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2012 Nissan Xterra
2 recall campaigns and 8 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 2012 Nissan Xterra; the recalls concern suspension and engine and engine cooling.
The component named most often is power train: 444.4 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 110.4 per 1,000 across all 2012 model-year vehicles and against 253.8 per 1,000 for the Nissan Xterra line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 181.4 complaints per model year across the 16 Nissan Xterra model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2013 (3); the most recent in the file is dated 29 Jul 2017.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2012 Nissan Xterra (black) against all 2012 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2012 | Xterra line | All 2012 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 444.4 | 253.8 | 110.4 |
| Engine | 333.3 | 86.1 | 127.7 |
| Air Bags | 222.2 | 35.3 | 113 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4 | 444.4 | 253.8 | 110.4 |
| Engine | 3 | 333.3 | 86.1 | 127.7 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 222.2 | 35.3 | 113 |
8 unique complaints, 9 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Nissan Xterra model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 | 207 | 694,548 |
| 2001 | 3 | 147 | 773,196 |
| 2002 | 5 | 147 | 1,299,310 |
| 2003 | 3 | 69 | 1,229,748 |
| 2004 | 2 | 72 | 500,683 |
| 2005 | 3 | 822 | 1,002,700 |
| 2006 | 3 | 738 | 1,070,889 |
| 2007 | 1 | 521 | 242,720 |
| 2008 | 6 | 102 | 742,685 |
| 2009 | 3 | 15 | 655,358 |
| 2010 | 4 | 24 | 458,325 |
| 2011 | 2 | 14 | 419,408 |
| 2012 | 2 | 8 | 17,135 |
| 2013 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 2014 NHTSA | 0 | 8 | — |
| 2015 NHTSA | 0 | 6 | — |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Nissan Xterra model years · Nissan: 46 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Xterra have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 12V462000, was reported to NHTSA on 20 Sep 2012 and concerns suspension:front:hub. Across all model years the Nissan Xterra line has 21 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2012 Nissan Xterra?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2012 Nissan Xterra complain about most?
Power Train: 4 of 9 component mentions (444.4 per 1,000). Next is engine with 3. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.