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2012 Nissan Pathfinder SUV 4WD

2
Recalls
16
Complaints

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
Overall Front Star Rating

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Front Driver Side
Front Passenger Side
Overall Side Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Driver
Passenger
Overall Side Pole Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Rollover Star Rating

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Rollover Risk: 22.8%

Complaints
Recalls

16 Complaints

for 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER
11/16/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/25/2021
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NB3CC******
Summary

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 burned. The contact stated that the fire had extinguished itself as the windows were closed. The contact stated that he was able to start the vehicle and drive it to his residence. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

06/16/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/16/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN6CC******
Summary

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 further research Nissans losing power is a common issue. Nissan needs to take action and fix the malfunctions. I can’t afford to be without a car, nor should I have to repair an issue that Nissan is responsible for.

02/11/2021
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 02/16/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN9CC******
Summary

THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT ENGAGE ALLOWING ME TO SHIFT FROM P TO D AND PUT THE CAR IN GEAR WITHOUT MANUALLY OVERRIDING AND STICKING A SCREW DRIVER DOWN IN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY.*JB*JB

02/16/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/08/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN5CC******
Summary

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 ACCELERATOR TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER FOR THE REMINDER OF THAT TRIP. ON ALL SUBSEQUENT USES OF THE TRUCK, WHICH WAS TO GET BACK TO OUR HOMETOWN DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES DID RESPOND NORMALLY. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE 2/9/20 AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE CHECKED DTC'S, WIRING, VACUUM HOSES, ROTORS, PADS, BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AND FLUID AND CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS.*DT

04/12/2019
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 04/12/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN3CC******
Summary

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY TIME, MORNING, AFTERNOON.... CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON AND WITHIN SECONDS, MINUTES..., ENGINE WILL REV, SEIZE AND WHEN PRESSING GAS, ENGINE WILL REV BUT BARELY ANY PROPULSION. IF DRIVING AT 60MPH, ENGINE WILL SEIZE AND SPEED WILL DROP IMMEDIATELY. NO CONTROL OF MOTOR OR SPEED. THIS IS THE 15TH TIME I'M 2 YEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

08/08/2018
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 08/02/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 1C3CCCAB1FN******
Summary

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 NORMAL FOR A 6 YEAR OLD CAR?ALSO, NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING..

07/10/2018
Components: PARKING BRAKE,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/23/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

IF THE TRANSMISSION IN THE "N" POSITION (NEUTRAL), THE PARKING BREAK CAN'T HOLD THE CAR ON INCLINE SPACE! THAT PROBLEM EXIST IN ALL NISSAN PATHFINDERS YEAR 2012 AND UP, WE FIND IT IN THE OTHER PATHFINDERS ON THE DEALERSHIP TOO (THAT MEANS IT IS NOT THE SINGLE PROBLEM JUST WITH MY CAR), BUT THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL(?!?) IF THE TRANSMISSION IN THE "P" POSITION (PARK) THAT PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST (BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HOLDS THE CAR) BUT THE PARKING BREAK ITSELF CAN NOT HOLD THE CAR ON INCLINE! I DID NOT FIND THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANY OTHER MODELS/MAKES...

05/18/2018
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 05/17/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN3CC******
Summary

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 GET TO THE SHOULDER LANE, I HAD TO CROSS 2-3 LANES OF VERY FAST TRAFFIC, DROPPING TO ROUGHLY 10 MPH, BARELY MISSING IMPACT WITH OTHER CARS, BOTH TIMES. THE OTHER 2 TIMES, I WAS YIELDING WHILE MAKING A CORNER AND THE CAR SEIZED, SAME SPOT AND SAME EXPERIENCE AS THE FREEWAY, WHAT FEELS LIKE ALMOST COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. 5TH TIME HAPPENED TODAY, MAKING A CORNER, TRIED TO EXCEL, ENGINE REVED AND SEIZED. ALL TIMES, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PRIOR TO. PLEASE NOTE, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE, NHSTA RECALL 11V-592. WHEN I CHECKED WITH NISSAN AND DEALER, THEY BOTH SAID MY VIN WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL, BUT I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A MAJOR ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

02/29/2016
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 02/29/2016
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

I WAS IN A 40MPH CAR ACCIDENOT AND MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

02/12/2016
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 12/16/2015
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN1CC******
Summary

TL* 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

12/08/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 09/17/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NB0CC******
Summary

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 WASN'T INCLUDED, WE WOULDN'T HAVE PUT SUCH A LARGER DOWN PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE. WE'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE NOW FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS AND WERE THINKING,... "WHY MAKE PAYMENTS ON SOMETHING THAT HAS A LOT OF MILES, WHEN WE COULD MAKE PAYMENTS ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH NO MILES?" SO WE WENT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO BUY A NEW 2015 VEHICLE. WHILE WE ARE AT THIS DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORM US THAT WHEN THEY RAN THE VIN #:, IT CAME UP THAT OUR PATHFINDER HAS "STRUCTURAL DAMAGE" AS WELL AS "LEFT FRONT DAMAGE." ALL OF WHICH WE WERE UNAWARE OF. MAD CITY SALES NEVER SHOWED US A CAR FAX, ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY DID. THEY DID NOT HAVE A BUYERS GUIDE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN WE TEST DROVE IT. IF THEY WOULD'VE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WHEN WE QUESTIONS MAD CITY ABOUT THE DAMAGE, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT WERE SURE THEY HAD TOLD US. THEN, THEY CALL BACK AND SAY THEY FOUND PAPERS WITH OUR SIGNATURES/INITIALS STATING THAT THEY SHOWED US. THESE PAPERS ARE DATED FOR JULY 21ST, 2015. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER!! SO I DON'T SEE HOW OUR SIGNATURES GOT ON THESE FORMS. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY SOMEHOW COPY AND PASTED OUR SIGNATURES ONTO THESE FORMS. WE FEEL CHEATED AND USED AND MISINFORMED ABOUT THE VEHICLE WE PURCHASED. I'VE SINCE THEN CHECKED INTO REVIEWS OF THIS COMPANY, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE! THEY FALSIFY DOCUMENTS TO MAKE A SALE. WE WOULD LIKE A FULL REFUND ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE MONEY THEY TOOK FROM US.

11/09/2015
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 11/08/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN3CC******
Summary

TL* 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

09/28/2015
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 05/24/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JN8DRO9X22W******
Summary

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 OWN. I AM 68 YRS OLD AND LOW INCOME ... I CANNOT PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT REPAIRED... MY CAR WAS FINE BEFORE THEY TOUCHED IT ...HOW DO I GET THEM TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED?

09/16/2015
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/02/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NN5CC******
Summary

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 THE VEHICLE REPLACED BY AUTO NATION SOUTH BAY NISSAN OF HAWTHORNE,CA INVOICE #685460, WHICH INCLUDED: RACK AND PINION, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, GEAR AND LINKAGE, SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMBINATION, AND CORE.

04/21/2014
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/07/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR18U85C******
Summary

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 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE LAW SUIT ONLY COVERED UP TO 100,000 MILES AND I'M AT 130,000 NISSAN WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

06/18/2013
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 06/04/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 5N1AR1NB6CC******
Summary

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. *TR

2 Recalls

for 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER
19/12/2011
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V592000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Campaign Number: 11V592000
Manufacture: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

20/09/2012
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V462000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Campaign Number: 12V462000
Manufacture: Nissan North America, Inc.
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

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