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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
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2016
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY CAR PRETTY MUCH BRAND NEW (IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 20 MILES ON IT). MY FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AROUND 30,000 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I ASKED MY SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK IT, HE ASSURED ME THE TECH'S CHECKED IT AND THE ONLY THING LEAKING WAS FROM THE AC. I LEFT, PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT, TOOK PICTURES, AND BOUGHT THEM TO T…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR PRETTY MUCH BRAND NEW (IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 20 MILES ON IT). MY FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AROUND 30,000 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I ASKED MY SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK IT, HE ASSURED ME THE TECH'S CHECKED IT AND THE ONLY THING LEAKING WAS FROM THE AC. I LEFT, PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT, TOOK PICTURES, AND BOUGHT THEM TO THE DEALER. THEY THEN REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND 90,000 MILES, I STARTED HAVING ISSUES GETTING THE CAR TO GO AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. ITS VERY RANDOM BUT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN YIELDING TO TRAFFIC, I HAD PLENTY OF TIME. HOWEVER MY CAR WAS CRAWLING FOR 30 SECONDS OR SO. I AM GLAD I DIDN'T GET STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION. WHEN A LIGHT TURNS GREEN, PEOPLE WILL BEEP THEIR HORN AT ME, OR TRY TO CUT THE PEOPLE OFF IN THE OTHER LANES TO PASS ME. I FRANTICALLY SEARCHED THE WEB TO FIND THAT TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH NISSAN ALTIMAS OF DIFFERENT YEARS NEAR MINE. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THEIR WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS BETWEEN CHAT FORMS, COMPLAINT WEBSITES, AND EVEN SO MANY YOUTUBE VIDEOS. YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT IT CRAWLS FOR A RANDOM AMOUNT OF TIME (MAYBE UP TO A MINUTE). HERE IS SOMEONE WHO CAPTURED IT ON VIDEO ON A CAR WITHOUT EVEN 30,000: HTTPS://M.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=ULIODPOI1_M I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. OTHER COMPANIES HAVE LONGER WARRANTY PERIODS FOR THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. FORD HAS 2 YEARS. DOES NISSAN KNOW HOW AWFUL THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE SO THEY WON'T COVER THEM FOR A LONGER PERIOD? I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR, AND I FEEL LIKE I COULD BREAK DOWN AT ANY TIME, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR PAYMENT RIGHT NOW. PLEASE DON'T LET NISSAN GET AWAY WITH THIS ANY LONGER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10874490

82,500 miles · Jun 15, 2016
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG CENSOR BLINKS ON MY DASH ON/OFF FOR PASSENGER WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. LAST TIME MY HUSBAND SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE CENSOR SHOWED PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. NOT AT ALL SAFE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS!!

NHTSA ODI #10874354

60,000 miles · Jun 8, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR TURN MORE THAN2000 RPM WHEN CLIMBING HILLS CAR SLOWS TO A CRAWL YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT AWHILE AND THEN RESTART IT YOU MAY GO2 MILES OR200 BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #10873323

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2016
Air Bags

THE RECALL WHICH RECENTLY CAME OUT FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO INCLUDE 2012 ALTIMAS (NOT JUST 2013-2016). I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE I AM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR SAYS THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR…

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THE RECALL WHICH RECENTLY CAME OUT FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO INCLUDE 2012 ALTIMAS (NOT JUST 2013-2016). I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE I AM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR SAYS THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #10863555

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2016
Air BagsSeats

I BELIEVE THE RECALL WHICH CAME OUT YESTERDAY FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SHOULD INCLUDE 2012 ALTIMAS (NOT JUST 2013-2016). I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO WHERE I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A PASSENGER OR ITEMS ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE …

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I BELIEVE THE RECALL WHICH CAME OUT YESTERDAY FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SHOULD INCLUDE 2012 ALTIMAS (NOT JUST 2013-2016). I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO WHERE I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A PASSENGER OR ITEMS ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH BOARD WILL COME ON AT RANDOM, EVEN WHEN THERE IS A FULL-SIZE ADULT IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #10862582

64,000 miles · Apr 30, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AFTER DRIVING AT 70 MPH FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND SLOWS DOWN. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE IT IS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS ISSUE HAD OCCURRED BEFORE 8K MILES EARLIER AND HAD THE CVT COOLER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10862347

24,000 miles · Apr 30, 2016
Service Brakes

WHEN I AM DRIVING... USING THE ACCELERATOR... AND GO TO BRAKE... MY FOOT GOES BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AND HITS THE FLOOR INSTEAD OF BRAKING. THIS IS DANGEROUS.. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO FAR APART. IT HAPPENS ANYWHERE ON STREET...OR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10862326

47,000 miles · Apr 8, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND "INTELLIGENT KEY ISSUE, WILL NOT START" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND "INTELLIGENT KEY ISSUE, WILL NOT START" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10854274

93,925 miles · Apr 2, 2016
Air Bags

DURING START UP, AND WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ON THE DASH HAS BEEN BLINKING NON STOP AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SIGNAL SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT WORKING WIT HA PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN 11V408000 CLEARLY DESCRIBES THESE EXACT SYMPTOMS FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN OF AMERICA, THEY…

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DURING START UP, AND WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ON THE DASH HAS BEEN BLINKING NON STOP AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SIGNAL SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT WORKING WIT HA PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN 11V408000 CLEARLY DESCRIBES THESE EXACT SYMPTOMS FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN OF AMERICA, THEY SAID THAT THIS CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL, EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE FACTORS ARE THE SAME, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A "COINCIDENCE" THAT I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT.

NHTSA ODI #10853033

63,000 miles · Apr 1, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT VIBRATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10852933

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