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Light NHTSA footprint — 23 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder has 23 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is suspension at 5 complaints, typically surfacing around 144,500 miles (~$900 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Pathfinder | 37 | 1 |
| 2010 Pathfinder | 40 | 3 |
| 2011 Pathfinder | 45 | 1 |
| 2012 Pathfinder (this page) | 23 | 2 |
| 2013 Pathfinder | 890 | 2 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | 573 | 5 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | 319 | 2 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2012 Nissan Pathfinder SUV 4WD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 36,000 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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.…
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…
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,…
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…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the suspension first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 5 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 144,500 miles. Average repair cost runs about $900 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 23 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is suspension. Typical failure occurs around 144,500 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is suspension, with 5 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 144,500 miles. Average repair cost runs about $900 at an independent shop.
The suspension is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $900 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 144,500 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 23 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $900, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.