← New search

2012 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

307 reports with mileage · 118 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 149 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports2 fire reports16 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2021
Exterior Lighting

THE LIGHTS ON DIM ARE SO DIM YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROAD. YOU HAVE TO PUT ON BIGHTS TO SEE THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11397507

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE LED HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR NIGHT DRIVING OR DRIVING IN THE RAIN. IT OCCURES WILL IN MOTION AND AT A STANDSTILL

NHTSA ODI #11172024

12,000 miles · Jan 31, 2017
Exterior LightingCrashInjury

MY ISSUE CONCERNS THE EXTREMELY BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS (ESPECIALLY AFTERMARKET HALOGEN) THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE INSTALLED ON CARS AND WORSE ON SUV'S AND PICK-UP TRUCKS. THESE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING IN NORMAL HIGHWAY NIGHT TRAVEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN OPPOSING DRIVERS USE THEM AT THE HIGH BEAM LEVEL. IT IS WORSE WHEN A CAR DRIVER IS OPPOSED …

Read full complaint

MY ISSUE CONCERNS THE EXTREMELY BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS (ESPECIALLY AFTERMARKET HALOGEN) THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE INSTALLED ON CARS AND WORSE ON SUV'S AND PICK-UP TRUCKS. THESE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING IN NORMAL HIGHWAY NIGHT TRAVEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN OPPOSING DRIVERS USE THEM AT THE HIGH BEAM LEVEL. IT IS WORSE WHEN A CAR DRIVER IS OPPOSED BY A SUV OR A PICK-UP TRUCK WHOSE LIGHTS ARE MOUNTED ABOUT ONE FOOT HIGHER THAN THE ONES MOUNTED ON A TYPICAL CAR. MY WIFE'S ACCIDENT WHEN SHE ENTERED THE LEFT TURN LANE OF A HIGHWAY WITH A SINGLE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION WITH A DEDICATED LEFT TURN LANE AT THE INTERSECTION. AS MY WIFE'S CAR SAT IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, IT WAS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE A SUV OR PICK-UP TRUCK WITH EXTREMELY BRIGHT LIGHTS THAT BLINDS YOU FROM SEEING ANYTHING BEYOND THE PLANE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TURNED GREEN, THE OPPOSING VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. MY WIFE EVENTUALLY DECIDED TO EASE SLOWLY OUT. STILL UNABLE TO SEE, SE WAS EVENTUALLY INTO THE INTERSECTION WHERE SHE WAS HIT BY A CAR IN THE THROUGH LANE. THESE HALOGEN LIGHTS ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR MOST DRIVING. THE HEIGHT DIFFERENTIAL OF HEADLIGHTS BETWEEN CARS AND SUV'S IS ABOUT ONE FOOT AND IS DANGEROUS. IT ALSO VERY BAD ON COUNTRY ROADS WITH NO CENTERLINES OR NO EDGE LINES. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A VEHICLE ON THIS TYPE OF A COUNTRY ROAD AND THE ROAD AHEAD CURVES - LOOK OUT - YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES THIS ISSUE WORSE IS OLDER DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD CATARACT SURGERY. THIS INCREASES THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHTS. IN THE INTEREST OF TRAFFIC SAFETY, ALL VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS ON PASSENGER CARS, SUV'S AND PICK-UP TRUCKS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME HEIGHT. AND THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHTS SHOULD HAVE A MAXIMUM VALUE. I KNOW THAT THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WILL PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM BECOMING REALITY. BUT IT IS A NEEDED CHANGE. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10948670

500 miles · Jul 8, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

LIGHT IN THE GLOVEBOX DOESNOT HAVE A SWITCH. IT TURNS ON AS SOON AS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. MY GLOVEBOX WAS FULL OF SOME PAPER AND I OPENED THE GLOVE BOX TO FIN DHTE PAPERS BECAME VERY HOT TO TOUCH AND I FELT LIKE THEY WOULD BURN ANY MOMENT. A SWITCH SHOULD BE INCLUDED SO THAT THE LIGHT TURNS ON ONLY WHEN THE GLOVE COMPART…

Read full complaint

LIGHT IN THE GLOVEBOX DOESNOT HAVE A SWITCH. IT TURNS ON AS SOON AS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. MY GLOVEBOX WAS FULL OF SOME PAPER AND I OPENED THE GLOVE BOX TO FIN DHTE PAPERS BECAME VERY HOT TO TOUCH AND I FELT LIKE THEY WOULD BURN ANY MOMENT. A SWITCH SHOULD BE INCLUDED SO THAT THE LIGHT TURNS ON ONLY WHEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS OPENED. ANY CLOTH OF EASILY FLAMMABLE MATERIAL CAN CATCH FIRE DUE TO HEAT AND GO UNNOTICED.

NHTSA ODI #10732763

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2012
Exterior Lighting

HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE STREET. IT IS PARTICULARLY VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MAKING TURNS, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS LIKE A 4 LANE ROAD(THE DIVIDER IS VISIBLE WHEN IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE). IT IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN …

Read full complaint

HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE STREET. IT IS PARTICULARLY VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MAKING TURNS, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS LIKE A 4 LANE ROAD(THE DIVIDER IS VISIBLE WHEN IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE). IT IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ROADS IN AN AREA, YOU WILL END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD (THE LIGHT IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH AND NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH). I WAS LUCKY THAT THE ROADS WERE EMPTY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CARS FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHICH ARE OLDER AND SMALLER LIGHT UP ROADS BETTER THAN MY NEW CAR DOES(EX: HYUNDAI ELANTRA). SIR, I HAVE APPROACHED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM TO INSTALL HID LAMPS ON MY CAR(I WOULD PAY FOR IT) AND THEY SAY NISSAN WOULD NOT DO IT. SOME TIMES IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE NO HEAD LIGHTS AND AS IF I AM DRIVING WITH LIGHTING FROM OTHER CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE PROPER HEADLAMPS WITH RIGHT AMOUNT OF LIGHTING AND WIDE ENOUGH BEAM TO ENSURE A SAFE AND NON-LIFE THREATENING DRIVING EXPERIENCE. THANKS, A DRIVER WHO WANTS TO BE ALIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457799

Official recalls

4

12V494000 · Steering; Suspension

Oct 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.

12V055000 · Air Bags:side/window

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.

11V408000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

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.

11V371000 · Suspension

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EQ12002 · Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture

Opened Feb 14, 2012 · Closed May 8, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems