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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.

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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

Service Brakes complaints

17 reports
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36,222 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Service BrakesWheels

PUSHED BRAKE TO START STOPPING, BRAKES SHUTTERED. LET UP ON BRAKE, THEN REAPPLIED AND IT SHUTTERED AGAIN. THIS CONTINUED. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID, IT WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY, PUT IN TO FILL. PROBLEM BETTER BUT STILL EXISTS, NOW AIR COMPRESSOR GONE.. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT IN OCT 2012 WHAT A LEMON. THANK GOODNESS IT IS A LEASE. N…

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PUSHED BRAKE TO START STOPPING, BRAKES SHUTTERED. LET UP ON BRAKE, THEN REAPPLIED AND IT SHUTTERED AGAIN. THIS CONTINUED. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID, IT WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY, PUT IN TO FILL. PROBLEM BETTER BUT STILL EXISTS, NOW AIR COMPRESSOR GONE.. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT IN OCT 2012 WHAT A LEMON. THANK GOODNESS IT IS A LEASE. NOISE UNDER CAR SINCE DAY BOUGHT. AT 30 MPH IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING HITS SOMETHING UNDER THERE. DEALER SAYS, JUST NATURE OF CAR. I DO NOT BUY THAT EXPLANATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596031

50,000 miles · May 27, 2014
Service Brakes

WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AT LOW SPEEDS (10-30 MPH) THE BRAKE GRABBED AND THREW OCCUPANTS FORWARD. ON ONE OCCASION THE WHEELS FROZE WITH BRAKE PEDAL ONLY 20% DEPRESSED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT REPEATABLE. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE BRAKE POWER BOOSTER. VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE MODE. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *T…

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WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AT LOW SPEEDS (10-30 MPH) THE BRAKE GRABBED AND THREW OCCUPANTS FORWARD. ON ONE OCCASION THE WHEELS FROZE WITH BRAKE PEDAL ONLY 20% DEPRESSED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT REPEATABLE. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE BRAKE POWER BOOSTER. VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE MODE. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594362

4,000 miles · Jan 18, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringCrashInjury

PURCHASED MY NEW ALTIMA S2.5 CONVIENCE PKG PLUS 1ST OF AUG 2012. I BOUGHT NEW CAR TO BE SAFE THIS WAS MY 3RD ALTIMA. MON. DEC 31, 2012 @ 11;15 A.M. I MADE RIGHT TURN INTO HOME DRIVEWAY. MY DRIVEWAY IS STEEP HOUSE SITS DOWN WAS PROCEEDING FORWARD DOWN DRIVEWAY TO ENTER GARAGE. I HAD BRAKES NO WARNINGS OR INDICATORS ANYTHING WAS W…

