IllustrationDASHBOARD HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY STICKY AND SHINY, CAUSING A GLARE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD
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
Structure complaints
33 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND STICKY WITH AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUTHERLIN NISSAN LOCATED AT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND STICKY WITH AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUTHERLIN NISSAN LOCATED AT 8125 E. COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32817, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
MY DASHBOARD IN MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING IN THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY OF THEM. I NEED MY DASHBOARD REPAIRED. THIS MELTING CAUSES A BAD GLARE OF MY WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. *TR
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING FROM THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. IT US CAUSING A BAD REFLECTION WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. I NEED IT REPAIRED BY NISSAN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUN GLARE WHILE DRIVING A VISIBILITY HAZARD WAS PRESENT THE GLARE WAS CAUSED BY THE MELTING DASHBOARD THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED CAUSING A SUN GLARE AND VISIBILITY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUN GLARE WHILE DRIVING A VISIBILITY HAZARD WAS PRESENT THE GLARE WAS CAUSED BY THE MELTING DASHBOARD THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED CAUSING A SUN GLARE AND VISIBILITY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER(UNKNOWN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND CREATED A GLARE. THE VEHICLE ALSO EMITTED A STRONG RUBBER ODOR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MY DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE MELTING AND IS STICKY TO THE TOUCH. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN THEY SHOW NO CONCERN AS TO THE DASH BOARD MELTING OR ANY RESOLVE TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. IT CAUSES A BAD GLARE ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUNLIGHT. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN MATERIALS.
ALL 4 OF MY DOOR ACTUATORS ARE SUDDENLY NOT WORKING. THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE WITH A POSSIBLE RECALL. ALL 4 SHOULD NOT GO BAD AT ONCE.
FLASHING SEATBELT SIGN RELATING TO PASSENGER SIDE. ALSO WHEN IT RAINS BOTH FRONT AND BACK DOORS ARE FILL WITH WATER. WHEN DRIVING WATER CAN BE HEARD SWOOSHING. AFTERWARD TO RELIEVE THE NOISE, I HAVE TO PICK UP THE RUBBER AT THE BASE OF THE DOORS AND WATER WILL RAN OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. DUE TO THE GLARE OF THE SUN, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD MELT AND BECOME VERY STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WOODY FOLSOM NISSAN OF VIDALIA (1609 E 1ST ST, VIDALIA, GA 30474) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. DUE TO THE GLARE OF THE SUN, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD MELT AND BECOME VERY STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WOODY FOLSOM NISSAN OF VIDALIA (1609 E 1ST ST, VIDALIA, GA 30474) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO VIDALIA NISSAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE PICTURES OF THE DASHBOARD WERE TAKEN TO PROVIDE TO THE PERSON WHO WAS ASSISTING WITH THE CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,071.
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.