IllustrationTHE VEHICLE CVT TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED GOING FORWARD AND REVERSE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE MAINTANCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
620–25K
4425–50K
4650–75K
6375–100K
74100–150K
18150K+
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 reportsI AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND GAVE ME A CODE OF P1778, HE TOLD ME NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THEIR STEP MOTORS AND THAT NISSAN IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THEM FOR FREE. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT WHEN THEY KNOW THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT GOOD …
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I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND GAVE ME A CODE OF P1778, HE TOLD ME NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THEIR STEP MOTORS AND THAT NISSAN IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THEM FOR FREE. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT WHEN THEY KNOW THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT GOOD BECAUSE THEY'RE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN IT STARTED LOSING SPEED THAT IS WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, HAPPEN O THE HIGHWAY.
WHILE DRIVING, EITHER WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OR WITHOUT, THE ENGINE RPMS WILL QUICKLY BOUNCE BETWEEN HIGH RPMS AND LOW RPMS THOUGH THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT CHANGE AT ALL. THE ENGINE IS REVVING FASTER, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.
WHILE DRIVING, OR WANTING TO DRIVE AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WILL INCREASE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED (UP TO RED LINE), BUT THE CAR TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND UNTIL, SUDDENLY, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. THIS CAN HAPPEN FROM A COLD START, AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AFTER A QUICK STOP AT A BUSINESS WHILE THE VEHICLE I…
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WHILE DRIVING, OR WANTING TO DRIVE AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WILL INCREASE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED (UP TO RED LINE), BUT THE CAR TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND UNTIL, SUDDENLY, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. THIS CAN HAPPEN FROM A COLD START, AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AFTER A QUICK STOP AT A BUSINESS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL WARM, ETC.
CVT TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT POORLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLOWLY DESTROYING ITSELF CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER, HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE AND EVENTUALLY FAIL. THE DATE I SELECTED FOR WHEN IT HAPPENED IS THE DATE I NOTICED THE ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE.
NO FORVER GEAR OR REVERSE GEAR AT ALL .AND HAVE ALOT OF CODE 720 1723 1778 0868 0715 1722 0746 0826 1701
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR MORE THAN 1.5 HOURS THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND SLOWS DOWN TO 45MPH OR LESS OR NOW POWER AT ALL. BECAUSE THE CVT OVERHEATS AND SHUTS DOWN. A NISSAN DEALERSHIP INSPECTED IT AND SAID WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.
THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 115,000 MILES, JUST BELOW OF THE CUTOFF FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF THE 2010 ALTIMAS. THE SAME TRANSMISSION RESIDES IN BOTH OF THESE CARS, WHY IS ONE COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE OTHER NOT?
MY SON'S 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS 99,500 MILES. THE CVT HAS BEEN ACTING UP MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR. IT HAS GONE INTO THE FAIL-SAFE MODE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY, CREATING AN UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION. WE'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TWICE TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT EMITTED FAULTS…
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MY SON'S 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS 99,500 MILES. THE CVT HAS BEEN ACTING UP MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR. IT HAS GONE INTO THE FAIL-SAFE MODE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY, CREATING AN UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION. WE'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TWICE TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT EMITTED FAULTS. THIS IS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE THAT IS CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.
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
Official recalls
412V494000 · 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
1EQ12002 · 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.