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PURCHASED MY NEW ALTIMA S2.5 CONVIENCE PKG PLUS 1ST OF AUG 2012. I BOUGHT NEW CAR TO BE SAFE THIS WAS MY 3RD ALTIMA. MON. DEC 31, 2012 @ 11;15 A.M. I MADE RIGHT TURN INTO HOME DRIVEWAY. MY DRIVEWAY IS STEEP HOUSE SITS DOWN WAS PROCEEDING FORWARD DOWN DRIVEWAY TO ENTER GARAGE. I HAD BRAKES NO WARNINGS OR INDICATORS ANYTHING WAS WRONG. TOP OF DRIVE HAD BRAKES ON, THEN LET OFF LITTLE TO ALLOW CAR TO GO FORWARD. AS I EASED OFF LIITLE ON BRAKES DOWN CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO FAST SO TRIED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO BRAKES AND WENT TO FLOOR, STARTED PUMPING BRAKES AND NOTHING CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN TO AVOID GOING THROUGH GARAGE DOOR OR SIDE OF HOUSE VEERED TO RIGHT STEERING WAS LITTLE TIGHT ALL COULD THINK WAS KEEP PUMPING BRAKES! CAR WENT OFF EMBANKMENT AIRBORNE LANDED ON NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY EMPACT SHOOK ME. CAR IS PROCEEDING THROUGH THEIR BACKYARD STILL PUMPING BRAKES NO RESULTS I SEE HUGE TREE HEADED FOR FRANTIC TO STOP CAR NEXT I KNOW I AM DASED AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAR IS ON DRIVERS SIDE UP AGANIST TREE SEE SMOKE COMING OUT FRONT. EMA HAD BE PULLED OUT BACKSEAT THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE. CAR WENT OFF 6' STRIAGHT RETAINING WALL TIRES PULLED CINDER BLOCKS DOWN KEPT ME FROM HEAD ON TREE. MY BRAKES FAILED PERSON TOWED MY CAR WHILE INCLINE SAID HAD NO BRAKES, BUT BODY SHOP SAID HAVE BRAKES THEY'RE NOT GOING TOTAL CAR OR CHECK MASTER CYLINDER $13,000 DAMAGE IT CAN BE REPAIRED, BUT CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME. MY BRAKES FAILED. I BOUGHT NEW 2012 ALTIMA MY 3RD ONE, CAR 4 MOS. OLD 4,000 MILES THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. LEARNED RECALL SENT OUT 2012-2013 POWER STEERING BOLTS. I HAD GO BY AMBULANCE TO ER I HAVE BEEN HURT. NISSAN MAKING ME GATHER INFO SEND TO INVESTIGATE IF DEFECT. TAKEN SO LONG INS GIVES RENTAL CAR 25 DAYS NISSAN WON'T PROVIDE ONE UNTIL THROUGH INVESTIGATING FOR DEFECT WHICH HASN'T STATRED. MY CAR IS NOT SAFE AND I HAVE PROVE TO THEM. YOUR CAR SHOULD NOT HURT YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493467

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2012
Service Brakes

MAYBE A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA ON JULY 25, 2012, I HEARD SQUEAKING SOUNDS WHEN BRAKING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN A LETTER FROM THE MECHANIC STATING THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO SQUEAK OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE THE BRAKES A NOT MADE WITH THE SAME MATERIALS USED IN THE PAST. ON OCT 29, 2012…

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MAYBE A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA ON JULY 25, 2012, I HEARD SQUEAKING SOUNDS WHEN BRAKING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN A LETTER FROM THE MECHANIC STATING THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO SQUEAK OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE THE BRAKES A NOT MADE WITH THE SAME MATERIALS USED IN THE PAST. ON OCT 29, 2012, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE NOISE INCREASED WHEN STOPPING AND I STARTED TO HEAR SCRUBBING WHEN STOPPING. THE MECHANIC CHECKED MY CAR FOR THE 2ND TIME AND ONLY REPLACED BRAKE PADDING IN THE FRONT AND SHAVED ONE ROTOR. NOW ON NOV.14, 2012, THE NOISE IS CONTINUING AND THE SCRUBBING SOUND IS STILL THERE. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE MY BRAKES AND ROTORS BECAUSE THE WAS CAR NEW WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR I AM AFRAID IT MY NOT STOP WHEN I BRAKE TO STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484736

7,400 miles · Aug 6, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,400.

NHTSA ODI #10469363

1,550 miles · Jul 17, 2012
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THE PEDALS ARE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. MY HUSBAND COMPLAINED OF THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN HE DROVE MY CAR BECAUSE HIS SHOE GOT CAUGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HE WAS LIFTING HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THEN, YESTERDAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I NEARLY DROVE MY CAR THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE DAYCARE WHERE I WAS DROPPING …

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THE PEDALS ARE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. MY HUSBAND COMPLAINED OF THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN HE DROVE MY CAR BECAUSE HIS SHOE GOT CAUGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HE WAS LIFTING HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THEN, YESTERDAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I NEARLY DROVE MY CAR THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE DAYCARE WHERE I WAS DROPPING OFF MY SON. I AM NOW AWARE OF HOW EXTRA-CAUTIOUS I HAVE TO BE WHEN DRIVING MY CAR SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME WITH ANY OTHER CAR. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 25 YEARS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466003

400 miles · Jun 20, 2012
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

MY BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE HIT BOTH PEDALS SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP!!! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462369

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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