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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

Power Train complaints

149 reports
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89,000 miles · Aug 15, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

IM DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY TAKING THE CURVE DOWNTOWN DALLAS & MY CAR STALLS O POWER AVAILABLE. I CANNOT STEER TO COAST, NOR PUT CAN ION EMERGENCY FLASHERS. WHERE IT DIES IT SITS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY. I HAVE ONLY HAD CAR FOR 2 MONTHS. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SCARED.

NHTSA ODI #10896011

105,000 miles · Aug 2, 2016
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO FL FROM KY AT AROUND 65-75 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELORATE PAST 3000 RPM'S. GOING UP HILLS WAS THE WORST, CARS WOULD PASS AND OUR VEHICLE WOULD SLOWLY DECLINE IN SPEED. PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE CAR OUT AND AFTER IF COOLED DOWN IT WHEN BACK TO WORKING OKAY BUT AFTER ANOTHER HOUR ON THE RO…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO FL FROM KY AT AROUND 65-75 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELORATE PAST 3000 RPM'S. GOING UP HILLS WAS THE WORST, CARS WOULD PASS AND OUR VEHICLE WOULD SLOWLY DECLINE IN SPEED. PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE CAR OUT AND AFTER IF COOLED DOWN IT WHEN BACK TO WORKING OKAY BUT AFTER ANOTHER HOUR ON THE ROAD IT DONE THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI #10892429

73,000 miles · Jul 31, 2016
Power Train

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 55 MPH WITH NO WARNING. PRESSING ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT MAKE CARE GO ANY FASTER. PULLED OVER AND WAITED 10 MINUTES THEN CONTINUED DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10891938

92,000 miles · Jul 15, 2016
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN DRIVING IN WEATHER ABOVE 84 DEGREES, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A VALVE BODY AND OIL COOLER TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN DRIVING IN WEATHER ABOVE 84 DEGREES, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A VALVE BODY AND OIL COOLER TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 09/06/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10884970

114,000 miles · Jul 10, 2016
Power Train

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING ONE THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AT 55-70 MPH. THE CAR WILL DECELERATE AND SLOWLY LOSE SPEED. I CAN SLAM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN VERY HOT WEATHER. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS IN MOTION, AND SOMETIMES ON A HILL. …

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PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING ONE THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AT 55-70 MPH. THE CAR WILL DECELERATE AND SLOWLY LOSE SPEED. I CAN SLAM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN VERY HOT WEATHER. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS IN MOTION, AND SOMETIMES ON A HILL. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR-ENDED WHILE HAULING CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE. IF I STOP THE CAR AND WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I CAN START IT UP AND CONTINUE ON GOING 300 OR MORE MILES BEFORE IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS HAD HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 4-5 MONTHS, BUT NOW IT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. THERE WAS NO ENGINE LIGHT AND IT WAS NOT GIVING A CODE. I TOOK IT TO EAST TENNESSEE NISSAN IN MORRISTOWN, TN, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM BUT SAID SIMILAR CARS ARE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO A LICENSED TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO COULD NOT GET A CODE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID IT COULD BE A PROBLEM STARTING WITH THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANSMISSION AS HE HAS SEEN AS MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2011-2012 MODELS AS THE EARLIER MODELS THAT GOT EXTENDED WARRANTIES. BOTH PLACES SAID THEY COULD NOT GIVE A GUARANTEED FIX BECAUSE IT IS NOT SHOWING THEM A PROBLEM. YESTERDAY, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES ON OUR WAY HOME FROM VACATION, ALMOST GETTING US HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK. FINALLY, AFTER 6 RESTARTS YESTERDAY, THE CAR IS SHOWING CODE P0744, WHICH IS TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH INTERMITTENT WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE DANGER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA ODI #10883804

75,000 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Power Train

CAR LOSES ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING. I NOTICED IT DOES THIS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GETS HOT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO NISSAN LAST YEAR (WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BESIDES IT NEEDING BRAKES. NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS GETTING HOTTER (PALM SPRINGS, CA 120 DEGREES) AND …

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CAR LOSES ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING. I NOTICED IT DOES THIS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GETS HOT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO NISSAN LAST YEAR (WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BESIDES IT NEEDING BRAKES. NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS GETTING HOTTER (PALM SPRINGS, CA 120 DEGREES) AND MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (75,000 MILES) IT'S DOING IT AGAIN!! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS! SINCE I KNOW IT'S BEEN HAPPENING I'VE BEEN TRYING TO USE CRUISE CONTROL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON THE FREEWAY (GOING ABOUT 65-70) BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO DO IT AGAIN! LAST WEEKEND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY 3 TIMES BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH!! I READ ONLINE THERE ARE A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND NISSAN WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED WITH A RECALL! THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 20 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR!

