2012 Nissan Quest Engine Problems

I purchased the van and noticed that at times it would suddenly de-accelerate and drop from whatever speed im doing and refuse to speed up even if I press the gas peddle to the floor. Id come up to a stop sign and stop, then at times it wouldnt accelerate, even with the peddle to the floor, it would barely move forward. I brought it back to the person I purchased it from tried to describe what happened, they had someone check the transmission and said it was fine. Its continued to do this, and has almost caused crashes because it does it periodically and without warning on inclines, at red lights, if I driven a long distance (i.e. 1hr or so) etc, and when stopped. Its done this especially when it comes to hills, its terrifying but I have no other vehicles and now only drive it locally, avoid hills, and only if I absolutely have to. This is my first Nissan and wasn't aware of issues like this as I typically buy Buick's, so I researched Nissan issues and recalls and recently saw a recall from October 2025 related to the fuel pump injector system reset that describes what ive experienced exactly, but when I took it to the Nissan dealership in Saratoga NY, they said its not a recall, just a warning for my model and year, and they would need to charge me to inspect it, and didnt advise if it was repairable. Anyone else who has this model Nissan I would want warned immediately, and I mean immediately. Its scary seeing other vehicles coming up behind me and I dont know if my van will accelerate or not, I took out a loan to buy this vehicle and am still paying it off. I cant buy another right now. The actual recall for what appears to be the same issue came out for 2013 and newer Nissans but again, should include this model for year 2012. Those of us with this vehicle should be included in the recall so we can drive safely as well. Please make this update to the recall asap. Thank you for your time and consideration to review this

NHTSA ID

11700978

Incident

Mar 24, 2025

My van is not accelerating properly, it seems to idle out and does not go over 20 mph it idles on acceleration decline. i could not get out of way fast enough if traffic was busy.

NHTSA ID

11629506

Incident

Dec 7, 2024

CVT transmission is failing, it is very very common with Nissan.

NHTSA ID

11430974

Incident

Aug 30, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN WORLD OF RED BANK (NEWMAN SPRINGS RD E, RED BANK, NJ 07701) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN UNKNOWN FAILURE AND WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. A YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11365118

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AN EXPLOSION WAS HEARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND THE FAMILY EXITED SAFELY HOWEVER SMOKE FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAMILY MEMBERS NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE AS FLAMES WERE EXITING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SHERIFF ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HOWEVER WAS UNABLE TO. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED MORE THAN HALF OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF A FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS AWAITING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TROPHY NISSAN ( 5031 N GALLOWAY AVE, MESQUITE, TX 75150) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS TRANSFERRED TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *LN*JB

NHTSA ID

11354413

Incident

Aug 29, 2020

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, WHEN HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND STATED HE SAW SMOKE EXITING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED SAFETY THE VEHICLE WITH HIS FAMILY. THE CONTACT STATED HE SAW FIRE EXITING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE POLICE WAS ON THE LOCATION AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNAWARE IF THERE WAS A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE WAS INJURED OR SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RECORD SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,632.

NHTSA ID

11353955

Incident

Aug 29, 2020

Mileage

32,632 mi

ENGINE NOISE WHEN IS COLD , SOMETIMES IS LOOSING POWER , WHEN YOU STEPON GAS PEDAL CAR IS NOT MOVING , STOP SIGN AND TRAFIC LIGHTS

NHTSA ID

11270562

Incident

Jun 12, 2018

Mileage

99,000 mi

THOUGH MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED. WITH 40 MILES LEFT TO GO, ACCORDING TO MY GAUGE, MY VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC, ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO GAS STATIONS. WHEN I PRESENTED THIS ISSUE TO A DEALER AND TO NISSAN AMERICA I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND REQUIRED THE SAME REPAIR AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I WAS CHARGED OVER $300 FOR REPROGRAMMING MY COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID

10884043

Incident

Jan 25, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A HESITATION FROM A STOP POSITION. WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATES. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT IT IS GETTING MORE FREQUENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO NISSAN CUSTOMER RELATIONS (MARK @ 615-725-7561) AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER (19100795). I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HILLS AND LOW GAS. I NEVER LET MY GAS TANK GET BELOW 1/2 TANK AND WHERE I LIVE AND DRIVE THERE ARE NO HILLS. I AM DOCUMENTING THIS ISSUE IN CASE AN ACCIDENT RESULTS, IN WHICH CASE NISSAN WILL HEAR ABOUT IT AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10863869

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

19,680 mi

ENGINE MOUNT FOUND BROKEN DURING OIL CHANGE. CHANGED AND FOUND BROKEN AGAIN AT ABOUT 50000. CHANGED AND FOUND BROKEN A THIRD TIME AT 75000.

