Most common 2012 Nissan Titan problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Titan complaints by model year
Best Titan years: 2014, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, 2021, 2004, 2005. Compare all years →
2012 Nissan Titan recalls (2)
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain model year 2012 Nissan titan vehicles, manufactured from June 10, 2011, through July 22, 2011, equipped with the sports appearance package have incorrect seating capacity information displayed on the tire placard. 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 Titan owners say
Air bags
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Titan. The contact received notification of a Nissan internal air bag recall before which the air bag warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to complete the recall and diagnosed a failure with the air bag inflator and air bag control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the internal manufacturer recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Titan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed front driver's side air bag. The contact was informed that the front driver's air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated for almost a year. The contact stated that previously in 2021, the air bag software was updated under an unknown recall. In addition, the contact stated that in 2022, the front driver's air bag control module was replaced under manufacturer approval at no cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,172.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that the exhaust manifold was rusted and cracked. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 147,000.
Nissan Titan has a cracked manifolds which leaks exhaust into the cab of the vechicle. Appreantly this is a know issue with Nissan and the need to get a real fix not a replacement but a replacement that wont happen again
Body & structure
Exhaust pipe connection rusted through. Same exact problem someone else noted on their complaint. Connection used between muffler and tailpipe completely rusted away leaving the tailpipe dangling from bottom of truck. This is a manufacturing design issue in which all Nissan Titan trucks since original release had a connector piece that is not galvanized for rust prevention welded to the beginning of the tailpipe and the end of the muffler pipe extension. These pieces are then bolted together with bolts that aren't galvanized. The connection pieces are flanged so they hold water and start rusting. The truck started to shake every once in a while I was at stop light or stop sign. Could not figure problem. I was getting my truck ready to get my wife from the airport when my son notice the tail pipe was crooked. When he looked underneath it was completely disconnected from muffled. …
In colder temperatures, the door handles freeze and will not work from inside or outside. The door will also not close as the latch mechanism simply will not engage. This leaves a flapping door that won't close, or if you can close it, you can't reopen it, even from inside. Parked in the cold.
2012 Nissan Titan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Nissan Titan a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Titan rates better than average: 73% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Titan 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 Titan?
The air bags — 7 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (6) and body & structure (5).
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Titan have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Nissan Titan, 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 Titan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2018, 2021, 2004 and 2005. See the full Nissan Titan years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Titan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 35% 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.