Model year guide

2012 Nissan Xterra

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Nissan Xterra is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 71 on record.

2012 Nissan Xterra — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Nissan Xterra at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints16
Combined17 mpg
Typical price$16,652

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Nissan Xterra recalls 2

Engine And Engine Cooling NHTSA Campaign #11V592000 · 19/12/2011

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 RE…

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.

Suspension:front:hub NHTSA Campaign #12V462000 · 20/09/2012

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra two-wheel drive vehicles manufactured from June 19, 2012, through July 12, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that may not meet the design hardness specifications. A wheel hub that was manufactured below hardness specification may wear prematurely and eventually crack.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on October 22, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Nissan Xterra common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

2012 Nissan Xterra MPG & running costs

Combined17 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,533

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Nissan Xterra worth?

Low
$13,000
Typical price
$16,652
High
$19,900

From 70 comparable 2012 Nissan Xterra listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Nissan Xterra costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,665
Depreciation (5 yrs)$10,450
Total$28,115
Per mile$0.37

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($16,652) with the same model 5 model-years older ($6,199), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Nissan Xterra trims & engines on record

Trims
X · S · Pro-4X
Engines
4.0L

2012 Nissan Xterra vehicles on record

2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra5N1AN0NU7CC517019 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NW1CC504302 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X5N1AN0NW2CC521206 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NW0CC521009 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NW3CC517102 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NW9CC526094 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X5N1AN0NW2CC505927 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NU7CC518171 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NU8CN800663 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NU9CC507835 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X5N1AN0NW5CC514556 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NW3CC509405 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NU1CC503133 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NW3CC526754 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X5N1AN0NW8CC514518 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NW9CC514656 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X5N1AN0NW2CC501943 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NU5CC519500 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NU5CC503474 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NU1CC517159 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NUXCC522991 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra S5N1AN0NU2CC501181 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NW2CC507080 2012 Nissan Xterra 2012 Nissan Xterra X5N1AN0NW2CN801275

Other Nissan Xterra model years

2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

2012 Nissan Xterra — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Nissan Xterra have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2012 Nissan Xterra. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Xterra?

Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, air bags, engine.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Xterra get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Xterra at about 17 mpg combined (16 city / 21 highway).

How much is a 2012 Nissan Xterra worth?

Comparable 2012 Nissan Xterra listings run roughly $13,000–$19,900, typically around $16,652 (from 70 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.