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#BS-2012-NISPAT-70F2

2012 Nissan Pathfinder

Based on reports from 35 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
35
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Recalls
2
TSBs
103
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 35 complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

check engine light p0430

2 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

idle is erratic

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

water in fuel filter

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

6 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 111K miles.

!Inspect the AirbagsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

2
0–30K
2
30–60K
2
60–90K
2
90–120K
5
120–150K
2
150K+

Peak failure range: 120–150K miles (5 reports) • Median: 111K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (6 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine6 (17%)
Other5 (14%)
Airbags4 (11%)
Suspension4 (11%)
Electrical3 (9%)
Brakes3 (9%)
Drivetrain2 (6%)
Steering2 (6%)

2012 Nissan Pathfinder: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 111,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 111K-mile mark.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

1
13
2
14
6
15
2
16
4
18
1
19
1
20
5
21
3
22
5
23
3
24
2
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

11V592000Jan 2012

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

12V462000Oct 2012

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Nissan Pathfinder is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2012 Nissan Pathfinder vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD)

This vehicle

35

Class avg

313

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical sport utility vehicle - 2wd vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 35 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Nissan Pathfinder Model Years

2026202520242023202220202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986
View all Nissan Pathfinder years →

2012 Nissan Pathfinder: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder is related to the engine, with 6 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder has 35 complaints, 2 crash reports, and 1 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 2012 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
Yes, the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Based on 15 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 111,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 120–150K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 35 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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