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Nissan ArmadaModel year report

2012 Nissan Armada Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
48,500miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
15 mpgcombined, 5.6L 8-cyl RWD · 13 city / 19 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Nissan Armada (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Nissan Armada. The part named most often is brakes, with 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by fuel system (4) and body and structure (4). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 48,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 104 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “Very light brake pedal, pedal goes all the way to the floor before the truck starts to slow down. The brake and vdc lights come and the brakes skip and truck slides. Took to Nissan dealership they said it was my brake booster and master cylinder causing the issue, I had items replaced and the problem is still there.”

NHTSA complaint #11186178, filed 2019-03, 125,000 miles

Fuel system: “At approximately 45-50 the car began to shudder on a state highway and stalled making it impossible to steer with normal effort . It would not start and was towed. Of note this is my 2nd Armada my 2004 had the same problem. I can't imagine Nissan does not know and has done nothing to fix it. Any thoughts ?”

NHTSA complaint #10721221, filed 2015-05, 60,000 miles

Body and structure: “I was driving to the store one morning about 3 miles from home. All of a sudden the rain started coming in the car bc the sunroof drain lines were improperly working at 10% because when manufactured they were placed the wrong way. This caused water to pour into my car as I was driving . My feet were soaked as rainwater poured on the gas and brake pedals. It also started to come through the dvd player ,the sunroof when closed and the side top panel in front. My lights and speedometer began to go in and out as then water continued to flood my car . …”

NHTSA complaint #10621277, filed 2014-08, 8,000 miles

Electrical system: “The motors on all 3 Nissan vehicles have and keep going out. I owned a 2009 Nissan altima, currently own a Nissan titan 2006 and Armada 2012. I've had to replace the titan back passenger motor 5x. Main window motor 1x. Altima front passenger once. Armada two passenger motors are giving out. This happens either parked or driving. Am I the only one having these issues?”

NHTSA complaint #11062336, filed 2018-01, 10 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 24,231 and 102,016 miles.

21%0–107%10–2521%25–5014%50–757%75–10021%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 48,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

201442017201920232025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Nissan Armada. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Armada · SUV 4WDnot rated———3 · 21.9% risk
Armada · SUV RWDnot rated———3 · 21.2% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Nissan Armada version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Armada 2WD5.6L 8-cyl5-speed automatic131915$4,450
Armada 4WD5.6L 8-cyl5-speed automatic121814$4,800
Armada 2WD5.6L 8-cyl · flex-fuel5-speed automatic131915$4,450
Armada 4WD5.6L 8-cyl · flex-fuel5-speed automatic121814$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Nissan Armada → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 104 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 104 bulletins →

Other model years of the Nissan Armada

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202693,5002—18—Too new
20252114,5482—18—Too new
20235—1416—Too new
2022960,0001—16—Not enough data
20211334,0002—16—Not enough data
20202758,500241641 · TypicalRising
20197922,000141678 · MoreStable
20187648,200141650 · TypicalRising
20178142,0000—1648 · TypicalStable
20152150,0003—15—Rising
20141366,5001—15—Not enough data
20131736,0002—15—Rising
20121748,5001—15—Rising
20114054,0001—1518 · FewerStable
20104864,0004—1557 · TypicalFalling
20092380,0003—14—Falling
200816179,0006—1484 · MoreFalling
20078675,0002—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200626683,5003—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200537380,0003—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200446467,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Nissan Armada model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Nissan Armada have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Nissan Armada as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Nissan Armada is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by fuel system with 4.

Has the 2012 Nissan Armada been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Armada get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Armada (Armada 2WD, 5.6L 8-cyl) at 15 mpg combined, 13 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,450 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Nissan Armada reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 48,500 miles and the middle half falls between 24,231 and 102,016 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.