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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

What owners actually said

425 reports
112,000 miles · Mar 14, 2018
Unknown Or Other

MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 112,000MILES IN SEPT 2017. NOW TODAY I FIND OUT THAT I MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AGAIN, DATE BEING (3/14/2018). CODES ARE : BCM; TRANSMISSIONS FAULT 4; IPDM E/R FAULT 3. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I WILL BE TAKING IT INTO FORT WORTH NISSAN ON SATURDAY 3/17/2018 TO DETERMINE IF IT I…

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MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 112,000MILES IN SEPT 2017. NOW TODAY I FIND OUT THAT I MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AGAIN, DATE BEING (3/14/2018). CODES ARE : BCM; TRANSMISSIONS FAULT 4; IPDM E/R FAULT 3. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I WILL BE TAKING IT INTO FORT WORTH NISSAN ON SATURDAY 3/17/2018 TO DETERMINE IF IT IS FAILING AGAIN, IT BEING ONLY 9,000 MILES LATER.

NHTSA ODI #11079125

81,823 miles · Feb 24, 2018
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DOING SPEED 70 TO 80MPH, VEHICLE BEGINS TO REDUCE SPEED AND GOES INTO LIKE A SAFE MODE. VERY UNSAFE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WHILE SEARCHING ON GOOGLE FIND OUT CVT TRANSMISSION VECHILE ONLY HAS 81823 MILES ON IT. NISSAN NEEDS TO COVER THE WARRANTY TO FIX THE VECHILE.

NHTSA ODI #11074671

60 miles · Feb 21, 2018
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW IT REFUSED TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED OR ACCELERATE AT ALL. I HAD TO PULL INTO THE MEDIAN TO AVOID BEING HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER. I HAD MY SISTER AND TWO OF OUR LITTLE KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME IT HAS DONE THIS IT HAS DO…

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TAKATA RECALL. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW IT REFUSED TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED OR ACCELERATE AT ALL. I HAD TO PULL INTO THE MEDIAN TO AVOID BEING HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER. I HAD MY SISTER AND TWO OF OUR LITTLE KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME IT HAS DONE THIS IT HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND THE MECHANICS CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE READ SEVERAL PLACES WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE.... I BELIEVE THEIR IS A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT WITH EITHER THE ACCELERATION OR TRANSMISSION.... IT JUST REVS UP SOUNDS LIKE IT'S DOING SOMETHING BUT NOT INCREASING SPEED. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT OCCURS MOSTLY AFTER I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING A WHILE...LIKE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF OR SO

NHTSA ODI #11074173

120,000 miles · Feb 21, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE FOB KEY EVEN AFTER THE FOB KEY BATTERY WAS CHANGED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE MANUALLY OPERATED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11074096

80,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Engine

CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING, FOUND OUT THE TRANNY WAS BAD. NISSAN WONT REPLACE OR COMPENSATE. NISSAN DEALER EXPECTS ME TO PAY 4000 OUT OF POCKET FOR A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. HAVENT EVEN PAID THE CAR OFF YET AND TRANSMISSION IS ALREADY GOING BAD. AVOID NISSAN ALTIMAS AT ALL COSTS

NHTSA ODI #11073592

196,000 miles · Feb 13, 2018
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. NO POWER AT ALL, ALMOST TAIL ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT SWIRLED INTO EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME. UNABLE TO USE HAZARD LIGHTS, AS THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD A PORTABLE JUMPER AND HAD TO EXIT MY CAR AND STAND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WITH HOOD UP,…

