2012 Nissan ARMADA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Nissan ARMADA has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: i hit the button to close the rear lift gate. i then stepped away and when coming back around the corner i did not cut the corner wide enough and went right into the gate which continued to close on my head. this resulted in a laceration to my forehead, a concussion and a trip to the er. at my admis. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

4 complaints

17%

• I HIT THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE REAR LIFT GATE. I THEN STEPPED AWAY AND WHEN COMING BACK AROUND THE CORNER I DID NOT CUT THE CORNER WIDE ENOUGH AND WENT RIGHT INTO THE GATE WHICH CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON MY HEAD. THIS RESULTED IN A LACERATION TO MY FOREHEAD, A CONCUSSION AND A TRIP TO THE ER. AT MY ADMIS
• 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 W
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I HIT THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE REAR LIFT GATE. I THEN STEPPED AWAY AND WHEN COMING BACK AROUND THE CORNER I DID NOT CUT THE CORNER WIDE ENOUGH AND WENT RIGHT INTO THE GATE WHICH CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON MY HEAD. THIS RESULTED IN A LACERATION TO MY FOREHEAD, A CONCUSSION AND A TRIP TO THE ER. AT MY ADMIS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

4 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED
• 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 THO
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

4 complaints

17%

• ON OR ABOUT 1/14/2015 I PULLED INTO MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY TO DROP OFF MY CHILD FOR DAYCARE. I PUT MY VEHICLE IN PARK, APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE THE DRIVEWAY SITS UP HIGH, AND TURNED OFF THE ARMADA. UPON EXITING MY MOTHER'S HOUSE I OBSERVED MY VEHICLE ROLLING OFF THE DRIVEWAY ON IT'S OWN.
• 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.
• 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 PROBLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON OR ABOUT 1/14/2015 I PULLED INTO MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY TO DROP OFF MY CHILD FOR DAYCARE. I PUT MY VEHICLE IN PARK, APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE THE DRIVEWAY SITS UP HIGH, AND TURNED OFF THE ARMADA. UPON EXITING MY MOTHER'S HOUSE I OBSERVED MY VEHICLE ROLLING OFF THE DRIVEWAY ON IT'S OWN. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

13%

• 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 W
• LEFT REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLE BRACKET SNAPPED CAUSING THE BRAKE CABLE TO WRAP AROUND THE LEFT REAR DRIVE AXLE, PULLING THE DRIVE AXLE OUT OF THE TRANS-AXLE, AND CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DRIVE TRAIN. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE AND WOULD DRIFT IN PARK, AS IF I
• Ignition doesn't respond when key is inserted and turned to start. Sometimes it does it, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't work, it usually takes about 10 or 15 times trying and then it eventually starts.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED
• 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 HAP
• 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 COLU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: I HIT THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE REAR LIFT GATE. I THEN STEPPED AWAY AND WHEN COMING BACK AROUND THE CORNER I DID NOT CUT THE CORNER WIDE ENOUGH AND WENT RIGHT INTO THE GATE WHICH CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON MY HEAD. THIS RESULTED IN A LACERATION TO MY FOREHEAD, A CONCUSSION AND A TRIP TO THE ER. AT MY ADMIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: ON OR ABOUT 1/14/2015 I PULLED INTO MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY TO DROP OFF MY CHILD FOR DAYCARE. I PUT MY VEHICLE IN PARK, APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE THE DRIVEWAY SITS UP HIGH, AND TURNED OFF THE ARMADA. UPON EXITING MY MOTHER'S HOUSE I OBSERVED MY VEHICLE ROLLING OFF THE DRIVEWAY ON IT'S OWN.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)