IllustrationCAR GOES TO THE RIGHT. .WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN TRYING TO BRING BACK. THEN TO MUCH. LIKE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. GOING TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. GOING TO FIX ORDERED PART. DEC 8 2014. *TR
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
Steering complaints
16 reportsMY SON WAS DRIVING, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE, WENT THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD FENCE AND CAME TO REST 3FT. BEFORE AN 8FT. EMBANKMENT INTO A CREEK. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND HE HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE SUFFERED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES: - 2 BROKEN VERTEBRA …
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MY SON WAS DRIVING, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE, WENT THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD FENCE AND CAME TO REST 3FT. BEFORE AN 8FT. EMBANKMENT INTO A CREEK. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND HE HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE SUFFERED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES: - 2 BROKEN VERTEBRA IN HIS NECK - BROKEN CLAVICLE - 4 BROKEN RIBS - COLLAPSED LUNGS - LACERATION ON HIS UPPER LEFT ARM. *TR
WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR, THE POWER COMES ON(RADIO COMES ON, DASHBOARD LIGHTS), BUT THE IGNITION DOESN'T START. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 15K MILES ON IT. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH THE CAR BEGAN RATTLING,NOISE,BING LIKE AND VIBRATION. WHEN I REACHED THE SPEED OF 60MPH, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK. IT'S REALLY HARD TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT NORMAL, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE FRONT TIRES NEED ROTATED. THE TIRE…
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I PURCHASED A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH THE CAR BEGAN RATTLING,NOISE,BING LIKE AND VIBRATION. WHEN I REACHED THE SPEED OF 60MPH, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK. IT'S REALLY HARD TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT NORMAL, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE FRONT TIRES NEED ROTATED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS CAR WAS A CERTIFIED/USED PURCHASE ON FEB. 5,2013. *TR
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
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO GO RIGHT, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. *TR
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.