MY BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE HIT BOTH PEDALS SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP!!! *JS
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
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.
What owners actually said
425 reports2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CLUTCH FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS A SPONGY FEEL. THE DEALER FOUND WHITE GREASE IN THE FLUID. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND SALVE CYLINDER WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *JB
THE HEADREST IS TILTED FORWARD SO FAR THAT IT MAKES IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. YOUR HEAD IS FACING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALMOST, INSTEAD OF FACING THE ROAD. IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND PAINFUL DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SINCE THE DEALER CAN'T. *TT
HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE STREET. IT IS PARTICULARLY VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MAKING TURNS, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS LIKE A 4 LANE ROAD(THE DIVIDER IS VISIBLE WHEN IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE). IT IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN …
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HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE STREET. IT IS PARTICULARLY VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MAKING TURNS, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS LIKE A 4 LANE ROAD(THE DIVIDER IS VISIBLE WHEN IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE). IT IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ROADS IN AN AREA, YOU WILL END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD (THE LIGHT IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH AND NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH). I WAS LUCKY THAT THE ROADS WERE EMPTY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CARS FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHICH ARE OLDER AND SMALLER LIGHT UP ROADS BETTER THAN MY NEW CAR DOES(EX: HYUNDAI ELANTRA). SIR, I HAVE APPROACHED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM TO INSTALL HID LAMPS ON MY CAR(I WOULD PAY FOR IT) AND THEY SAY NISSAN WOULD NOT DO IT. SOME TIMES IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE NO HEAD LIGHTS AND AS IF I AM DRIVING WITH LIGHTING FROM OTHER CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE PROPER HEADLAMPS WITH RIGHT AMOUNT OF LIGHTING AND WIDE ENOUGH BEAM TO ENSURE A SAFE AND NON-LIFE THREATENING DRIVING EXPERIENCE. THANKS, A DRIVER WHO WANTS TO BE ALIVE. *TR
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. IGNITION SWITCH WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD TO BE REMOVED SO THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. THEN THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS REMOVED TO RESET. BATTERY CABLE WAS RECONNECTED AND FUEL PUMP FUSE REINSTALLED. CAR WOULD NOW START AND SHUT OFF NORMALLY. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE B…
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2012 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. IGNITION SWITCH WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD TO BE REMOVED SO THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. THEN THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS REMOVED TO RESET. BATTERY CABLE WAS RECONNECTED AND FUEL PUMP FUSE REINSTALLED. CAR WOULD NOW START AND SHUT OFF NORMALLY. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BUT IT CONCERNS US BECAUSE THIS CAR IS ONLY FOUR MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, WHICH POWERED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF, WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, WHICH POWERED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF, WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT INADVERTANTLY DEPRESSED BOTH PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT INADVERTANTLY DEPRESSED BOTH PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL EFFICIENCY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT GETTING THE CLAIMED MPG AS STATED FROM NISSAN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS BARELY GETTING OVER 20 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA RENTAL VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAME TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP ON THE LEFT- OF- MIDDLE LANE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN FROM 60 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN…
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2012 NISSAN ALTIMA RENTAL VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAME TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP ON THE LEFT- OF- MIDDLE LANE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN FROM 60 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUMES INDICATING THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING OR MELTING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO, INDICATION THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED.
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED OF THE ROAD AND I WANTED TO MAKE A FULL STOP BUT I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME! I PUSHED AND PUSHED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE NEVER BRAKE!! ALSO MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! THERE IS PHYSICAL AND BODILY DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME! ALSO MY CAR WAS DAMAGED! NISSAN SHOULD STE…
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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED OF THE ROAD AND I WANTED TO MAKE A FULL STOP BUT I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME! I PUSHED AND PUSHED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE NEVER BRAKE!! ALSO MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! THERE IS PHYSICAL AND BODILY DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME! ALSO MY CAR WAS DAMAGED! NISSAN SHOULD STEP UP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM! *TR
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.
Illustration