on the vehicle. It turns out that a breather/screen had rusted and caused pressure to build, causing the seal to leak. I brought it to my local Nissan service center and they refused to repair it under warranty, saying that Nissan considers it "environmental causes". I know of other makes and models that go 100,000 or 200,000+ miles without read end issues. I have talked to other Frontier owners and found that they have had similar issues, with as little as 13,000 miles and trucks only 2 years old. I feel that this is a design flaw and Nissan should repair this defect under warranty.

- Graniteville, VT, USA

problem #16

Nov 072013

Frontier

  • 28,000 miles
Vehicle became hard to put into gear, especially when cold. Took car to the dealer, and they said something must have spilled down by the shifter linkage. I am the only driver, and I do not think that was the case, but could not be absolutely sure. I am only submitting this, because I saw several other posts where people could not shift their vehicles out of park, Nissan would not help out with the expense of repair since they were out of warranty. Anyone reading this should think long and hard before purchasing a Nissan. They are not the high quality vehicles they were at one time.

- Oak Ridge, NJ, USA

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problem #15

Mar 022015

Frontier 4WD 6-cyl

  • 51,946 miles
Transmission shifter will not go into drive, stranding driver and vehicle in customer's driveway. This is a defective assembly that has failed on several other Frontiers with automatic transmissions. Vehicle is disabled until repaired. Parts for the repair are dealer only and the repair is over $600!

- Pennsauken, Nj, NJ, USA

problem #14

Mar 022015

Frontier 4-cyl

  • 50,007 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission shifter will not go into drive, stranding driver and vehicle in customer's driveway. This is a defective assembly that has failed on several other Frontiers with automatic transmissions. Vehicle is disabled until repaired. Parts for the repair are dealer only and the repair is over $600!

- Pennsauken, Nj, NJ, USA

problem #13

Mar 092015

Frontier 4-cyl

  • 39,200 miles
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly is defective and vehicle is sitting at Nissan dealership waiting for repair. Nissan is refusing to cover the cost of replacement out of warranty. This is the 8th 2012 Nissan Frontier shifter failure so far out of the 66 2012 Nissan Frontiers we have in our NJ fleet. No tsb or recall has been issued for this high frequency issue, and Nissan is refusing cover the cost of the defective shifter repairs for being 3000 miles out of the 36K bumper to bumper warranty. Nissan Consumer Affairs was contacted about the refusal to cover the cost of the repair; case #18171024. Nissan C.a. took 3 weeks to respond with a denial. The vehicle has been out of service for over 3 weeks and counting and the repair cost is $595. Customers should not be forced to pay the costs to repair, especially dealership rates and part prices because the parts are dealer only items, high frequency failures caused by known defects.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #12

Jan 292015

Frontier 4-cyl

  • 34,214 miles
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jan 292015

Frontier 4-cyl

  • 30,216 miles
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.

- Pennsauken , NJ, USA

problem #10

Sep 132013

Frontier

  • 19,228 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #9

Feb 042015

Frontier

  • 29,649 miles
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.

- Pennsauken , NJ, USA

problem #8

Mar 242014

Frontier 4-cyl

  • 39,321 miles
Vehicle would not shift into drive and stranded the driver. Vehicle shifter found to be defective and was replaced. The shifter can stop operating at any time, leaving the vehicle unable to drive. I have had 8 of these shifters replaced on 8 different 2012 Nissan Frontiers and counting.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #7

Dec 162013

Frontier

  • 22,132 miles
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #6

Jan 142014

Frontier

  • 34,950 miles
Shifter for the transmission would not go into drive standing the driver and vehicle. Shifter assembly found defective and was replaced at Nissan dealership.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #5

Apr 012014

Frontier

  • 21,456 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the gears failed to engage. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 21,456.

- Myersville, MD, USA

problem #4

Mar 212013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 17,750 miles
The 4 wheel drive 2H is engaged and while attempting to reverse the vehicle a momentary hesitation and jerking ensues as if the vehicle is in neutral as you press on the gas pedal to move the vehicle backwards. The vehicle eventually proceeds in reverse in a jerking motion. This only occurs in reverse and at low speed. I informed the dealership at an oil chance and the condition was noted on the work order. Technician stated this is normal in 4 wheel drive and no malfunction or repair was noted. Service at Continental Nissan countryside Illinois.

- La Grange, IL, USA

problem #3

Jan 222014

Frontier

  • 25,012 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate beyond 30 mph. The vehicle then began jerkin violently and caused the contact to bounce off a side railing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who advised that the electric control module failed. The vehicle was scheduled for repairs. The manufacture was contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 25,012.

- Goldsboro, NC, USA

problem #2

May 122013

Frontier

  • 181,041 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph, the front end vibrated as the front driver's side of the vehicle fell to the ground. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the four wheel drive line bolts were separated and caused the front driver's side to fall. As a result, the transfer case and the floor board were damaged. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 181,041. The VIN was not available.

- Crescent City, CA, USA

problem #1

Oct 242012

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
Without much warning signs or without any accident, all of the sudden the vehicle started jerking and made a horrible noise. After inspection by the shop, all six bolts attaching the front drive to the transfer box were gone. The parts went loose causing severe damage underneath the track, which was worsened by the towing. If that parts would have detached at high speed, the incident would have been fatal. The only warning was a low noise, associated with tire rotation and then a loud "bang" like I hit a stone underneath. This noise was present for 10 minutes before the incident. I believe all 2012 Nissan Frontiers should be inspected for this problem to prevent fatalities.

- Portland, OR, USA

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