NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
68 reportsClear category filter122,000 miles · Nov 7, 2018
Engine
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT I HEARD A WHISTLING SOUND AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING. I TRAVEL A LOT AND WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE I WENT FROM GOING 75 MPH TO 30 AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. I WOULD PULL OVER AND WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES UNTIL I COULD ACCELERATE. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL LINE SO I PUT FUEL INJECTOR IN IT AND IT A C…
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WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT I HEARD A WHISTLING SOUND AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING. I TRAVEL A LOT AND WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE I WENT FROM GOING 75 MPH TO 30 AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. I WOULD PULL OVER AND WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES UNTIL I COULD ACCELERATE. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL LINE SO I PUT FUEL INJECTOR IN IT AND IT A COUPLE DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 5 TIMES. I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT ON THE INTERSTATE. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MULTIPLE MECHANICS I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #11149881
115,000 miles · Oct 6, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR A LONG DISTANCE (30 MILES) THERE IS A WHINING SOUND THAT STARTS AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IF THE CAR IS ALLOWED TO SIT AND COOL DOWN THE WHINING WILL STOP BUT START BACK AS THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HEATS UP. DURING THIS PERIOD THE CAR WILL LOOSE POWER AND NOT EXCEED 40 MILES PER HOUR. THIS HAPPENS …
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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR A LONG DISTANCE (30 MILES) THERE IS A WHINING SOUND THAT STARTS AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IF THE CAR IS ALLOWED TO SIT AND COOL DOWN THE WHINING WILL STOP BUT START BACK AS THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HEATS UP. DURING THIS PERIOD THE CAR WILL LOOSE POWER AND NOT EXCEED 40 MILES PER HOUR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY
NHTSA ODI #11138806
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2018
EnginePower TrainSuspension
CVT, THE CAR JERKS, SHUDDERS, STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! ENGINE REVS ON ITS OWN, READ ABOUT THE HORRIBLE NISSAN CVT WILL NEVER PURCHASE A NISSAN NOR RECOMMEND TO ANYONE! TURNING IS A NIGHTMARE, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IS QUITE SCARY. CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE NISSAN DOES NOT CARE! CLASS ACTION SUIT SHOULD BE FILE…
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CVT, THE CAR JERKS, SHUDDERS, STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! ENGINE REVS ON ITS OWN, READ ABOUT THE HORRIBLE NISSAN CVT WILL NEVER PURCHASE A NISSAN NOR RECOMMEND TO ANYONE! TURNING IS A NIGHTMARE, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IS QUITE SCARY. CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE NISSAN DOES NOT CARE! CLASS ACTION SUIT SHOULD BE FILED ASAP THIS IS PEOPLE LIVES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT !
NHTSA ODI #11127950
60,000 miles · Aug 11, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER CLIMBING A STEEP GRADE UPHILL, ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO 18 WHEELERS ALSO GOING UPHILL ONE OF WHICH HAD TO SWERVE SHARPLY TO AVOID HITTING US. CVT TRANSMISSION LIKELY WENT INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE, SAME THING REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES ON STEEP WINDING CLIMBS ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAYS. VERY DANGER…
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COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER CLIMBING A STEEP GRADE UPHILL, ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO 18 WHEELERS ALSO GOING UPHILL ONE OF WHICH HAD TO SWERVE SHARPLY TO AVOID HITTING US. CVT TRANSMISSION LIKELY WENT INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE, SAME THING REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES ON STEEP WINDING CLIMBS ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAYS. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND LOSS OF POWER. NISSAN HAS ISSUED CVT RECALLS AND EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MODELS UP TO 2010 BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE IN THIS 2012 ALTIMA AND IN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CVT ON LATER MODELS. NHTSA SHOULD GET NISSAN TO EXTEND ITS RECALL/WARRANTY TO MODELS AFTER 2010 JUDGING BY THE MANY COMPLAINTS BEING REPORTED ABOUT THE SAME LOSS OF POWER ISSUE WITH THE CVT.