NHTSA ODI #10876895

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2016
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY CAR PRETTY MUCH BRAND NEW (IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 20 MILES ON IT). MY FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AROUND 30,000 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I ASKED MY SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK IT, HE ASSURED ME THE TECH'S CHECKED IT AND THE ONLY THING LEAKING WAS FROM THE AC. I LEFT, PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT, TOOK PICTURES, AND BOUGHT THEM TO T…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR PRETTY MUCH BRAND NEW (IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 20 MILES ON IT). MY FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AROUND 30,000 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I ASKED MY SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK IT, HE ASSURED ME THE TECH'S CHECKED IT AND THE ONLY THING LEAKING WAS FROM THE AC. I LEFT, PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT, TOOK PICTURES, AND BOUGHT THEM TO THE DEALER. THEY THEN REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND 90,000 MILES, I STARTED HAVING ISSUES GETTING THE CAR TO GO AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. ITS VERY RANDOM BUT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN YIELDING TO TRAFFIC, I HAD PLENTY OF TIME. HOWEVER MY CAR WAS CRAWLING FOR 30 SECONDS OR SO. I AM GLAD I DIDN'T GET STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION. WHEN A LIGHT TURNS GREEN, PEOPLE WILL BEEP THEIR HORN AT ME, OR TRY TO CUT THE PEOPLE OFF IN THE OTHER LANES TO PASS ME. I FRANTICALLY SEARCHED THE WEB TO FIND THAT TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH NISSAN ALTIMAS OF DIFFERENT YEARS NEAR MINE. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THEIR WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS BETWEEN CHAT FORMS, COMPLAINT WEBSITES, AND EVEN SO MANY YOUTUBE VIDEOS. YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT IT CRAWLS FOR A RANDOM AMOUNT OF TIME (MAYBE UP TO A MINUTE). HERE IS SOMEONE WHO CAPTURED IT ON VIDEO ON A CAR WITHOUT EVEN 30,000: HTTPS://M.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=ULIODPOI1_M I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. OTHER COMPANIES HAVE LONGER WARRANTY PERIODS FOR THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. FORD HAS 2 YEARS. DOES NISSAN KNOW HOW AWFUL THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE SO THEY WON'T COVER THEM FOR A LONGER PERIOD? I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR, AND I FEEL LIKE I COULD BREAK DOWN AT ANY TIME, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR PAYMENT RIGHT NOW. PLEASE DON'T LET NISSAN GET AWAY WITH THIS ANY LONGER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10874490

60,000 miles · Jun 8, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR TURN MORE THAN2000 RPM WHEN CLIMBING HILLS CAR SLOWS TO A CRAWL YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT AWHILE AND THEN RESTART IT YOU MAY GO2 MILES OR200 BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #10873323

64,000 miles · Apr 30, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AFTER DRIVING AT 70 MPH FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND SLOWS DOWN. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE IT IS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS ISSUE HAD OCCURRED BEFORE 8K MILES EARLIER AND HAD THE CVT COOLER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10862347

92,000 miles · Dec 14, 2015
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA ON A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD. I WAS IN THE TURNING LANE WHEN MY CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD POWER AND THE ENGINE REVVED WHEN I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE CAR THEN JERKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. A FEW HUNDR…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA ON A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD. I WAS IN THE TURNING LANE WHEN MY CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD POWER AND THE ENGINE REVVED WHEN I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE CAR THEN JERKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. A FEW HUNDRED MORE YARDS AND IT STOPPED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAILED CVT TRANSMISSION. I CALLED NISSAN AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP, AND THEY SAID TOW IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD REVIEW IT AND SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAID MY CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WILL COST OVER $4000 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS EVENT. I DID NOT KNOW WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT THE PROBLEMS NISSAN HAS HAD WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. AFTER A WEEK OF WAITING, NISSAN AMERICA CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP. THEY WOULD NOT OFFER A REASON WHY. I ASKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT NISSAN RETROACTIVELY DOUBLED THE WARRANTY ON MODELS BEFORE 2010, WOULD THEY DO THAT FOR MY 2012. I WAS TOLD NO. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER AND I WAS REFUSED, SAYING THE REVIEW PROCESS IS COMPLETE. I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED. I AM ANGRY THAT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURRED. AND I AM FRUSTRATED THAT AFTER SUGGESTING THEY MIGHT HELP, NISSAN WASTED ANOTHER WEEK OF MY TIME, WHEN I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IT FIXED BY MY MECHANIC, INSTEAD OF BRINGING IT TO A DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #10809954

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.

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