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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

What owners actually said

425 reports
85,000 miles · Aug 28, 2019
Power Train

I HAVE A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE LAST YEAR WHEN THE CAR HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WENT WHEN TRAVELING ON A LONG TRIP, AFTER A HOURS WHEN GOING APPROX 65 MPH AND TRYING THE CAR FAILED TO ACCCELERATE. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITU…

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I HAVE A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE LAST YEAR WHEN THE CAR HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WENT WHEN TRAVELING ON A LONG TRIP, AFTER A HOURS WHEN GOING APPROX 65 MPH AND TRYING THE CAR FAILED TO ACCCELERATE. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ASTHERE WAS A TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND ME, WHICH FORCED HIM TO SLAM ON BREAKS. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCAREY SITUATION FOR ALL INVOLVED. AGAIN THIS YEAR WHILE TRAVELING FOR APPROX 2 HOURS THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD ON THE LEFT HAD SIDE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED OR HAS ALREADY BEEN. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED AT APPROX 99,000 MILES. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACT NISSAN AND AM GOING TO TAKE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, IF I AM ABLE TO GET IT THERE. I BELIEVE THAT OTHER CARS FOR OTHER YEARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED DUE TO A CLASS ACTION SUIT. I HAVE BEEN DOING ALOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS CAR AND YEAR AND NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME COMPLETE. VERY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR IF NOTHING DONE ON NISSAN PART. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN. THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR DID NOT GO ON, AND EVEN AFTER PULLING OVER DID NOT GO ON

NHTSA ODI #11252078

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2019
Air BagsService Brakes

CAMBIE LAS BREAKS NUEVAS Y EL RUIDO SIGUE, LA LUZ DE LAS BOLSAS DE AIRE EST PRENDIDA SIEMPRE

NHTSA ODI #11246336

90,000 miles · Aug 23, 2019
Power TrainSteering

CVT TRANS GIVING CHECK ENGINE SOON CODE P1777 STEPPER MOTOR COD... TRANS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, IT GETS STUCK AT 2000RPMS AND LAGS THEN JUMP UP IN RPMS. TRANS SHAKES HARD FROM TIME TO TIME WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS

NHTSA ODI #11246044

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2019
Power Train

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY STOP ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11244676

146,000 miles · Aug 19, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

TRAVELING WEST ON HWY 44 STARTED HAVING TROUBLE GOING UP HILLS. PUT PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING EXTRA. IT WAS STARVING FOR FUEL. TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK HOME, EVENTUALLY STOPPING IN SULLIVAN MO. WHILE GOING BACK I HAD TO GAIN SPEED GOING DOWNHILL IN ORDER TO MAKE IT UPHILL. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAD A SEMI RIDER MY REAR BUMPER…

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TRAVELING WEST ON HWY 44 STARTED HAVING TROUBLE GOING UP HILLS. PUT PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING EXTRA. IT WAS STARVING FOR FUEL. TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK HOME, EVENTUALLY STOPPING IN SULLIVAN MO. WHILE GOING BACK I HAD TO GAIN SPEED GOING DOWNHILL IN ORDER TO MAKE IT UPHILL. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAD A SEMI RIDER MY REAR BUMPER EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN THE SLOW LANE. ONE TIME WHILE GAINING SPED DOWN HILL, I HAD TO PASS THE SEMI IN FRONT OF ME, OR LOSE THE SPEED THAT I HAD GAINED, SO I TRIED TO PASS ON LEFT, AS USUAL, BUT THEN THE ACCELERATION STALLED ONCE AGAIN. I THEN HAD ANOTHER SEMI RIDING IN REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND WAS FEARFUL OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN. I WAS EVENTUALLY PASSED BY SEMI ON RIGHT , I GOT OVER, AND THEN THE SEMI ON THE LEFT PASSED. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS NOT A GOOD SITUATION. I HAVE SEEN ON-LINE THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST NISSAN, BUT NO RECALL FOR THE CVT'S. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A MUST. EVEN THE GUY AT NISSAN HAD TOLD ME THAT HE HAS HEARD OF MANY STORIES JUST LIKE THIS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT/KILLED IF NOTHING IS DONE. NISSAN KNOWS OF PROBLEM, HENCE THE COOLING DEVICE STARTED IN 2013 MODEL. EVEN THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE FORCE NISSAN TO CORRECT THEIR ERROR IN JUDGMENT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. OH, NISSAN DOES WANT TO FIX MY ISSUE, FOR SEVERAL $$$'S THANK YOU, A CONCERNED DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11244889

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2019
EngineSteeringUnknown Or Other

LOSSES POWER WHEN DRIVING WHEN MAKING TURNS IT SHAKES IT OVER HEATS

NHTSA ODI #11244568

42,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WILL DROP FROM 70 TO BELOW 40 MPH, CANNOT MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED ON HIGHWAY. PROBLEM IS EXASPERATED WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL. THE ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THERE IS ALSO A WHIRRING NOISE THE ENGINE MAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBL…

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WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR WILL DROP FROM 70 TO BELOW 40 MPH, CANNOT MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED ON HIGHWAY. PROBLEM IS EXASPERATED WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL. THE ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THERE IS ALSO A WHIRRING NOISE THE ENGINE MAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM/COMPLAINT AMONG OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA 2012 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI #11244542

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2019
Structure

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.

NHTSA ODI #11243982

95,300 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

WE WERE DRIVING UP HILL IN A CANYON GOING 80 MPH WHEN WE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. WE HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IT HOME. IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES ON THE WAY TO TAKING IT BACK HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11243685

55,000 miles · Aug 12, 2019
Engine

I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S SEDAN FROM UNIVERSITY NISSAN IN UNIVERSAL CITY, CA. THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE FROM WHEN I RECEIVED CAR AT AROUND 45,000 MILES, EVERY COUPLE THOUSAND 5K-10K CARE ENGINE ENGINE COULD NOT ACCELERATE QUICKER CAR WOULD BEGIN MAKING ENGINE WHINING NOISE. IT WAS NEVER DISGNOSED AS A CVT…

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I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S SEDAN FROM UNIVERSITY NISSAN IN UNIVERSAL CITY, CA. THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE FROM WHEN I RECEIVED CAR AT AROUND 45,000 MILES, EVERY COUPLE THOUSAND 5K-10K CARE ENGINE ENGINE COULD NOT ACCELERATE QUICKER CAR WOULD BEGIN MAKING ENGINE WHINING NOISE. IT WAS NEVER DISGNOSED AS A CVT PROBLEM WHEN I WOULD TAKE CAR TO NISSAN IN WARRANTY REPAIR . DURING DEALERSHIP REPAIR ENOUNTER MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED. "MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR" THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLES TIMES THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE AS WELL. CAR NOW HAS A CVT PROBLEM AND STRUGGLES DURING HOT WEATHER AND WORST IF PEOPLE ARE IN CAR NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11243433

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