2012 Nissan Quest Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Nissan Quest most often describe transmission and fuel-system problems: a CVT that slips, hesitates or stops driving, and engine stalling when the tank is low on a slope that many owners link to recall 12V076000. Complaints span a wide mileage range, from near-new vans to well over 100,000 miles, and several describe refusals by dealers to duplicate or cover the failure.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT slips, jerks or quits driving

   • 24 complaints (26%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2025

   Owners describe the continuously variable transmission slipping, jerking, or failing to build speed after a stop, sometimes with the engine revving without the van moving. Several say the dealer read codes such as P1778, P0746 or P0868 and recommended a complete transmission replacement rather than a repair. Others report the van losing power and stopping in traffic, where it had to be pushed or towed. Spread from about 40,000 to over 160,000 miles, with many reports clustered between 70,000 and 130,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at low speed, on an incline, and from repeated stops, watching for shudder, delayed engagement or a blinking transmission warning. Ask for service records showing whether CVT fluid was ever serviced and whether any of the clicking-noise or CVT oil-leak bulletins were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Van started to have problems with the acceleration, I stepped on the gas and it didn't responded until several seconds later (5-10), it started slowly and then it accelerates slowly. Every time the vehicle stops, the transmission doesn't work. The check engine light came on, I took the car to an autozone store, and they found the error code p1778, which is CVT transmission error. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11051282, filed 2017-11, 76,000 miles

   “At 119,000 miles the vehicle experienced a complete transmission failure while driving. The vehicle wouldn't get out of 1st gear, making acceleration from a dead stop nearly impossible. Several calls to my Nissan dealership and to Nissan corporation resulted in I'm sorry but we can't do anything for you but offer a complete replacement of your transmission at at cost over $5000 . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11364342, filed 2020-10, 119,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Engine stalls or won't start with low fuel

   • 19 complaints (20%)
   • median 20,400 mi at 1.4 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2021

   Owners describe the engine quitting or the van refusing to start with a quarter tank or less, especially parked or idling on a downhill slope. Several report the fuel gauge or distance-to-empty display showing fuel remaining when the engine behaved as if out of gas. Some say a dealer's response was to keep more fuel in the tank, and some were told their van was outside the build range for recall 12V076000 even though the symptoms matched. Reported across the range, many under 10,000 miles on new vans and others from 40,000 to 110,000 miles; low-fuel and slope conditions recur throughout.

   Recall 12V0760004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check whether recall 12V076000 was performed for this van, and test starting and idling on a slope with a low tank during the test drive. The fuel gauge and distance-to-empty readings are worth comparing against actual fuel added at a fill-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was parked on a slope, with about 1/8 a tank of gas and the van would not start. I was able to start the vehicle after I put it in neutral and rolled it to level ground. I googled the problem and found out there was a recall, which I was never informed about. I took the van into the local Nissan shop and they performed the recall fix. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10487873, filed 2012-12, 4,000 miles

   “I was going to get gas for my Nissan Quest, the reading said I had 30 more miles to go before empty. I drove around the circle in the road and made the turn onto the road and my car stalled. I was almost hit by a truck behind me, but it swerved off the road to avoid my car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10512735, filed 2013-05, 36,800 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical and warning-light faults

   • 18 complaints (19%)
   • median 76,575 mi at 7.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners describe airbag and other warning lights staying on, a speedometer reading several mph off or an instrument cluster that stopped working, and key or starting problems. Some note recurring warnings after a repair, with dealers quoting further diagnostic charges. Others mention leaks around the sunroof that soaked the headliner and affected the radio and amplifier. Mostly reported between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, with the sunroof leak described within the first few years of ownership.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm all warning lights behave normally and that the speedometer reads plausibly against a GPS app. Inspect the headliner and rear cargo area for water stains, and check whether the key is reliably recognized.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I realized that I was going faster than all cars around me on road. Upon checking with GPS on iphone and tomtom GPS device , the vehicle indicated 60mph on speedometer, but both GPS devices indicated 70mph. I varied speed and found the vehicle is going 10mph faster than indicated on speedometer at 30-70mph range. The cluster including speedometer died and was replaced 1 month ago. The new one is faulty again or set-up wrong. This is dangerous!”

   NHTSA complaint #10513670, filed 2013-05, 6,000 miles

   “I was sold a deceptive van at the end sept 2020, I did a test drive with the salesman, pointed out several issues with the van like check engine light on, traction light on, air bag light on, remote missing to control tv, the salesman told me not to worry about all the lights that's on he will get that fix at a later date and to buy the tv remote and a deduction will be applied to my contract. I was fine with that, but that hasn't been the case. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11377477, filed 2020-12, 152,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Rough or missing engine running, oil loss

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Some owners report the engine hesitating when pulling away from a stop, rough running or misfiring after shifting into gear, and check-engine lights. A few describe low oil level or no oil on the dipstick at a routine check, with the same condition returning later. Two complaints describe smoke and fire from the engine compartment while driving at highway speed. Reports run from low mileage up to roughly 75,000 miles, with the hesitation complaints mostly under 20,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for leaks around the engine, and ask for records of oil consumption or check-engine repairs. A prepurchase inspection that scans for stored engine codes is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Quest. The contact stated that after accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact also stated that the windshield wipers failed to clear the entire windshield, which created a blind spot. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 34. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10505857, filed 2013-04, 34 miles

   “The contact owns 2012 Nissan Quest. The contact was driving approximately 25 MPH when the engine rpms increased abnormally and the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact shifted into neutral and was able to stop the vehicle on the shoulder. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing however, the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer prior to the failure for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 12v076000 (electrical system: software). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10493151, filed 2013-01, 16,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Uneven or rapid tire wear

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 25,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2014

   Owners of vans with low mileage report the original tires feathering, cupping or wearing out far sooner than expected despite regular rotation. Some say the wear made wet-weather driving difficult or the van failed inspection, and that the dealer did not raise it during scheduled service. Reported between roughly 20,000 and 26,000 miles on the original tires.

   What to check: Inspect tire tread depth and look for uneven or feathered wear across all four tires, and check alignment and rotation history before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought a 2012 Nissan Quest almost 2 years ago. I have 20,000 miles on the vehicle and the tires are horrible! They are bridgestone turanza el 400. They are feathering and balding. It is very difficult to drive in the rain or other weather conditions. These tires have been rotated every 5,000 miles...it is extremely frustrating that you buy a 30,000 vehicle and have tires that aren't worth anything on it!”

   NHTSA complaint #10510871, filed 2013-05, 20,000 miles

   “I have 20,000 miles on my car and my tires need replacing! I purchased it new in april 2012. I have had it for a year and a half. I drive it carefully and have the tires rotated when needed. I had a flat on monday on my way to work. That evening I had it looked at for repair. It cannot be repaired. The tire tread is very low. They are bridgestone turanza. I bought a van because I'm driving children around frequently. Why couldn't Nissan put better tires on this vehicle? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10554203, filed 2013-11, 20,000 miles

Buying note. A 2012 Quest is worth a careful mechanical inspection, particularly the CVT and the fuel-stall behaviour on a low tank; ask for proof that recall 12V076000 was completed along with transmission service records. Low-mileage examples with a documented service history and a recent transmission check are the safer starting point.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.