2012 Nissan Altima problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (114) · Vehicle Speed Control (48) · Air Bags (38)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Altima model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
307 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Suspension 2012-10-10 · campaign 12V494000 · 13,919 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air Bags:side/Window 2012-02-14 · campaign 12V055000 · 976 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 615-725-1000.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2011-08-09 · campaign 11V408000 · 54 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: 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.
Suspension 2011-07-19 · campaign 11V371000 · 20,000 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Service bulletins (121)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-027D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication – network diagnostic flow chart this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB10-066C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 121 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-22 · Suspension“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 linkage, i…”
2026-08-16 · Structure:body“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 tire wear …”
2026-07-24 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“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 in front of …”
2026-05-01 · Tires“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 dealer and …”
2026-04-09 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“i am reporting a potential unintended automatic emergency braking event involving a 2025 tesla cybertruck. on 23mar2026, at approximately 40 mph, i was traveling behind a tesla cybertruck on a public roadway. there were no visible obstacles, hazards, or debris in the roadway that i observed. the cybertruck suddenly and aggressively braked without …”
2025-11-22 · Engine“there is a recall for the manufacturer emissions that the website doesn’t have on this car.…”
2025-07-22 · Power Train“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 still sitting a…”
2025-06-30 · Suspension · 💥 crash“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 and damaged causing loss of control and steering .su…”
2025-06-02 · Power Train“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 transmissio…”
2025-03-21 · Suspension“clunking and bouncing from right tire followed by acceleration not working properly …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.