Most common 2012 Nissan Armada problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Armada complaints by model year
Best Armada years: 2014, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2025, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2004. Compare all years →
2012 Nissan Armada recalls (1)
Equipment › Other › Labels
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 titan and armada vehicles, manufactured from August 12, 2011, through March 13, 2012. The part 567 certification labels on the vehicles do not contain rim size information. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Nissan will supply owners with a new label and instructions on how install the label or the owner will have the option of taking their vehicle to a Nissan dealer to have the new label installed free of charge.
What 2012 Nissan Armada owners say
Body & structure
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving, he drove over a bump in the road, and the back end swayed and it fishtailed. The contact pulled over and was unable to locate the cause of the failure. The contact continued to drive while driving over 35 MPH; the vehicle swerved. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, a suspension shop, and the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the subframe had fractured and was on top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not repaired due to the intense repairs and price. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The rear lift gate housing is cracked and comprises the integrity of keeping the rear door from opening from the inside and outside to include the glass window portion. I discovered the cracked lift gate housing as the rear latch is not fully operational.
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving, he drove over a bump in the road, and the back end swayed and it fishtailed. The contact pulled over and was unable to locate the cause of the failure. The contact continued to drive while driving over 35 MPH; the vehicle swerved. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, a suspension shop, and the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the subframe had fractured and was on top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not repaired due to the intense repairs and price. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
I have a 2012 Nissan armada and a 2013 Nissan armada and both cars o2 sensors have went out on each of them. This must be a common problem and the financial strain shouldn't be left for the customers buying an already expensive vehicles. Very odd that both my armadas are having the same issues with that particular sensor
Brakes
On or about 1/14/2015 I pulled into my mother's driveway to drop off my child for daycare. I put my vehicle in park, applied the emergency brake because the driveway sits up high, and turned off the Armada. Upon exiting my mother's house I observed my vehicle rolling off the driveway on it's own. It didn't stop until it hit the curb across the street. This could have lead to a crash or worse if I had been unloading my child from his carseat when the incident occurred. I hate to think what would have occurred if one of my other children was standing behind the vehicle when the vehicle rolled off the driveway.
The brake light and slip indicator turn on and the brakes do not work. There is nothing in the manual that explains what this means other than potentially low brake fluid. We checked the brake fluid level and it was halfway, we filled it up and the issue did not go away even after driving it. When you turn the vehicle off and start it back up the brake light turns off leaving only the slip indicator on but no explanation as to what the issues are regarding both systems. After carefully testing the system we found that the brakes are in fact failing and the vehicle is not stopping.
2012 Nissan Armada engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Nissan Armada a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Armada rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Armada at the same age. It is one of the best Armada years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Nissan Armada?
The body & structure — 4 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body › hatchback/liftgate. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (4) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Armada have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Nissan Armada, the most recent from April 4, 2012 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Armada?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2004. See the full Nissan Armada years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Armada problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.