The 2012 G25 uses Nissan's VQ25HR engine and 7-speed automatic—both generally solid, but this platform suffers from a catastrophic oil consumption defect that can grenade engines without warning, plus minor trans cooler and mount issues common to the FM platform.
VQ25HR Oil Consumption / Engine Failure (Piston Ring/Cylinder Bore Defect)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000 mi or worse), Blue smoke from exhaust on cold start or acceleration, Low oil pressure warnings or sudden engine knock, Complete engine seizure if oil level drops unnoticed
Fix: Factory defect in piston ring design and cylinder wall finish causes premature wear. Nissan issued TSB NTB11-007a but never recalled. Repair requires complete engine rebuild with updated rings/honing or short block replacement. 18-24 hours labor for R&R plus internal work. Many owners discover this only after engine failure.
Estimated cost: $5,500-9,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure / Coolant-Trans Fluid Cross-Contamination
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Milky or strawberry-colored transmission fluid, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Engine overheating or coolant loss, Check engine light with trans temp codes
Fix: Internal cooler inside radiator fails, allowing coolant into trans fluid—destroys transmission if driven. Requires radiator replacement, trans fluid flush (multiple cycles), often full transmission rebuild if contamination progressed. 8-12 hours labor for radiator/flush, add 16-20 for trans rebuild.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler/flush only), $3,500-5,500 (with trans rebuild)
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking or banging on hard acceleration or deceleration, Vibration through center console at idle in gear, Excessive drivetrain movement visible during throttle blips
Fix: Rear transmission mount (crossmember-side) tears or separates. Common FM platform wear item. Replacement is straightforward—trans supported, old mount out, new one in. 1.5-2.5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Fuel Filter Clogging (In-Tank Assembly)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Stumbling or hesitation under load, especially uphill, Hard starting after sitting overnight, Loss of power above half throttle, Check engine light with lean codes (P0171/P0174)
Fix: In-tank filter on fuel pump assembly clogs from sediment or bad gas. Nissan considers it 'lifetime' but real-world needs replacement. Requires tank drop or access through rear seat (less common on sedan). 2-3 hours labor if tank drop needed.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start condition—cranks but won't fire, Stalling while driving, usually restarts after sitting, Check engine light with P0335 or P0340 codes, Intermittent issues often heat-related
Fix: Sensor located behind crank pulley on lower timing cover. Fails internally from heat cycling. Not accessible without removing accessories and pulley. 2.5-3.5 hours labor due to access constraints.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Skip it unless priced $2,000+ below market to cover inevitable oil consumption repairs—too many grenaded engines and Nissan won't help you.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.