IllustrationTHE DASH IS MELTING CREATING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD SO WHEN SUN OR LIGHTS AT NIGHT IS SHINING MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS MOVING.
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
620–25K
4425–50K
4650–75K
6375–100K
74100–150K
18150K+
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/wiper complaints
16 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUN GLARE WHILE DRIVING A VISIBILITY HAZARD WAS PRESENT THE GLARE WAS CAUSED BY THE MELTING DASHBOARD THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED CAUSING A SUN GLARE AND VISIBILITY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUN GLARE WHILE DRIVING A VISIBILITY HAZARD WAS PRESENT THE GLARE WAS CAUSED BY THE MELTING DASHBOARD THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED CAUSING A SUN GLARE AND VISIBILITY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER(UNKNOWN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
WITH MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA IT IS NOW BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING. THE DASHBOARD IS STARTING TO MELT AND BECOME STICKY WITH THE HOT TX WEATHER. SINCE THIS HAS STARTING HAPPENING IT'S BECOMING VERY REFLECTIVE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND IS CAUSING A DISTRACTION AND MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THIS I…
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WITH MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA IT IS NOW BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING. THE DASHBOARD IS STARTING TO MELT AND BECOME STICKY WITH THE HOT TX WEATHER. SINCE THIS HAS STARTING HAPPENING IT'S BECOMING VERY REFLECTIVE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND IS CAUSING A DISTRACTION AND MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYTHING THAT IS IN FRONT OF ME.
THE DASH IS MELTING CREATING A SHINY RESIDUE COVERING THE DASH. WHEN THE SUN OR BRIGHT LIGHTS GUYS AT NIGHT IS SHINING THE SHINY DASH REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD CREATING A GLARE THAT OBSTRUCTS YOUR VISION WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING ON ANY HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL DEALER TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT IT TO NISSAN ABOUT …
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THE DASH IS MELTING CREATING A SHINY RESIDUE COVERING THE DASH. WHEN THE SUN OR BRIGHT LIGHTS GUYS AT NIGHT IS SHINING THE SHINY DASH REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD CREATING A GLARE THAT OBSTRUCTS YOUR VISION WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING ON ANY HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL DEALER TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT IT TO NISSAN ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. IT IS GETTING SO BADD THAT WHILE DRIVING IT HAS STARTED OBSTRUCTING THE VISION OF THE ROADWAY.
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL WIPER BLADES ON MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT A FEW YEARS AGO. THE LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) WIPER BLADE HAS CAME OFF THE WIPER ARM SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE OUTER PART OF THE BLADE JUMPS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AS IT WIPES. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WIPERS ARE IN USE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE SUNROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARRANT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *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.