About average for the Altima
Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Altima year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 93,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Altima years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 426 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Altima. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (149, 35% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the air bags. That ranks 5th of 13 Altima years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 4 recalls.
7 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2012 Nissan Altima before you buy.
Transmission and drivetrain
149 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 93,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
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 get up to 60 very carefully but I was…Owner complaint, filed 2025
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 dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
72 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 78,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
I only have 96,000 miles on my vehicle and I can't accelerate. I was on the highway when this happened. It picks and chooses when it wants to accelerate and I almost caused an accident on the highway and on the inner roads. This is not safe and nissan refuses to take responsibilityOwner complaint, filed 2021, at 96,000 miles
I took the car to a repair shop because the check engine light came on and was told there is a recall for my vehicle and the dealership did not tell me. I was driving on a city street going the speed limit.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 127,122 miles
Air bags
57 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 51,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
I was working, and as I was on my way to a location a lady in front of me came to a complete stop since a couple of ducks were crossing causing me to come to a complete stop as well. As I stopped I looked into my rearview mirror I noticed the lady behind me was not stopping and then smashed into the back of me launching me into the car…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the OCS control unit was malfunctioning. The dealer determined that the front passenger’s side seat needed to be replaced. The dealer charged a fee…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 78,000 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
49 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 93,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
Cvt transmission jerking, can’t accelerate. The vehicle has been inspected by multiple mechanics my vehicle stopped accelerating in the highway while everyone was going 80 mph mine dropped to 60 causing almost a collision also my car had turned off because of the jerking was so bad there is no check engine light on at allOwner complaint, filed 2021
The contact owns a 2012 nissan altima. The contact stated that while his son was driving about 70 MPH, the vehicle [VIN] to 60 MPH without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced a mass air flow sensor. The failure recurred about three weeks later. The dealer was not called. The [VIN] was made aware of the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 215,000 miles
Electrical system
44 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
Have a '12 SR coupe. Car keeps turning over for 5-10 seconds before starting. The alternator checked fine, but the battery voltage was a little low. I bought a brand new battery and that seemed to fix the problem....... for an hour. New battery is at the correct voltage, and alternator came back fine again. Even Nissan themselves have bo…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Something happened to the mass airflow sensor where it limits the rpm and slows the car down a lot almost made a accident happen I took it to my mechanic he told me it was normal and I would have to take it to nissan to get it fixed but that he sees that a lotOwner complaint, filed 2020, at 120,000 miles
Body, doors and structure
34 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (22).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
Took the car to a repair shop to get an alignment. Was told that the frame rear cross member was so rusty that it needed to be replaced, and that if it broke while driving I would lose control of the car. The component has not been removed from the car. No one else has looked at the car. Only prior warning/message/symptom was uneven rear…Owner complaint, filed 2026
I have owned this vehicle for over ten years and now there is paint delamination on the hood and roof of the vehicle which is a manufacture defect.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Brakes and stability control
27 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was jerking. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 25-30 MPH. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 180,000 miles
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.Owner complaint, filed 2018
Lights, wipers and visibility
23 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
2012 Altima defective sticky melting dashboard cause severe windshield glare when driving when sun from a certain angle ( no vehicle accident so far)Owner complaint, filed 2022
Car dash has become a hazard to driving safely. The dash originally, when purchased new from the dealer, had a pebbled matt finish similar to a football or basketball. In the past year that finish is dissolved into a slick sticky highly reflective state. This reflective state causes the driver to be visually impaired and unable to see…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Steering
17 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 26,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Car goes to the right. .will not respond when trying to bring back. Then to much. Like out of alignment. Going to replace steering column. Going to fix ordered part. Dec 8 2014.Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 1,880 miles
am submitting a formal safety defect report regarding the steering system on my 2012 Nissan Altima Coupe. The vehicle exhibits a loose and unstable steering feel, accompanied by a distinct clunking impact whenever the wheel is turned, including during low‑speed maneuvering. This condition indicates a potential failure within the steering…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Suspension
17 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle, followed by a dragging sound. The contact also stated that the vehicle began to shake abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and discovered that…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 236,000 miles
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 [VIN] were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 23,000 miles
Fuel system
13 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 76,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
On a road trip car stopped accelerating above 60. Caused us a long time sitting on the side of the road when car cooled we started up and went again. Took it into the shop and replaced the fuel pump. Then one week later on a trip to Idaho car is doing the same thing over the Milan pass. Acceleration does not work at high speeds even with…Owner complaint, filed 2022
At 1500-1800 rpms there is a vibration coming from the front end of my car. I took the car to my mechanic who informed me that my call was under recall for a throttle body issue and I should take it to nissan. Nissan claimed that they could only repair my vehicle if the VIN# is in the system, which it wasn't. However, I am experiencing…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 91,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
12 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 8,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
No matter wat side I out my daughter car seat the car seat seems to always turn sideways with the seatbelt strap to it and it's very unsafe for my daughter to sit in the seat.Owner complaint, filed 2019
The contact owns a 2012 nissan altima. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side seat belt failed and constricted the child being restrained in the seat. The child sustained minor bruising as a result. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the seat belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.…Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 12,340 miles
Wheels and tires
7 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 33,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
215/60/r16 Driving down, interstate st 70 steering wheel started to shake, then load noise as if running over something, then could see the entire middle tread of the tire flying into the lane behind me to the right. So luckily no one was in that lane or it would’ve crashed into the front of their car. Car was recently purchased from a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2012 nissan altima equipped with sumitomo touring lst tires, tire size: 215/60r16, and unknown dot number. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the passenger front tire started vibrating uncontrollably. Upon inspecting the vehicle the contact noticed that the tire was bulged and then exploded. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 94,000 miles
Driver assist systems
2 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
The sensor was replaced but the light engine light still came back on now the speed sensor is causing the issue. The abs light comes on while accelerating it jumps and jerksOwner complaint, filed 2024
Nissan Altima complaints by year
Compare the 2012 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2012 midsize cars
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Nissan Altima | About average | 4 |
| 2012 Toyota Camry | Among the worst years | 2 |
| 2012 Honda Accord | One of the better years | 8 |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | Among the worst years | 8 |
2012 Nissan Altima recalls
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.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications.
Full recall summary
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.
Air bags
- Risk
- The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bag modules, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Air bags Sensor / control module
- 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.
- Fix
- Nissan will replace the air bag control unit free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
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.
- Fix
- Nissan will replace the transverse link bolts and nuts and tighten them to the proper torque specification free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
2012 Nissan Altima questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Altima?
The most reported problem areas on the 2012 Nissan Altima are the transmission and drivetrain (149 complaints), the engine and cooling (72 complaints) and the air bags (57 complaints).
Is the 2012 Nissan Altima a good year to buy?
About average for the Altima. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Altima year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 93,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Altima years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2012 Nissan Altima. The most recent, from Oct 2012, covers the steering. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Altima problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 93,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 78,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Nissan Altima years should I avoid?
The Altima years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2013, 2014 and 2015. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2018, 2020 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
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