2012 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 426 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 24 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 26 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SteeringOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 12V494000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowFeb 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.
THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
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.
Campaign 12V055000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveAug 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 11V408000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionJul 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.
IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 11V371000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
44 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Jan 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL THE LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,300.
Electrical system, Dec 7, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; HOWEVER, CERTAIN ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE START BUTTON ILLUMINATED BRIGHT RED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
Electrical system, Jul 29, 2015
ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE "DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR" FAILED. NEED TO USE KEY ONLY REPLACED TWO WHICH ALSO FAILED. ( 12 MONTHS WARRANTY) CONCERN RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. WHAT ELSE MAY FAIL WHILE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 8, 2015
LIGHT IN THE GLOVEBOX DOESNOT HAVE A SWITCH. IT TURNS ON AS SOON AS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. MY GLOVEBOX WAS FULL OF SOME PAPER AND I OPENED THE GLOVE BOX TO FIN DHTE PAPERS BECAME VERY HOT TO TOUCH AND I FELT LIKE THEY WOULD BURN ANY MOMENT. A SWITCH SHOULD BE INCLUDED SO THAT THE LIGHT TURNS ON ONLY WHEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS OPENED. ANY CLOTH OF EASILY FLAMMABLE MATERIAL CAN CATCH FIRE DUE TO HEAT AND GO UNNOTICED.
Electrical system, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN
Electrical system, Apr 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 6/25/15*CN
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Jan 27, 2015
POWER LOCKS/WINDOWS WERE SLOW. CONTACTED NISSAN AND SPOKE TO [XXX] THAT TOLD ME WE NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MILEAGE HAD TO DO WITH THE WINDOWS AND LOCKS. NISSAN TOOK CARE OF THE ISSUE. IN JANUARY 2013 THEY ALL WENT OUT AND CONTACTED [XXX] AGAIN. THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE WORK UNTIL WE PAID OUT OF POCKET AND THEY REIMBURSED US MINUS THE LABOR. WELL IT IS ALMOST A YEAR LATER AND THE WINDOWS ARE ACTING UP AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD THE 900.00 TO FIX ALL THE ISSUES AGAIN. TURNED OUT TO BE A LEMON INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *TR
Electrical system, Tires, Jan 3, 2015
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT IS COLD AND STAYS ON. CHECK PRESSURE AND TIRES ARE OK. SAFETY ISSUES ARS YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID NOT TO WORRY WHEN IT GET WARMER THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL GO OFF, BUT WHEN DO YOU KNOW IF YOU REALLY HAVE A TIRE PROBLEM AND A POTENTIAL CRASH? I WANT THE SENSOR REPLACED. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 16, 2014
I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I THOUGHT I HAD DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN THE FIRST THE FIRST TIME. NOW I KNOW IT IS THE CAR. THIS IS SERIOUS AND SCARY! FROM READING THE COMPLAINTS I SEE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING! *TR
Electrical system, Oct 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE NO KEY MESSAGE SUDDENLY DISPLAYED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH TWO DIFFERENT KEYS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Aug 9, 2014
ON MONDAY NIGHT AT 12:00AM I WAS DRIVING FROM CALIFORNIA TO LAS VEGAS NEVADA. I WAS GOING 75 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE SPEED. THE EXCEL-ORATOR WOULD NOT MOVE AND HAD LOCKED.THE CAR SPEED HAD DROPPED TO 40MPH AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THERE WAS A SEMI IN FRONT OF ME AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES TO THE SIDE OF ME. I ALMOST GOT INTO A BIG ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. TERRIFIED, I BEGAN TO PANIC SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF. I DROVE THE NEXT 60 MILES TO VEGAS GOING 30MPH THE CAR WOULD NOT GO TO A HIGHER SPEED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY FEATURE WOULD DELIBERATELY JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. IT IS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR FEAR THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Mar 3, 2014
BOUGHT THIS CAR NOV 30 2013 FROM THE DEALER THAT ORIGINALLY OWNED IT, IT WAS A LOANER CAR FOR THEIR SERVICE DEPT. FROM DAY ONE THAT I HAVE OWNED IT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AN OFF AT WILL. WITH NOTHING IN THE SEAT, IT COMES ON AND OFF, WITH A PERSON IN THE SEAT IT ALSO COMES ON AND OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT DIDN'T DO IT WHILE THEY WERE LOOKING AT IT. BRING IT BACK WHEN IT GETS WORSE.... THERE ARE ALOT OF THESE CARS OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE SENSOR/SEAT/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RELATED TO THIS. I AM SURE THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. MY GRANDMOTHER'S 2012 ALTIMA ALSO DOES THIS SAME THING. ALSO SOMETHING IS LEAKING ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD BY THE CONSOLE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BODY PANEL AND "FIXED" IT, BUT IT IS STILL LEAKING IN THE SAME SPOT, I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER YET FOR THE LEAK. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 16, 2013
WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR, THE POWER COMES ON(RADIO COMES ON, DASHBOARD LIGHTS), BUT THE IGNITION DOESN'T START. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 15K MILES ON IT. *TR
Electrical system, May 10, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE BATTERY FLUID WOULD DISCHARGE AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED ONCE. THE DOORS EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE AND THE DOORS ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE REMOTE ALSO FAILED TO START THE ENGINE AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE TO START WAS CAUSED BY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 14,000.
Electrical system, Dec 28, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SHE WAS TRYING TO TURN THE RADIO ON BUT ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF BECAUSE THE RADIO AND PUSH-TO-START BUTTONS WERE ABNORMALLY CLOSE IN PROXIMITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Electrical system, Apr 23, 2012
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. IGNITION SWITCH WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD TO BE REMOVED SO THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. THEN THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS REMOVED TO RESET. BATTERY CABLE WAS RECONNECTED AND FUEL PUMP FUSE REINSTALLED. CAR WOULD NOW START AND SHUT OFF NORMALLY. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BUT IT CONCERNS US BECAUSE THIS CAR IS ONLY FOUR MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 26, 2011
THE DISPLAY SCREEN THAT COMMUNICATES NAVIGATION MAP, RADIO, PHONE, BACKUP CAMERA PICTURE, ETC. STOPPED WORKING. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 21, 2011
IF YOU LEAVE THE KEY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IT IS TOUCHING THE VEHICLE THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE KEY AND START THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THE KEY MUST BE WITH YOU (INSIDE) IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THERE IS NO WARNING STATING OTHERWISE. THIS IS A PERSONAL SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR