NissanPathfinder2012Overview/nissan/pathfinder/2012/base/

2012 Nissan Pathfinder

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Pathfinder.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 5-spd

The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder is an SUV that employs a 5.4‑qt powerplant lubricated with 5W‑30 API oil and is mated to an automatic 5‑speed transmission. It achieves EPA‑estimated 15 city, 22 highway, and 17 combined miles per gallon. In its complaint history, the 2012 model records 23 total owner complaints, with suspension problems as the leading issue and two recalls, situating it far below the peak 2005 complaint year of 1,050 but above the most recent low of seven complaints in 2026.

Model year202520242023202220202019201820172012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque87-108 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/22/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter 152089E01A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP265-60R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter152089E01A
Engine air filter165467S000
Spark plug22401ZE01B
Battery244109CA0B
Front wiper blades288909CA0B alt 288909CA0A
Serpentine belt11720EA20A alt 117207S00A
Thermostat212001LA1A alt 13050ZA000
Cabin air filter27277VR00A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.1 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height72.4 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight4945 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 22 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Pathfinder of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 2012 LE
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012LE 4.0L V67.20 sec15.60 sec266 hp4x4
2010LE 4.0L V67.50 sec15.90 sec266 hp4x4
2005SE Off-Road 4.0L V67.50 sec15.90 sec270 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 87-108 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0-26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidNissan Matic-S
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.2
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.8 Pints
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0-26.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts87-108 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug18.0-25.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug18.0-25.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub101 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub177 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)CVT: 650, MT: 600 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary ResistanceExcept 0 or Between terminals 1 and 2 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary ResistanceExcept 0 Between terminals 1 and 3
Ignition Timing15, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityFront A/C, 1.43-1.65; front and rear A/C, 1.76-1.98. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityFront A/C, 6.10; front and rear A/C, 7.10. oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca
Standard BCI Group Number24F

Service checks

Radiator Cap Pressure ReliefRadiator leak pressure testing, 5 psi.
Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-17 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177-182 °F
Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance11.1-14.5 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle136 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.024 in / 0.63 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 9-121.4 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.3 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.61.4 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 360 degrees, Step 3: 11 ft. lbs., Step 4: 9022 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., step 2: 84-9033 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
169 ft. lbs., step 2: 9069 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
172 ft. lbs.72 ft. lbs
2loosen all bolts in reverse order.
329 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees; Check diameter of bolts at two point, 11 mm and 48 mm from the end. Whenever the difference between these two point exceed the limit of 0.11 mm, replace bolts.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
133 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
270 degrees70 degrees
3loosen all bolts in reverse order
433 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
560 degrees60 degrees
660 degrees; Check diameter of bolts at two points, 12 mm and 55 mm from the end. Whenever the difference between these two points exceeds the limit of 0.23 mm, replace bolts. Apply new engine oil to threads and seating surface of mounting bolts.60 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-1029 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 17-2416 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
At 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 30,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Line (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder sits at the low end of the complaint curve, with only 23 complaints and 2 recalls, compared to a peak of 1,050 in 2005 and a sharp drop to 23 in 2012. This marks a clear downturn in the trend that began in the mid‑2000s, following a period of higher recalls and complaints in the early 2000s. The 2012 model shows no investigations and only two crash and one fire complaint, indicating a relatively clean safety record for that generation. The decline in complaints during this period suggests improvements in design or manufacturing, but the data does not specify any particular root cause. Overall, the 2012 Pathfinder appears to be a solid buying year within this generation, offering lower complaint rates than its predecessors and successors.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
106
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
23
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 23 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension3
Air Bags3
Suspension,Structure2
Unknown Or Other2
Engine2
Steering,Air Bags,Engine1
Power Train,Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

11V592000Engine And Engine CoolingReported 19/12/2011

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012… Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

12V462000Suspension:Front:HubReported 20/09/2012

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra two-wheel drive vehicles manufactured from June 19, 2012, through July 12, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs… Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on October 22, 2012. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 106 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ITB09-063C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB23-081C2024-07-08Air BagsVOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005-2013 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA; DRIVER AIR…
NTB13-107G2024-05-20Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Pathfinder. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Pathfinder take?

5.4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Pathfinder have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Pathfinder get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.