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VEHICLE JUST LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. NO POWER AT ALL, ALMOST TAIL ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT SWIRLED INTO EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME. UNABLE TO USE HAZARD LIGHTS, AS THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD A PORTABLE JUMPER AND HAD TO EXIT MY CAR AND STAND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WITH HOOD UP, UNABLE TO SEE TRAFFIC COMING AND VERY SCARED OF GETTING HIT BECAUSE I HAD NO HAZARD LIGHTS. VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED AND WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK. I LIVE OVER AN HOUR FROM WORK AND NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE HOME ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT THIS, I FOUND WHILE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE EXACT SAME REASON AND HAVE REPORTED THIS BUT NISSAN IS MAKING NO EFFORT TO FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT BADLY HAVING THIS HAPPEN WHERE IT DID AND I AM NOTIFYING WHOEVER IS NECESSARY ABOUT THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AND IT'S RELATED TO THIS ISSUE THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF, MY FAMILY WILL BE SUING ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS I'M SURE. I HAD NO POWER, NO STEERING, NO CONTROL AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #11072524

51,000 miles · Feb 12, 2018
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE'S DOORS STOPPED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ALL 4 DOOR LOCKS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, WHERE THEY LOCK SOMETIMES AND AT OTHER TIMES, THEY DON'T. THE ALARM SYSTEM IS DOING STRANGE THINGS, ALSO. BY THAT, I MEAN THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN I PRESS THE DOOR BUTTON AND HEAR THE DOUBLE-BEEP, INSTEAD OF T…

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THE VEHICLE'S DOORS STOPPED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ALL 4 DOOR LOCKS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, WHERE THEY LOCK SOMETIMES AND AT OTHER TIMES, THEY DON'T. THE ALARM SYSTEM IS DOING STRANGE THINGS, ALSO. BY THAT, I MEAN THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN I PRESS THE DOOR BUTTON AND HEAR THE DOUBLE-BEEP, INSTEAD OF THE SINGLE-BEEP THAT WOULD UNLOCK THE BUTTON. AS I OPEN THE DOOR, I EXPECT THE ALARM TO GO OFF, AS I ASSUME THE ALARM SYSTEM BELIEVES THE DOOR IS NOW LOCKED. HOWEVER, THE DOOR WILL OPEN, THE ALARM WON'T GO OFF, THEN THE WARNING BEEPS WILL SOUND AS THE DOOR IS CLOSED, MAKING THE BEEPING WARNING SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE VEHICLE WITH YOUR KEYS STILL INSIDE. THIS IS CLEARLY A FACTORY ISSUE FOR NISSAN, BUT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AS THE LOCK IS AN ADDED MEASURE OF SECURITY FOR KIDS AND SAFETY WITHIN A VEHICLE. IF MY WIFE WOULD EVER FEEL THE NEED TO HIT THE LOCKS, FOR WHATEVER REASON SHE ENCOUNTERS, WE CAN'T KNOW FOR SURE THEY WILL OPERATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11072216

35 miles · Feb 9, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2012 HAS SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN SPEED WHILE TAKING TRIPS LESS THAN 40 MILES. DRIVING ON FAST LANE ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MILES THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT REDUCES ALL BY ITSELF TO 35-40 MPH AND I ALMOST GOT INTO IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I DID TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT HAD TO GET OFF THE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11071885

24,000 miles · Jan 29, 2018
Electrical System

THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS THAT ALL 3 PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING (NO AUTO LOCK, NO POWER LOCK, NO FOB LOCK) AT THE SAME TIME. MY WORK INVOLVES DRIVING CHILDREN AND NISSAN'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT TO COST ME A JOB AND IT ENDANGERS ANY CHILDREN WHO ARE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. ON NISS…

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THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS THAT ALL 3 PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING (NO AUTO LOCK, NO POWER LOCK, NO FOB LOCK) AT THE SAME TIME. MY WORK INVOLVES DRIVING CHILDREN AND NISSAN'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT TO COST ME A JOB AND IT ENDANGERS ANY CHILDREN WHO ARE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. ON NISSAN FORUMS AND OTHER WEBSITES, A PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAVE TAKEN PLACE FOR OVER A DECADE.

NHTSA ODI #11065715

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2018
Service Brakes

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. ALL BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. ATTACHED LETTER WAS SENT TO NISSAN CORPORATE U.S. HEADQUARTERS. NO RESPONSE TO LETTER WAS RECEIVED.

NHTSA ODI #11065591

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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems