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Used 2012 Nissan Pathfinder SUV Consumer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
17 reviews
1

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Pros
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5 out of 5 stars

Great vehicle

Moises Santiago, 04/03/2016
2012 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
31 of 31 people found this review helpful

I have had Pathfinders since 2007, I had a 2008, 2009 and now have 2012 since that year. I cant complain, it is an amazing vehicle, I have drove this vehicle from NC to NY to TX to AL, anyways this vehicle is just great for whatever you need it, great spacing, I have a family of five and we are super comfortable. NAV system is great, the radio sound is great (BOSE), only bad part is that doesn't have USB ports and cant connect your Ipod with Bluetooth, cell phone works great with Bluetooth. It came with a DVD system and two wireless headsets, that's great for the kids. Like I said I have had mine since 2012 and it runs perfectly, no issues, paint is still awesome, so I can trust that I will have this great vehicle for many many more years. I recommend to anyone.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

Survived a collision and totaled it

Joe S, 06/19/2018
2012 Nissan Pathfinder Silver Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful

Yes, she saved me and my family from some major collision. Lady decided to pull out in front of me while I was travelling down the highway. I swerved doing 45 mph into the oncoming lane but my front passenger side contacted her front driver side and pushed her all the way to the curb, turning her car about 180 degrees. The airbags deployed and saved us from what could have been some life threatening injuries. I couldn't open my door as the front of the car shifted in and jammed the door. Thank goodness this Pathfinder was built sturdy enough to take such an awful blow. We all escaped unscathed and am thankful that I had a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, any other car I don't think we would be as lucky.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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4.88 out of 5 stars

2 Year Recap

mrcarp, 07/29/2014
2012 Nissan Pathfinder Silver Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful

2 years old with a little under 13,000 miles. Continued happiness with the PF. Seems to be holding up and is still as solid as new. No issues as of yet (knock on wood). Replaced the headlight bulbs with super whites. Drastic improvement over stock. Let's hope it lasts, with any luck our 4 year old will be driving it, 12 years from now, of course.

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5 out of 5 stars

An Educated Review

Martin Prieto, 09/26/2021
2012 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful

First things first, you have to remember that this 2012 Pathfinder was designed and engineered in the early 2000s. It’s got a Spartan interior compared to other 2012 models, but that’s okay. This is still an old school body on frame truck, and I love it. From 2005-2010, the Pathfinder was plagued with a transmission coolant line that would rupture and get coolant into the transmission fluid. This would break these transmissions and I wouldn’t recommend getting a pathfinder from those years. 2011-2012 saw those problems get fixed, so those are the great years of this model. The VQ40 engine is a loud and raspy one, but it’s strong and reliable. God, it likes to sip fuel, though. Mine’s at 125k miles and I’ve owned it for about two years. It hasn’t had a single hiccup during that time, but it is averaging closer to 15mpg with a lot of city driving. If you want to get better gas mileage, you really have to stick to the speed limits. Interstate limit here is 70. I tend to go 5-10 over, which, coupled with the aerodynamics of a brick, leads to me getting less than the 20mpg hwy rating. My wife does better than I in that regard. The 4wd unit on this is a good one from a mechanical perspective, and from real life driving. The rear differential is a limited slip differential. That’s a really nice added bonus when you’re in a spotty situation. The Pathfinder feels secure in the snow, and it sure isn’t out of place in the dirt. The LSD in the rear let’s me do fun little donuts on the dirt that the kids enjoy. Again, added bonus. The interior is spartan, but it’s comfortable. I feel like the driving position that I’ve chosen is a really upright position, and though that works for me, it may not work for others. It has pedal adjustments so you can sit further back, but it doesn’t have a telescoping steering wheel. The second row is wide enough to fit three child seats comfortably, although it doesn’t have the most leg room. The third row is tight. I wouldn’t say it’s comfortable for anyone other than small kids. The trunk space with the third row down is actually great. Couple that with the rear glass having it’s own latch that can come off, and this thing is actually plenty capable of hauling long things. The ride isn’t great. You get a lot of bump steer. Bumps kn the road that are mid turn can upset it pretty bad, but that seems to be the case in most trucks. Truck suspensions don’t like bumps mid corner. This has an independent four wheel suspension, so I’m sure it’s nicer than other trucks and truck based SUVs that have a live rear axle. Still not great, but I’d rather have the comforts from the independent suspension than the off-road capability from the live rear axle. Personal preference. A family hauler doesn’t need all the wheel articulation in my opinion. I’ve only towed once in the Pathfinder, and it was about a 3,000 pound car. It didn’t struggle at all, which is good considering that 3,000 pounds is only half of its towing capacity. It did great. Bottom line, this is an old design that just does what it’s supposed to do. It’s good reliable transportation in all senses. It just doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of newer cars. It’s a handsome design, too. I really think it still looks great in this newer era. You just have to find a clean one. I would definitely recommend any 2011-2012 Nissan Pathfinder.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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4.75 out of 5 stars

Great Truck...

jbw5, 09/29/2012
2012 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful

Awesome truck. Bought a brand-spankin' new one Wednesday night and am happy. Took the family to the beach and was impressed with the ride and gas mileage on the freeway. My only real complaint about this thing is headlights. Very hard to see, even when using the high beams. The SatNav system is awesome as well as the information display. No USB port, but aux input is there. The overall fit and finish is really nice.. and the Nissan dealer I dealt with (Jenkins Nissan) was very accommodating and professional. People complain that this thing "rides like a truck," but that's WHAT IT IS. It's meant to be tossed around and used as such. If you want an SUV that comes with a purse, go buy a CR-V.

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