NHTSA ID

10735382

Incident

Aug 29, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY CAR RANDOMLY ACCELERATED ON 2 OCCASIONS , MAY 30, 2013 AND JUNE 27, 2013. THE FIRST INCIDENT RESULTED IN A CRASH, HITTING A POLE, TREE, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2ND INCIDENT WAS A NEAR MISS, ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY 9 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE IN THE CAR. NO RESOLUTION FROM NISSAN. THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. WANT ME TO TAKE CAR BACK WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10531525

Incident

May 30, 2013

Mileage

8,700 mi

TL* 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. UPDATED 7/15/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STALLING HAS PROGRESSED, WHICH ALSO OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. UPDATED 07/22/13

NHTSA ID

10505857

Incident

Nov 9, 2012

Mileage

34 mi

3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A BRAND NEW 2012 NISSAN QUEST (PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 04/15/2012), I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE CAR STATED THERE WAS NO MORE GAS, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A QUARTER TANK. CARS BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND LUCKILY WE WERE NOT HIT. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND AFTER COASTING DOWN THE HILL AND REACHING A LEVEL PART OF THE ROAD, MY CAR STARTED AGAIN AND TOLD ME THAT I HAD A QUARTER TANK. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER, I LEARNED THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN (NHTSA RECALL 12V076) ON THE 2012 QUEST AND THE REMEDY WAS NOT PERFORMED PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS AGAINST REGULATIONS AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS STARTED BY NISSAN BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ON 06/20/2012 (1 DAY AFTER THE INCIDENT) I TOOK THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER TO BE REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AT TOWN CENTER NISSAN UNDER R/O NUMBER 6012078/1. ON SEPTEMBER 26TH I STARTED TO TURN INTO AN INTERSECTION ON A GREEN ARROW WHEN MY CAR SHUT OFF AND SAID I WAS OUT OF GAS, (A MINUTE PRIOR TO THAT THE CAR SAID I HAD 37 MILES AND A QUARTER TANK LEFT). I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED (THE CAR HAD TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE) AND GOOD SAMARITANS PUSHED ME INTO A PARKING LOT CLOSE BY. I REALIZE THAT NHTSA HAS ALREADY ACTED ON THE PROBLEM MY CAR EXPERIENCED, BUT I FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE WITH REGARDS TO THE DEALER "GWINNETT PLACE NISSAN" WHO SOLD ME THE CAR WITHOUT FIRST FIXING THE PROBLEM (SINCE IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR). I ALSO WANT NHTSA TO BE AWARE THAT THE "FIX" SO FAR HAS NOT WORKED FOR MY VEHICLE. WE ARE GIVING THEM A "FINAL REPAIR OPPORTUNITY NOTICE" VIA THE LEMON LAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477365

Incident

Jun 19, 2012

Mileage

1,882 mi

MY NEW 2012 NISSAN QUEST WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE FRONT SLIGHTLY FACING DOWN LOOKING AT THE ROAD WITH LESS THAN QUARTER TANK OF GAS. THE VAN WOULD START BUT WOULD NOT STAY IDLE AND THE DASH BOARD INDICATED THAT THE VAN HAD ENOUGH GAS TO GO 25 MILES. I HAD TO PUT THE VAN IN NEUTRAL TO ROLL IT DOWN THE STREET (FLAT SURFACE) BEFORE IT CAN BE STARTED AND KEPT ON IDLE. WHEN YOU ROLL THE VAN DOWN IN NEUTRAL WITH THE ENGINE OFF YOU LOOSE YOUR POWER BRAKES, SO I HAD TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO CARS COMING FROM EITHER SIDE. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE NISSAN DEALER, ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR COUPLE OF DAYS BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT NISSAN ENGINEERING TEAM WILL BE CONTACTING ME FOR FURTHER ACTION, AND IN THE MEANTIME I AM SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE GAS TANK FILLED ABOVE THE 1/4 TANK MARK AT ALL TIMES. FOR US (WITH OUR QUEST), IT IS ONLY AN ISSUE WHEN THE GAS TANK IS LOW ON GAS BELOW THE 1/4 TANK MARK AND IT IS PARKED IN AN INCLINE WITH THE FRONT FACING DOWN OR DURING A SHARP VEHICLE TURN WITH THE GAS TANK VERY LOW. HOPEFULLY NISSAN WILL FIND A FIX FOR THIS SOON, BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10446754

Incident

Jan 5, 2012

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 NISSAN QUEST JUST WEEKS AGO, CURRENT MILEAGE 320. ENGINE STALLED WITH LITTLE LESS THAN QUARTER TANK OF GAS IN A SLOW TURN. COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VAN HAD ENOUGH GAS FOR 30 MILES TRAVEL. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CARS BEHIND US, SO I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND RESTART THE CAR TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE ADVISER ADVISED ME TO MAKE SURE NOT TO LET THE GAS TANK GO DOWN BELOW 1/4 TANK. AFTER READING ALL OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM CURRENT QUEST OWNERS, I WILL BE CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING TOMORROW. I AM NOT SURE IF I CAN RETURN THE VEHICLE, EVENTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 30 DAYS SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE.

NHTSA ID

10445761

Incident

Jan 13, 2012

Mileage

320 mi