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2012 Nissan Xterra Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 15 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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88/100

Recommended — 2012 Nissan Xterra

The 2012 Nissan Xterra shows low recall and complaint activity. Based on available NHTSA data, this is generally considered a solid model year choice.

2
NHTSA Recalls
2 recalls on record
15
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
0
Crashes + Injuries
In NHTSA complaints

Own or buying a 2012 Nissan Xterra?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Nissan Xterra (2)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Nissan dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #11V592000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V462000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Nissan Xterra

Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
6
Air Bags
4
Engine
3
Fuel/propulsion System
1
Unknown Or Other
1
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Nissan Xterra — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 38 complaints 2011 24 complaints 2012 15 complaints 2013 4 complaints 2014 9 complaints 2015 10 complaints 2016 0 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2010 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2013, 2016 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Nissan Xterra

Is the 2012 Nissan Xterra reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Nissan Xterra has 2 recalls and 15 owner complaints. This is generally considered a reliable model year.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Xterra have?
The 2012 Nissan Xterra has 2 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Xterra?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Nissan Xterra are: Power Train, Air Bags, Engine, Fuel/propulsion System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Nissan Xterra safe to buy?
The 2012 Nissan Xterra has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Nissan Xterra should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Nissan Xterra are: 2013, 2016. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2010.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.