2012 Nissan Armada Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Armada, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure418.2%
- Brakes418.2%
- Fuel system418.2%
- Electrical313.6%
- Airbags29.1%
- Driver assistance14.5%
- Other / unspecified14.5%
- Powertrain (other)14.5%
- Suspension14.5%
- Visibility14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving, he drove over a bump in the road, and the back end swayed and it fishtailed. The contact pulled over and was unable to locate the cause of the failure. The contact continued to drive while driving over 35 MPH; the vehicle swerved. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, a suspension shop, and the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the subframe had fractured and was on top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not repaired due to the intense repairs and price. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
THE REAR LIFT GATE HOUSING IS CRACKED AND COMPRISES THE INTEGRITY OF KEEPING THE REAR DOOR FROM OPENING FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TO INCLUDE THE GLASS WINDOW PORTION. I DISCOVERED THE CRACKED LIFT GATE HOUSING AS THE REAR LATCH IS NOT FULLY OPERATIONAL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE LIGHT AND SLIP INDICATOR TURN ON AND THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MANUAL THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THIS MEANS OTHER THAN POTENTIALLY LOW BRAKE FLUID. WE CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS HALFWAY, WE FILLED IT UP AND THE ISSUE DID NOT GO AWAY EVEN AFTER DRIVING IT. WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND START IT BACK UP THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNS OFF LEAVING ONLY THE SLIP INDICATOR ON BUT NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT THE ISSUES ARE REGARDING BOTH SYSTEMS. AFTER CAREFULLY TESTING THE SYSTEM WE FOUND THAT THE BRAKES ARE IN FACT FAILING AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT STOPPING. *TR
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving, he drove over a bump in the road, and the back end swayed and it fishtailed. The contact pulled over and was unable to locate the cause of the failure. The contact continued to drive while driving over 35 MPH; the vehicle swerved. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, a suspension shop, and the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the subframe had fractured and was on top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not repaired due to the intense repairs and price. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
I have a 2012 Nissan armada and a 2013 Nissan armada and both cars o2 sensors have went out on each of them. This must be a common problem and the financial strain shouldn’t be left for the customers buying an already expensive vehicles. Very odd that both my armadas are having the same issues with that particular sensor
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 NISSAN ARMADA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE THE CONTACT'S PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, AN EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE BUILDING AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, CONSOLE, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO POLICE OR FIRE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,875.
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?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact's husband inspected the vehicle and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags). The contact was concerned of an inadvertent deployment of the air bags. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,016.
I WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE OWNER OF A VEHICLE WITH ONE OR MORE TAKATA -MANUFACTURED AIRBAG INFLATORS POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE , DO I HAVE A CLAIM ?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE LIGHT AND SLIP INDICATOR TURN ON AND THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MANUAL THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THIS MEANS OTHER THAN POTENTIALLY LOW BRAKE FLUID. WE CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS HALFWAY, WE FILLED IT UP AND THE ISSUE DID NOT GO AWAY EVEN AFTER DRIVING IT. WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND START IT BACK UP THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNS OFF LEAVING ONLY THE SLIP INDICATOR ON BUT NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT THE ISSUES ARE REGARDING BOTH SYSTEMS. AFTER CAREFULLY TESTING THE SYSTEM WE FOUND THAT THE BRAKES ARE IN FACT FAILING AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT STOPPING. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 . MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 2 MONTHS AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY GUTTED DUE TO THE WATER RUINING THE SEATS AND THE CARPET. NISSAN DIDN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE FACTORY DEFAULT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED MORE UNKNOWN PROBLEMS . WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEC. 2012 BRAND NEW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
RIGHT REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLE BRACKET SNAPPED. CABLE DROPPED DOWN ON TO RIGHT REAR DRIVE AXLE AND A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY REPAIR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving, he drove over a bump in the road, and the back end swayed and it fishtailed. The contact pulled over and was unable to locate the cause of the failure. The contact continued to drive while driving over 35 MPH; the vehicle swerved. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, a suspension shop, and the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the subframe had fractured and was on top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not repaired due to the intense repairs and price. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 . MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 2 MONTHS AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY GUTTED DUE TO THE WATER RUINING THE SEATS AND THE CARPET. NISSAN DIDN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE FACTORY DEFAULT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED MORE UNKNOWN PROBLEMS . WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEC. 2012 BRAND NEW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .