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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

5 reports
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145,000 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

A RED FLASHING LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE A PERSON SITTING WITH A AIRBAG IN THE FACE WON'T GO OFF AND A YELLOW LIGHT THAT HAS A X OVER THE 2ND SEAT. I'M SCARED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WON'T WORK IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS

NHTSA ODI #11269835

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE POWER OUTLET IN THE CENTER CONSOLE HAD GONE BAD SO MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FUSE AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TO DRIVE, MY CAR STARTED JUMPING AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 15MPH. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BOTH COME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT …

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THE POWER OUTLET IN THE CENTER CONSOLE HAD GONE BAD SO MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FUSE AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TO DRIVE, MY CAR STARTED JUMPING AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 15MPH. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BOTH COME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. NOW AT RANDOM TIMES, USUALLY IF THE CAR IS LEFT IDLING, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT IF I TURN THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEN CRANK IT AGAIN, THE LIGHT IS OFF AND THE CAR RUNS FINE AGAIN. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN 2017 BUT THAT IS THE CODE WE KEEP GETTING WHEN IT IS HOOKED TO A COMPUTER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REPLACED IN 2017, NO ISSUES WITH IT SO FAR... NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR BUT IT'S PRETTY SCARY WHEN I'M DRIVING WITH MY 3 KIDS AND THE CAR DECIDES TO LOSE POWER, JUMP ALL OVER THE ROAD AND ONLY DRIVE 15MPH. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST 3 TIMES A DAY AND SINCE THIS IS MY PRIMARY WAY OF TRANSPORTATION, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE SO IT CAN BE FIXED AND I CAN SAFELY TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11254592

100,000 miles · Sep 2, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

THIS WAS A USED PRE-CERTIFIED CAR, PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER IN WHICH DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL ITS WARRANTY WAS PRACTICALLY NO LONGER VALID. THE CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES. THE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED WITH THE USB PORT CONNECTION TO A CELLULAR DEVICE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL RECOGNIZE …

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THIS WAS A USED PRE-CERTIFIED CAR, PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER IN WHICH DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL ITS WARRANTY WAS PRACTICALLY NO LONGER VALID. THE CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES. THE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED WITH THE USB PORT CONNECTION TO A CELLULAR DEVICE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL RECOGNIZE THE PHONE, OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE USB TO PHONE CONNECTION, TURN THE USB CORD AROUND AND RECONNECT A FEW TIMES FOR THE RADIO TO RECOGNIZE THE PHONE. AFTER THIS ISSUES, ONE SPEAKER WENT OUT. LATER ON, A SECOND SPEAKER WENT OUT. I REPLACED BOTH SPEAKERS TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THE IN-CAR AMPLIFIER BLEW. AFTER THIS, THE RADIO UNIT WOULD AT TIMES GO COMPLETELY BLACK, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. AFTER THIS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER LOCKS ELECTRONICALLY, I HAVE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR MANUALLY BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES INDEED WORK. AFTER THESE ISSUES, I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON FOR A MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. I CLEANED THE SENSOR, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT AWAY. ABOUT 300 MILES LATER, IT CAME BACK ON AND THE CAR HESITATES/BUCKS CONSISTENTLY WITH A LOSS OF POWER ONCE THE SPEED HITS ABOUT 60 MPH. I-75 HILLS, I CAN NO LONGER ACCELERATE TO MAINTAIN SPEEDS. I REPLACED THE MAF SENSOR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. I HAD IT CLEARED FROM O'REILLY'S SINCE THE SAME CODE WAS APPEARING ON THE CAR. AFTER 10 MILES SITTING IN IDLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR APPEARED. 10 MILES AFTERWARDS THIS ON I-75, THE CAR WILL NOT CLIMB HILLS, DROPS POWER, BUCKS AND JERKS THE CAR FORWARD AND BACK. I STOPPED AT A PART STORE, TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR GOES AWAY, ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITH SAME CODE READING. I CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. I'VE READ A LOT OF ARTICLES ABOUT THIS, NO ONE HAS FIGURED OUT HOW TO FIX THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11252717

127,668 miles · Apr 5, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I JUST RECENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY IN MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA AND NOW I AM HAVING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: GAUGE CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING AT ALL (ENGINE TEMP, RPM, SPEEDOMETER, GAS). EVERYTHING ELSE IS WORKING FINE. I HAD ALL THE FUSES CHECKED AND ALL ARE WORKING PROPERLY. I TOOK TO DEALER, THEY ARE SAYING REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTE…

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I JUST RECENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY IN MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA AND NOW I AM HAVING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: GAUGE CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING AT ALL (ENGINE TEMP, RPM, SPEEDOMETER, GAS). EVERYTHING ELSE IS WORKING FINE. I HAD ALL THE FUSES CHECKED AND ALL ARE WORKING PROPERLY. I TOOK TO DEALER, THEY ARE SAYING REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, PROGRAM AND RETEST FOR BCM FAILURE(2 CONCERNS-INST CLUSTER NO COMM, POWER AND GROUND PRESENT, U1000 AND CAN SYSTEM DIAG FAILED CLUSTER CAN NOT GET MILEAGE) RETEST FOR BCM FAILURE AFTER INSTALL CLUSTER IS REPLACED (2ND CONCERN IS CAR IS HARD TO TURN ON AND OFF NEED TO REPLACE CLUSTER AND RETEST FOR POSSIBLE BCM FAILURE. MY CAR WAS FINE 1 WEEK AGO AND PASSED THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION ON 03/25/2017 AT A CERTIFIED INSPECTION PLACE. I HAVE PROOF OF ALL THOSE COPIES IT IS TRULY MANUFACTURE ( NISSAN ) PROBLEM WITH KIND OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURING PRACTICE. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN IN MY LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #10970695

81,397 miles · Sep 3, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA DROVE HOME FINE WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AFTER LOOKING ON YOU TUBE WHERE THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS AND A WAY TO RIG IT. I GOT THERE AND THEY SAID THE CAR BRAIN WAS FRIED. THE EOC THE COMPUTER. THIS CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND IT COST $1380 DOLLARS TO…

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MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA DROVE HOME FINE WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AFTER LOOKING ON YOU TUBE WHERE THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS AND A WAY TO RIG IT. I GOT THERE AND THEY SAID THE CAR BRAIN WAS FRIED. THE EOC THE COMPUTER. THIS CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND IT COST $1380 DOLLARS TO FIX! MY 14 YEAR OLD CAR COMPUTER HOLDS BETTER THAN THAT! WHY IS THIS THING NOT A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #10903430

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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