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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.

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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

Visibility complaints

2 reports
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30,000 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Visibility

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2012 CAR ON I-635 IN DALLAS AT 2 PM CST AT AROUND 65 MPH SPEED, I HEARD HUGE EXPLOSION SOUND ON TOP OF MY HEAD. I TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHT AND SLOWED DOWN THE CAR AND PULLED OVER TO A SHOULDER AND CHECKED THE CAR. SUNROOF GLASS WAS EXPLODED AND I HAVE SEEN A 4 INCH DIAMETER HOLE AND SCATTER…

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WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2012 CAR ON I-635 IN DALLAS AT 2 PM CST AT AROUND 65 MPH SPEED, I HEARD HUGE EXPLOSION SOUND ON TOP OF MY HEAD. I TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHT AND SLOWED DOWN THE CAR AND PULLED OVER TO A SHOULDER AND CHECKED THE CAR. SUNROOF GLASS WAS EXPLODED AND I HAVE SEEN A 4 INCH DIAMETER HOLE AND SCATTER GLASS PIECES; REST OF THE GLASS WAS ALSO BROKEN/CRACKED. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE AT THE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AND IT WAS NOT DUE TO THE EXTERNAL FORCES, IT WAS DUE TO INTERNAL PRESSURE BETWEEN THE GLASS AND VISOR. I WAS SO SCARED WHEN THE GLASS EXPLODED BUT LUCKILY ESCAPED FROM THE BODILY INJURIES. THE SUNROOF GLASS ON THE NISSAN ALTIMA 2012 IS FOR SURE DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND SAVE THE LIVES OF THE DRIVERS. I'M NOT EXPECTING ANY FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FROM NISSAN OR ANYBODY. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYBODY PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND SAVE DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10919166

4,793 miles · Aug 31, 2012
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD SMELL MOLD FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD SMELL MOLD FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,793.

NHTSA ODI #10473158

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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