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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

56 reports
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215,000 miles · Dec 3, 2018
Unknown Or Other

ONE 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHILE I WAS SITTING A RED, THE SECOND TIME I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THROUGH TRAFFIC AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER I WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT TOOK ABOUT A HOUR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN, LUCKILY THE SECON…

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ONE 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHILE I WAS SITTING A RED, THE SECOND TIME I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THROUGH TRAFFIC AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER I WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT TOOK ABOUT A HOUR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN, LUCKILY THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. I HAVE READ A FEW STORIES AND COMPLAINTS ON CAR GURUS THAT OTHER NISSAN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE. I TRULY FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11155755

106,450 miles · Oct 20, 2018
Unknown Or Other

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CVT TRANSMISSION. CAR LOST POWER AND COULDN'T DRIVE OVER 50 MPH. A WEEK LATER, CAR WON'T EVEN ACCELERATE. 107,000 MILES CURRENTLY ON VEHICLE. CURRENTLY WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT LOST TOTAL POWER. NO ACCELERATION IN REVERSE OR IN DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11141625

32,000 miles · Oct 8, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

SECURITY PROMPT TO" PRESS BRAKE TO START" IN VECHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY FAILED CAUSING CONFUSION ON PROPER STARTING PROCEDURE FOR THE VECHICLE. INFORMATION TO START VECHICLE IS BLANK IN THE SCREEN,THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH EARLY 2007 MODELS AND HAS SHOWED UP IN MY 2012 ALTIMA. THIS VECHICLE IS STORE NORMALLY HAS 32K MILES ON …

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SECURITY PROMPT TO" PRESS BRAKE TO START" IN VECHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY FAILED CAUSING CONFUSION ON PROPER STARTING PROCEDURE FOR THE VECHICLE. INFORMATION TO START VECHICLE IS BLANK IN THE SCREEN,THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH EARLY 2007 MODELS AND HAS SHOWED UP IN MY 2012 ALTIMA. THIS VECHICLE IS STORE NORMALLY HAS 32K MILES ON IT AS OF 10/9/2018 AND SHOULDNT HAVE HAD THIS KIND OF FAILURE. WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO FAIL IN THIS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHILE DRIVING, IT SAFETY ISSUE. THIS DISPLAY WENT OUT WHEN STOPPED AND TURNED OFF. THIS FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF WARNING INFORMATION ABOUT THE VECHICLE OPERATION.SEE PHOTOS OF NORMAL OPERATION SUPPLIED BY THIS DISPLAY.

NHTSA ODI #11139124

117,000 miles · Sep 6, 2018
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

THE TRACTION(SLIP) SYMBOL HAS BEEN ON FOR MONTHS CAUSING MY BRAKES TO SQUEAL REGARDLESS OF BEING ON THE BRAKES. TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED KICKING INTO LOWER GEARS WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11124719

151,000 miles · Jul 11, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

CVT TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT. I WAS DIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 20 MPH. NISSAN STATED THAT TRANSMISSION IS GONE AND A NEW ONE IS NEEDED. $4000. SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY PREVIOUS CAR. 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA

NHTSA ODI #11110853

40,000 miles · Jun 24, 2018
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE DASH IS MELTING CREATING A SHINY RESIDUE COVERING THE DASH. WHEN THE SUN OR BRIGHT LIGHTS GUYS AT NIGHT IS SHINING THE SHINY DASH REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD CREATING A GLARE THAT OBSTRUCTS YOUR VISION WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING ON ANY HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL DEALER TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT IT TO NISSAN ABOUT …

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THE DASH IS MELTING CREATING A SHINY RESIDUE COVERING THE DASH. WHEN THE SUN OR BRIGHT LIGHTS GUYS AT NIGHT IS SHINING THE SHINY DASH REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD CREATING A GLARE THAT OBSTRUCTS YOUR VISION WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING ON ANY HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL DEALER TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT IT TO NISSAN ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. IT IS GETTING SO BADD THAT WHILE DRIVING IT HAS STARTED OBSTRUCTING THE VISION OF THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11103658

40,000 miles · May 23, 2018
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A STICKY, SHINY, MELTED, REFLECTIVE DASHBOARD CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH SAFELY OPERATING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE REFLECTIVE GLARE. THIS IS HAD A GRADUAL ONSET AND IS GRADUALLY WORSENING. NISSAN TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT IN 2007-2009 MODELS BUT IN MY CASE NISSAN REFUSES TO…

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I HAVE A STICKY, SHINY, MELTED, REFLECTIVE DASHBOARD CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH SAFELY OPERATING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE REFLECTIVE GLARE. THIS IS HAD A GRADUAL ONSET AND IS GRADUALLY WORSENING. NISSAN TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT IN 2007-2009 MODELS BUT IN MY CASE NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11097636

80,000 miles · Mar 28, 2018
Unknown Or Other

CAR DASH COVER MELTING

NHTSA ODI #11081915

112,000 miles · Mar 14, 2018
Unknown Or Other

MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 112,000MILES IN SEPT 2017. NOW TODAY I FIND OUT THAT I MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AGAIN, DATE BEING (3/14/2018). CODES ARE : BCM; TRANSMISSIONS FAULT 4; IPDM E/R FAULT 3. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I WILL BE TAKING IT INTO FORT WORTH NISSAN ON SATURDAY 3/17/2018 TO DETERMINE IF IT I…

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MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 112,000MILES IN SEPT 2017. NOW TODAY I FIND OUT THAT I MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AGAIN, DATE BEING (3/14/2018). CODES ARE : BCM; TRANSMISSIONS FAULT 4; IPDM E/R FAULT 3. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I WILL BE TAKING IT INTO FORT WORTH NISSAN ON SATURDAY 3/17/2018 TO DETERMINE IF IT IS FAILING AGAIN, IT BEING ONLY 9,000 MILES LATER.

NHTSA ODI #11079125

196,000 miles · Feb 13, 2018
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. NO POWER AT ALL, ALMOST TAIL ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT SWIRLED INTO EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME. UNABLE TO USE HAZARD LIGHTS, AS THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD A PORTABLE JUMPER AND HAD TO EXIT MY CAR AND STAND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WITH HOOD UP,…

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VEHICLE JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. NO POWER AT ALL, ALMOST TAIL ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT SWIRLED INTO EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME. UNABLE TO USE HAZARD LIGHTS, AS THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD A PORTABLE JUMPER AND HAD TO EXIT MY CAR AND STAND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WITH HOOD UP, UNABLE TO SEE TRAFFIC COMING AND VERY SCARED OF GETTING HIT BECAUSE I HAD NO HAZARD LIGHTS. VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED AND WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK. I LIVE OVER AN HOUR FROM WORK AND NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE HOME ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT THIS, I FOUND WHILE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE EXACT SAME REASON AND HAVE REPORTED THIS BUT NISSAN IS MAKING NO EFFORT TO FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT BADLY HAVING THIS HAPPEN WHERE IT DID AND I AM NOTIFYING WHOEVER IS NECESSARY ABOUT THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AND IT'S RELATED TO THIS ISSUE THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF, MY FAMILY WILL BE SUING ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS I'M SURE. I HAD NO POWER, NO STEERING, NO CONTROL AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #11072524

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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems