IllustrationMY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT IS GONNA COST 3,400 TO FIX IT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AND AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPED WORKING BEARELY MADE IT HOME
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
What owners actually said
425 reportsMY VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING WILL NOT THROTTLE CORRECTLY SO I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THAN TURN IT BACK ON. AFTER TURNING THE CAR BACK ON I WOULD RUB THE ENGINE TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD THROTTLE PASS 3. LATELY THOUGH MY CAR HAS BEEN TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS A BIG SAFETY FOR MY SELF AND OTHER DRIV…
Read full complaint
MY VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING WILL NOT THROTTLE CORRECTLY SO I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THAN TURN IT BACK ON. AFTER TURNING THE CAR BACK ON I WOULD RUB THE ENGINE TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD THROTTLE PASS 3. LATELY THOUGH MY CAR HAS BEEN TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS A BIG SAFETY FOR MY SELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. BECAUSE I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OF AND ON QUICKLY ESPECIALLY IF IM ON THE FREEWAY.
THE VEHICLES ENGINE IS BURNING OIL VERY RAPIDLY AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS TO GET A OTHER OPINIONS, AND I WAS TOLD IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD IS ALSO VERY STICKY AND IS MELTING WAS TOLD THAT THAT HAPPENS TO THE VEHICLES AS WELL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SAFE MODE AND LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE LACKED THE FAN TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO O…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SAFE MODE AND LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE LACKED THE FAN TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
TAKATA RECALL MY 2012 ALTIMA HAS BEEN HAVING SOME SHIFTING ISSUES WHILE I AM DRIVING. MIND YOU THIS CALL HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT (YES 2012 WITH 58,000). IT IS OVER THE 5 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BUT UNDER THE MILEAGE. NISSAN DOES NOT CARE. THERE SHOULD BE ZERO REASONS WHY A CAR WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES SHOULD BE HAVING ANY TY…
Read full complaint
TAKATA RECALL MY 2012 ALTIMA HAS BEEN HAVING SOME SHIFTING ISSUES WHILE I AM DRIVING. MIND YOU THIS CALL HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT (YES 2012 WITH 58,000). IT IS OVER THE 5 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BUT UNDER THE MILEAGE. NISSAN DOES NOT CARE. THERE SHOULD BE ZERO REASONS WHY A CAR WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES SHOULD BE HAVING ANY TYPE OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND SWAYED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (MOUNTAIN VIEW NISSAN, 2100 MARKET ST, CHATTANOOGA, TN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OF…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND SWAYED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (MOUNTAIN VIEW NISSAN, 2100 MARKET ST, CHATTANOOGA, TN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
THE LED HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR NIGHT DRIVING OR DRIVING IN THE RAIN. IT OCCURES WILL IN MOTION AND AT A STANDSTILL
DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THEN NO ACCELERATION W A HIGH PITCH SOUND...CAN ONLY DRIVE IT 20 MPH IF AT ALL..HAD IT TOWED AND A MECHANIC SAID IT IS MY TRANSMISSION..AS I AM RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I AM FINDING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AND NISSAN HAS TO KNOW THEY HAVE A DESIGN ISSUE OR PROBLEM
I PURCHASED THE 2012 NISSAN IN 2015 WITH ONLY 22,000 AND SOMETHING MILES. ONCE THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 76,000 SOMETHING MILES A WHINING NOISE STARTED. SO NOW WITH THE CAR AT ONLY 83,074 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ISN'T GETTING ANY POWER. SO I TURN TO READ REVIEWS AND TALK TO PEOPLE ONLY TO FIND OUT THE CVT'S AREN'T WORTH ANYTHING AND T…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED THE 2012 NISSAN IN 2015 WITH ONLY 22,000 AND SOMETHING MILES. ONCE THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 76,000 SOMETHING MILES A WHINING NOISE STARTED. SO NOW WITH THE CAR AT ONLY 83,074 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ISN'T GETTING ANY POWER. SO I TURN TO READ REVIEWS AND TALK TO PEOPLE ONLY TO FIND OUT THE CVT'S AREN'T WORTH ANYTHING AND TO GET THEM REPLACED THE PRICE IS RIDICULOUS AND I CAN'T AFFORD IT. BUT YOU WOULD THINK WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT NISSAN WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I WOULD NOT TELL ANYONE TO PURCHASE A NISSAN EVER. ALSO WHEN THE WHINING WOULD TAKE PLACE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS OR MAJOR HIGHWAYS
THE VEHICLE CVT TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED GOING FORWARD AND REVERSE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE MAINTANCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
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.