Posted: Nov 27 2012 at 3:36pm | IP Logged

2012 Frontier Crew Cab

On all cars and trucks that I have owned, usually when the heat/ac unit is turned off, then a small amount of outside air comes in when you are moving it comes out the bottom vents by your feet.

But on my 2012 Frontier when all the controls are turned off (confirmed fan and location lights are all off), the outside air comes out the dashboard vents when I'm driving. If my temp setting is turned to cold it comes out cold if I turn it to hot it comes out hot that is normal, but what is not normal is that it's coming out the dashboard vents I thought most cars it comes out the bottom vents.

I can press the button to have it come out the bottom vents (even with the fan off) and that works it will vent out the bottom, but I'm wondering why it defaults to coming out the dashboard vents when I've never seen a car do that. I also have other Nissans that don't do that.

If you have a 2012 Frontier did you notice that (and I'm trying to determine if there is a vaccum or control that is backwards but unlikely)?

Posted: Nov 28 2012 at 4:52pm | IP Logged

>>If you have it on
defrost, shut off the fan, does it continue to come out the
defroster ducts?

No. When I shut off the fan, the button for the defrost vent also shuts off, and therefore the air starts to come out the dashboard center vents.

Same if I have it coming out the floor or any of the choices, if the button is lit for it to come out the floor it's fine (even with the fan off), but as soon as you shut the button off for where you want it to come out (either by shutting off the fan or shutting off the truck) it immediate defaults to the dashboard vents. So it's totally controlled by which button you have it going to, and if no buttons then defaults to center vents immediately. 

>>Or does it default to the center vents
only after shutting off the engine?

It defaults to the center vents any time none of the directional buttons are used. Most cars, if no buttons are used, it defaults to the floor vents in most cars including Altimas. But on this truck, it defaults to the center vents.

Since I want it to come out the bottom, even if I'm not using the fan, I can press the floor button and it will work until I either use the fan and shut it off, or until I shut the car off. But I want to know if this is normal on Frontiers or just mine. I suppose I could call a dealer and do a test drive!

Posted: Jan 02 2013 at 3:15pm | IP Logged

Update: I contacted the dealer they are going to see if they have one on the lot they can check, or they may want me to bring it in. On initial thought: the service guy thought it was unusual but will get back to me.

Has any one with a 2012 Frontier checked it out to see if this is normal? Put control onto feet area, put on fan, it will come out feet. Then shut fan off, it will turn off the light to the feet button (all normal) but then you'll hear the ducts changing position and the usual air that would come out by the feet when everything is off instead starts coming out the middle dashboard vents.

Press the button again for air to come out the feet area and it will do it. It's only when all buttons/lights etc.. are off that it defaults to the dashboard vents, when on most vehicles it would default to the feet area.

If I don't hear from anyone, I'll still post the final verdict once I hear from the dealer.