Home · 2012 · Nissan
2012 Nissan Titan
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
22 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#52 of 357Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Nissan Titan ranks #52, scoring higher than 82% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Nissan Titan, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (7) · Body & structure (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
32%7 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Titan. The contact received notification of Manufacturer Recall Number: PC947 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was n…”
Body & structure
23%5 complaints
“TAMARA RECALL AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 70 EAST BOUND FROM GRAND JUNCTION COLORADO RESULTED IN BENT FRAME OF 2012 NISSAN TITAN”
Brakes
18%4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“AT 27,000 MILES HAD SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL AND DEALER TURN ROTORS AT 45,000 HAD SAME PROBLEM DEALER ALINED WHEELS AT 58,000 THE SAME PROBLEM REPLACED ROTORS AT 93,00…”
Engine
18%4 complaints
“Cracked exhaust manifold leaking fumes into the cabin of vehicle”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 22 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 4 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (2)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Equipment · 12V143000
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. 110, TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.
Risk: THE OMISSION OF THE RIM SIZE MAY LEAD TO AN INCORRECT TIRE/WHEEL COMBINATION WHICH MAY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 28, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-615-725-1000.
Equipment · 12V102000
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. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
Risk: AN INCORRECT CAPACITY LABEL MAY LEAD TO VEHICLE OVERLOADING. VEHICLE OVERLOADING MAY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 28, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-615-725-1000.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Nissan before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Nissan Titan. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report body & structure problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any body & structure symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Nissan TITAN beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Titan model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Nissan Titan against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.