InfinitiFX2012Overview/infiniti/fx/2012/base/

2012 Infiniti FX

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

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S7)

The 2012 Infiniti FX is a midsize SUV built on a rear-wheel-drive platform equipped with a 7-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 16 city, 21 highway, and 18 combined mpg while requiring 5.2 quarts of 5W-30 API SM oil per service interval. This model year stands out within the FX's production run, with zero recalls issued and only 14 total owner complaints filed, with engine-related concerns comprising the most frequently cited issue among that small sample. The combination of no mandatory recalls and minimal complaint volume suggests a lower-than-average probability of major mechanical defects, positioning the 2012 FX as a comparatively stable example within its generation for researchers or prospective owners evaluating long-term ownership risk.

Model year20132012

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SMOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/21/18 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 · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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 · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnTURNOEM · verified
Tire sizeP265-45R21OEM · verified
Wheel / rim9.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter1654630P00
Spark plug22401EW61C
Front wiper blades288901CA1A discontinued · alt 288901CA0A
Serpentine belt11720JK20A
Thermostat1305031U00 alt 2120031U03
Cabin air filter27277VX01A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height66.1 in
Wheelbase113.8 in
Curb weight4308 lb
Track (front / rear)64.6 / 64.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainAll-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 FX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.0–6.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.00 sec — 2009 FX50 S
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2013FX37 Limited Edition 3.7L V66.10 sec14.50 sec325 hpAWD
2009FX50 S 5.0L V85.00 sec13.60 sec390 hpAWD
2009FX50 S 5.0L V85.10 sec13.60 sec390 hpAWD
2009FX50 5.0L V85.20 sec13.70 sec390 hpAWD
2009FX50 S 5.0L V85.70 sec14.10 sec390 hpAWD
2009FX35 3.5L V66.10 sec14.70 sec303 hpAWD
2009FX35 3.5L V66.10 sec14.50 sec303 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.2 qt of 5W-30 API SM engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 28.0 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 FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.9
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.4 Pints
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.7 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts21 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug28.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs5 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs21 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub92 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub74-77 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub74-77 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub92 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub74-77 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2
Ignition Timing15, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm
Ignition Timing17, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.07 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca
Standard BCI Group Number24

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief18-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F
Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief18-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)51.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)51.0 psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs / 91 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket34 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0014 in / 0.0022 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.339 in / 0.787 in / 0.126 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.339 in / 0.787 in / 0.126 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.26 in / 0.709 in / 1.181 in / 0.531 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 7-101.4 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 8.01 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114-15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9514–15 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
121 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 360 degrees, Step 3: 18 ft. lbs., Step 4: 9021 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., step 2: 9033 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1116 ft. lbs., step 2: 90116 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

Prep Measure the diameter of each cylinder head bolt at point A and point B. Point A = 12.00 mm from thread end and point B = 55.00 mm from thread end. If either diameter is less than 0.18 mm use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
275 degrees75 degrees
3Loosen bolts 360 degrees in reverse order360 degrees
430.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
565 degrees65 degrees
665 degrees65 degrees
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
15 ft. lbs., step 2: 19 ft. lbs., step 3: intake collector: 85 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-28 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9524–28 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-1040 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 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 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)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (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.

Owner complaints about the 2012 Infiniti FX lead in one area — the engine, 3 of 14 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
80
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
14
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine3
Unknown Or Other2
Air Bags2
Electrical System1
Structure,Visibility/Wiper1
Air Bags,Unknown Or Other1
Power Train,Electrical System1
Unknown Or Other,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 80 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ITB09-063C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
ITB19-024D2024-09-19Air BagsDTC B00A0-00 STOREIF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored…
ITB10-029C2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended…
ITB13-052E2024-05-20Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY NOT DETECTED / ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See…
ITB13-006D2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…

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

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific FX. 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 FX take?

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

Does the 2012 FX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the FX get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.