2012 Nissan Nv problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (3) · Air Bags (2) · Wheels (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Nv model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-03-30 · campaign 20V188000 · 216,678 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift 2013-03-15 · campaign 13V095000 · 18,880 vehicles
Defect: 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. As a result, normal road vibration may cause the gear position indicator to not match the gear shift lever position.
Risk: As a consequence of the incorrect display, although the gear indicator may display that the vehicle is in Park, the vehicle may not be properly secured allowing the vehicle to roll away unexpectedly, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2011-12-19 · campaign 11V592000 · 14,718 vehicles
Defect: 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 ENGI
Risk: IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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 2011-08-09 · campaign 11V408000 · 54 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: THE AFFECTED ACU WILL NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED AND THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO INFLATE IN A CRASH WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNED TO INFLATE. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (113)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-027D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication – network diagnostic flow chart this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB10-066C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 113 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-01-26 · Air Bags · 41,000 mi“air bag sensor will not allow airbags to deploy nissan claims this is not part of the recall for nhsta: 20v-188 air bag light is always on and disables the air bags. -98820-1pd9b o spo sensor-sid …”
2018-08-03 · Electrical System · 55,000 mi“fan motor which blows the fan when the ac is turned on, keeps tripping the fuse. 3 fuses, they last for about 5 seconds before blowing, and the fan no longer works.…”
2016-09-21 · Air Bags · 54,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2014 (na) nissan nv3500. when the passenger door was closed, the passenger door and seat air bags deployed without warning or impact. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and issued an investigation. the approximate failure mileage was 54,000.…”
2014-10-16 · Power Train“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…”
2014-06-28 · Wheels · 30,000 mi“on 5/23 at the 30000 mi service for my 2012 nissan nv 2500 van, the jim click nissan rotated the tires but failed to adjust the tire pressure (50 psi front and 80 psi rear) and failed to reset the tpms. as a result i was 30 psi under inflated in the rear tires on a heavily loaded van and the tpms was unable to detect this. even though i thought the…”
2013-08-21 · Power Train“2012 nissan nv 2500. consumer writes in regards to unsatisfactory customer service at dealership regarding recall repair. *smd 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 co…”
2013-03-30 · Power Train · 14,115 mi · 💥 crash“transmission shows that the vehicle is in park but kicks back into reverse and roll back damaging drivers door. *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.