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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
10,000 miles · Oct 28, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, CRASHED INTO THREE TREES, AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, BACK, AND KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE WAS REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, CRASHED INTO THREE TREES, AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, BACK, AND KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE WAS REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10786726

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2015
Structure

FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSAGE SIDE ARE VERY SOFT .

NHTSA ODI #10781742

48,300 miles · Oct 7, 2015
Service Brakes

BROUGHT A CAR FROM CARMAX BRANDYWINE MD 2 WEEKS AGO THE CARS BREAKE PEDAL HAS A LOUD SQUEEK AND RUBBING SENSATION WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE IT SEEMS LIKE IT ISNT CATCHING TOOK IT BACK TO CARMAX ON 10/7/2015 THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR ITS 10/14/2015 I HAVE READ ITS A KNOWN FACT THAT THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITCH COULD RESULT IN A A…

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BROUGHT A CAR FROM CARMAX BRANDYWINE MD 2 WEEKS AGO THE CARS BREAKE PEDAL HAS A LOUD SQUEEK AND RUBBING SENSATION WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE IT SEEMS LIKE IT ISNT CATCHING TOOK IT BACK TO CARMAX ON 10/7/2015 THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR ITS 10/14/2015 I HAVE READ ITS A KNOWN FACT THAT THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITCH COULD RESULT IN A ACCIDENT IF MALFUNCTION HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI #10780451

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2015
Power TrainSeatsUnknown Or Other

PAINT IS COMING OFF THE CAR FROM WHERE THE FACTORY HAS REPAINTED OVER A CLEAR COATED SURFACE. PAINT IS ALSO COMING OUT OF THE JAMS OF THE CAR CAUSING RUST. PARTS ON THE CAR ARE ALSO STARTING TO BREAK DOWN. THE SEATS DO NOT PROPERLY CATCH THE GEAR HOLDING THEM INTO PLACE. TRANSMISSION MAKES A TERRIBLE WINDING NOICE

NHTSA ODI #10779317

61,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

TWICE, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 75 MPH ON I25 HEADED NORTH. AS I ARRIVED INTO COLORADO SPRINGS, MY VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH IN A 65 MPH ZONE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. I WAITIED FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. STARTED MY VEHICLE UP & STILL IT WOULD ONLY GO 30 MPH. I TURNED AROUND & HEADED BACK FOR PUEBLO. UNSURE & AFRAID THAT MY VEHI…

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TWICE, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 75 MPH ON I25 HEADED NORTH. AS I ARRIVED INTO COLORADO SPRINGS, MY VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH IN A 65 MPH ZONE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. I WAITIED FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. STARTED MY VEHICLE UP & STILL IT WOULD ONLY GO 30 MPH. I TURNED AROUND & HEADED BACK FOR PUEBLO. UNSURE & AFRAID THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAKE IT HOME. ONCE MY CAR WAS SITTING FOR AN HOUR, THE TRANSMISSION ALLOWED THE SPEED TO RISE ABOVE 30 MPH. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 6/27/2015. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICILE OUT OF TOWN, IN FEAR OF GETTING STRANDED, THE CAR OVERHEATING & THE MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING. THE NISSAN DEALER IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, NEEDS TO INSTALL A "TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM". I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THRU 1ST EXTENDED, OVER $2600.00. THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, CLAIMING THE COOLER WAS OT IN THE CAR TO BEGIN WITH. I SPOKE WITH NISSAN & SOUTHWEST MOTORS (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AROUND 1 1/2 YRS. AGO. THEY'VE BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN MANY NISSAN VEHICLES. IF THE WARRANTER IS UNWILLING TO WARRANT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A MAJOR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, THEN MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! PLEASE HELP ME FOR I FEAR THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD DRIVING ON THE HWY AT A REDUCED SPEED & BECOMING STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI #10766490

68,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015
Air BagsSteeringSuspensionCrash

ON THE ABOVE DATE, MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH AFTER THOROUGH ASSESSMENT BY THE BODY SHOP AND BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S FIELD ADJUSTERS, WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. MY VEHICLE'S STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE FRONT WHEELS BECOMING SEEMINGLY LOCKED AND STEERING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WAS IMPOS…

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ON THE ABOVE DATE, MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH AFTER THOROUGH ASSESSMENT BY THE BODY SHOP AND BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S FIELD ADJUSTERS, WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. MY VEHICLE'S STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE FRONT WHEELS BECOMING SEEMINGLY LOCKED AND STEERING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WAS IMPOSSIBLE. STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN AS WELL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST. THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURN OR "FLIP". THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UPSIDE DOWN WHEN PASSERSBY AND LAW OFFICIAL ARRIVED.THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE'D RECEIVED PRIOR NOTIFICATION. WE KNOW THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR,MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND THOSE SIMILAR, HOWEVER WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED BY ANYONE OF SAID RECALLS.THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS.BY THE GRACE OF GOD IT WASN'T.

NHTSA ODI #10761112

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON AUGUST 28, 2015, THE PERSON HAD RAN A RED LIGHT WHICH CAUSED ME TO T-BONE HIS CAR IN THE REAR. THEREFORE IT WAS A HARD IMPACT COLLISION AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR OUR OWN SAFETY. ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF .......UPDATED 12/10/15 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10760904

67,000 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Power Train

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA LOST ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH AN 18 WHEELER THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. MY CAR WAS ONLY AT 67,000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT IT NEEDS A…

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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA LOST ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH AN 18 WHEELER THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. MY CAR WAS ONLY AT 67,000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT IT NEEDS A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED OUR BABY TO BE INVOLVED IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. SOMETHING DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE DONE REGARDING THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED BADLY!

NHTSA ODI #10749205

112,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PO744, CVT A AND B TEMP WERE FOUND OUT OF SPEC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PO744, CVT A AND B TEMP WERE FOUND OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #10746809

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2015
Electrical System

ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE "DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR" FAILED. NEED TO USE KEY ONLY REPLACED TWO WHICH ALSO FAILED. ( 12 MONTHS WARRANTY) CONCERN RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. WHAT ELSE MAY FAIL WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10744783

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.

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