NHTSA ODI #11119357
30 miles · Jul 12, 2018
Engine
CVT BROKE DOWN- WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. RPMS LOCKED APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM IN MAJORITY OF NISSAN ALTIMA 2011-2012 MODELS. RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR PRE2010 MODELS FOR THE SAME THING BUT NOTHING WAS DONE FOR 2011-2012 MODELS, WHICH IS THE ONE I HAVE.
NHTSA ODI #11110914
151,000 miles · Jul 11, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other
CVT TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT. I WAS DIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 20 MPH. NISSAN STATED THAT TRANSMISSION IS GONE AND A NEW ONE IS NEEDED. $4000. SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY PREVIOUS CAR. 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA
NHTSA ODI #11110853
80,000 miles · Jun 14, 2018
EnginePower Train
I OWN A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING GOOD UNTILL 70000. AFTER 70K MILE ITS STARTED MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE AND AT 80K MILES ITS LOSING POWER EVEN IF I RUN THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY.THE RPM WILL STATY AT 2500 AT THIS POINT.WHEN I RESEARCHED FOUND OUT THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAS DESIGN FALW AND MOST OF THE CVT TRANS…
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I OWN A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING GOOD UNTILL 70000. AFTER 70K MILE ITS STARTED MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE AND AT 80K MILES ITS LOSING POWER EVEN IF I RUN THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY.THE RPM WILL STATY AT 2500 AT THIS POINT.WHEN I RESEARCHED FOUND OUT THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAS DESIGN FALW AND MOST OF THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.I CANT BELIEVE THAT NISSAN CARS LASTS FOR ONLY 70K MILES. THESE PROBLEMS ARE COMING WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN AND ITS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11101900
94,100 miles · Jun 8, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING IT. GOING UP THE HILL MY CAR ON A HIGHWAY IN THE DESERT WHEN THE SPEED DECLINED IT'S FROM 70MPH TO 45MPH, WHICH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND IT WAS STUCK ON 45MPH, AND ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR BEHIND ME TO CRASH INTO ME WITH MY THREE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. A LOT OF COMPLAIN…
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MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING IT. GOING UP THE HILL MY CAR ON A HIGHWAY IN THE DESERT WHEN THE SPEED DECLINED IT'S FROM 70MPH TO 45MPH, WHICH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND IT WAS STUCK ON 45MPH, AND ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR BEHIND ME TO CRASH INTO ME WITH MY THREE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. A LOT OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND NOTHING'S HAS BEEN DONE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE A LIFE TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER FOR A RECALL. THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE CARS ARE CRAP. EVERY TIME SOMEONE WALKS INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SEEM TO BE WELL AWARE BUT NO RECALL HE BEEN DONE.
NHTSA ODI #11100637
80,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Engine
CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING, FOUND OUT THE TRANNY WAS BAD. NISSAN WONT REPLACE OR COMPENSATE. NISSAN DEALER EXPECTS ME TO PAY 4000 OUT OF POCKET FOR A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. HAVENT EVEN PAID THE CAR OFF YET AND TRANSMISSION IS ALREADY GOING BAD. AVOID NISSAN ALTIMAS AT ALL COSTS
NHTSA ODI #11073592
35 miles · Feb 9, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2012 HAS SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN SPEED WHILE TAKING TRIPS LESS THAN 40 MILES. DRIVING ON FAST LANE ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MILES THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT REDUCES ALL BY ITSELF TO 35-40 MPH AND I ALMOST GOT INTO IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I DID TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT HAD TO GET OFF THE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ODI #11071885
Official recalls
4Oct 10, 2012
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.
Consequence: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Steering
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.
Consequence: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Feb 14, 2012
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ALTIMA AND VERSA VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS THAT CONTAIN AN INCORRECT PROPELLANT MIXTURE FOR THE INITIATOR COMPONENT USED, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT OUTPUT OF COMPRESSED GAS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG MODULES, AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 615-725-1000.
Aug 9, 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 21, 2011 AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 28, 2011 BECAUSE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU) WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE AFFECTED ACU WILL NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED AND THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO INFLATE IN A CRASH WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNED TO INFLATE. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Jul 19, 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 25, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011 AT THE CANTON, MISSISSIPPI PLANT. THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CREATING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLTS AND NUTS AND TIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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