no report yet
Steering
Risk. 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.
2012 Nissan AltimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 426 owner complaints about the 2012 Nissan Altima, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Nissan Altima has problems
426 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
149Power train3 crash/fire/injury
68Engine4 crash/fire/injury
57Air bags14 crash/fire/injury
49Vehicle speed control3 crash/fire/injury
44Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
33Structure3 crash/fire/injury
17Service brakes
17Suspension
17Steering
7415 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 149 | 3 |
| Engine | 68 | 4 |
| Air bags | 57 | 14 |
| Vehicle speed control | 49 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 44 | 1 |
| Structure | 33 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 2 |
| Suspension | 17 | 3 |
| Steering | 17 | 5 |
| 15 other systems | 74 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2012 Nissan Altima recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Air bags: side/window
Risk. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. 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.
no report yet
Suspension
Risk. IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
93kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 116 power train complaints. 60% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles70under 100k miles46100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
12 owners mentioned a cost$4,000median
Middle half: $3,775 – $4,850
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Altima year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Altima median. How we score
12210618092108123871601591,0478832761,0918244711,0311,5473812424262,3151,1149565553952262351627132304471
'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Nissan Altima safety ratings
2012 Nissan Altima 2 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Nissan Altima, and the recalls they led to.
- Autoliv Air Bag Propellant MixtureNo recall
In owners' words
What Altima owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I drove out of town about 40 miles and everything was fine, next day went to leave to come home and immediately noticed high RPMs going about 20MPH. I pulled over, turned the car off and turned it back on, started driving and same thing. I had no choice but to drive it on the interstate. I could…
The vehicle is unsafe to driver and others on the road. The power steering hose has had a leak since it was manufactured and was not fixed by the manufacturer at all! Tie rods gave away within 5 years of a mileage less than 24,200 miles. Cv joints along with tie rods have been easily compromised…
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before slamming into gear. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the…
Own a 2012 Altima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.