NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 17 owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Armada. Most complaints involve structure (4) and service brakes (4). The EPA rates it 14–15 mpg combined.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 TITAN AND ARMADA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 12, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 13, 2012. THE PART 567 CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE VEHICLES DO NOT CONTAIN RIM SIZE INFORMATION. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Armada model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 373 |
| 2006 | 266 |
| 2007 | 86 |
| 2008 | 161 |
| 2009 | 23 |
| 2010 | 48 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2017 | 81 |
| 2018 | 76 |
| 2019 | 79 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 9 |
“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 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”
“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”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armada 2WD Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | $4,300 | 592 |
| Armada 2WD Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.6 L, FFV · Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | $4,300 | 592 |
| Armada 4WD Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.6 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 12 | 18 | 14 | $4,600 | 635 |
| Armada 4WD Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.6 L, FFV · 4-Wheel Drive | 12 | 18 | 14 | $4,600 | 635 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Oct 27, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (4), service brakes (4), fuel system, gasoline (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Armada at 14–15 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).