FaultScore

2012 Nissan Frontier engine problems

13 of the 98 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Frontier are about the engine — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 26,506 miles.

C

13

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 12 92.3%
Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor 1 7.7%

Engine & Cooling across every Nissan Frontier year

1998 11 1.8%
1999 10 1.6%
2000 12 2.0%
2001 25 4.1%
2002 14 2.3%
2005 186 30.5%
2006 156 25.6%
2007 134 22.0%
2008 35 5.7%
2012 13 2.1%
2023 13 2.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 179,002 miles Waianae, HI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

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 vehicle. The contact shifted into park(P); however, several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and had the cam shaft sensor replaced again. Additionally, the contact stated that the ignition key was no longer working and turning the ignition switch. The contact then drove the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle failure had reoccurred, and the vehicle was not taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.

NHTSA complaint #11588145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN UNKNOWN WIRE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FINANCED THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.*DT Consumer stated there is more accurate statement on BBB Complaint Form Complete.

NHTSA complaint #11403039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,291 miles Napa, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO NAPA NISSAN (510 SOSCOL AVE, NAPA, CA 94559) WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED TWO CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES BY THE SAME DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,291.

NHTSA complaint #11365826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,961 miles Leesburg, VA

ENGINE

THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY WHEN SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE ENGINE STOPPING WOULD CAUSE ALL POWER ASSISTED FUNCTIONS TO CEASE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND BRAKE. MOST RECENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD START EXTREME HESITATION WHILE DRIVING AND I COULD NOT GET UP TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH. I HAD TO USE MY FLASHERS TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT MY SPEED WAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY WHERE VEHICLES RAPIDLY APPROACHED FROM THE REAR. IT WOULDN'T NEGOTIATE A LARGE HII (LACK OF POWER) AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME. RECEIPT BELOW.

NHTSA complaint #11330938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,500 miles Sacramento, CA

ENGINE

MY TRUCK HAS HAD WHAT FEELS TO ME LIKE A ROUGH IDLE FOR ABOUT AS LONG AS I'VE HAD IT. IT WAS FINE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE TRUCK DIED AT A STOP LIGHT. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THIS FOR A MECHANIC SO I JUST KEPT DRIVING IT. IT ALSO DIED ONCE ON MY WIFE BUT SHE DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT IT AT THE TIME. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT LOWER SPEEDS DUE TO TRAFFIC. IT DIED ON ME AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER. THEY REPAIRED A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME. IT SEEMED OK BUT AFTER ABOUT TEN MILES IT DIED AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME. IT IS STILL IDLING ROUGH. IT HASN'T DIED AGAIN YET BUT I'M AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF IT DOES. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. I THINK IT HAS SOME DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #11254640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santee, CA

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL.. A TRANSMISSION ISSUE

NHTSA complaint #11230569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,069 miles Gardner, KS

ENGINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DETERMINED CODE PO488. THE VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR THE GAS TANK - DOES NOT FORM A VACUUM WHEN ENGINE RUNNING AND IMPACT FUEL DELIVERY.

NHTSA complaint #11220760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Melbourne, FL

ENGINE

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 15.00 FOR A NEW ONE. YOU CANNOT MAINTAIN A PIECE OF RUBBER ON TE CLUTCH. REDICULOUS

NHTSA complaint #10816669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,130 miles Nampa, ID

ENGINE

I FIRST NOTICED THE INCIDENT TODAY IN A DOWNTOWN AREA, SPEED OF 35 MPH. UPON REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR THE RPM DROPPED TO 1000, NOT LOWER, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AT THE 35 MPH. AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY I WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT. AS I ENTERED OUR STREET I BRAKED REDUCING SPEED. THE VEHICLE RPM REMAINED AT 1000 AND THE SPEED WAS LOWER,BUT REQUIRING BRAKING TO SLOW COMPLETLY. I INSPECTED THE ACCELATOR PEDAL AREA, WITH MY WIFE TO VERIFY THAT NOTHING WAS BLOCKING THE ACCELATOR. MY WIFE AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE ON ANOTHER TEST DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT, CRUSING AT 35 MPH WITH NO FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, RPM AT 1000. THE OUTSIDE TEMP. WAS APPROX. 102/104F. WEATHER CLEAR AND DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS USED OVER THE WEEKEND FOR A ROUND TRIP OF APPROX. 700 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS, MILEAGE UPON PARKING WAS 18,135. I THINK THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10731379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Apple Valley, CA

ENGINE

ENGINE COOLANT SMELL AFTER DRIVING. RADIATOR GETS LOW ON COOLANT. OVERFLOW COOLANT LEVEL IS FULL WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. RADIATOR IS NOT PULLING COOLANT BACK FROM THE OVER FLOW WHEN THE ENGINE COOLS DOWN AFTER BEING OPERATED. THIS INDICATES A LEAK. NISSAN DEALER DID A VISUAL INSPECTION BUT AID THEY FOUND NOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10565360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,012 miles Goldsboro, NC Crash

ENGINE

TL* 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.

NHTSA complaint #10561783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,325 miles Hampden, ME

ENGINE

AGAIN! WHILE TRAVELING APX 55 MPH, VEHICLE LOST POWER, ENGINE SURGING, SPUTTERING, SOME WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATED. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE ANOTHER MILE OR 2. NO LUCK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED 80 PLUS MILES BACK TO DEALER. ANOTHER CRANK POSITION REPLACED AND PROBLEM WAS FIXED FOR NOW, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR!! ID THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY MULTI LANE HIGHWAY WHILE TOWING SOMETHING IT MIGHT HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME!!

NHTSA complaint #10486244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Carrollton, KY

ENGINE

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE A/C STOPPED WORKING THEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE NEXT DAY WENT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS WAS THE FOURTH ENGINE THAT HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE CHANGE AND I WAS 300 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. LOOSING MONEY AND TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10468825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2012 Nissan Frontier problems

← Full 2012 Nissan Frontier report