Most common 2012 Nissan NV problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan NV complaints by model year
Best NV years: 2017, 2015. Years to avoid: 2016. Compare all years →
2012 Nissan NV recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012-2017 NV Cargo and NV Passenger Van, 2013-2015 Titan and Armada and 2011-2012 Infiniti QX56 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the air bag inflator may not function properly or may rupture during deployment.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2020.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 NV vehicles manufactured from December 20, 2010, through January 4, 2013 and are equipped with steering column-mounted transmission shift levers. The transmission lever gear selector plate lock clip may have been installed incorrectly.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the installation of the transmission lever gear selector plate lock clip, free of charge. The recall began on April 15, 2013.
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.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on January 30, 2012. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Nissan altima vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2011, through June 21, 2011 and model year 2012 Nissan nv vehicles manufactured from June 23, 2011, through June 28, 2011 because the air bag control unit (acu) was assembled incorrectly.
Remedy: Nissan will replace the air bag control unit free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2011. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What 2012 Nissan NV owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
2012 Nissan NV 2500. Consumer writes in regards to unsatisfactory customer service at dealership regarding recall repair. The consumer stated in order to get to the dealer, it was a 100 mile drive, as his local dealer doesn't work on his model. The consumer informed the dealer he wanted to wait for the vehicle, but the dealer stated they could not give him a time frame on when the vehicle would be ready. However, according to the recall notice, the repair would only take less than an hour to perform.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan NV. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 13V095000 (power train) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer informed that the part was not available and did not have an estimated date for part availability. The contact mentioned that the part was not available for a year. The manufacturer was not made aware of the delay. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Nissan NV a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 NV rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the NV at the same age. 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 NV?
The transmission & drivetrain — 3 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (2) and wheels & tires (1).
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan NV have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2012 Nissan NV, the most recent from March 30, 2020 (inflator module). 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 NV?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016. See the full Nissan NV years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan NV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 41,000 miles; 60% 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.