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: power train
149 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Jun 9, 2018, crash
WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CVT STARTS MAKING NOISE, THE RPM GO UP TO 6,000 RPM THEN I LOOSE ENGINE POWER SUDDENLY SO THE CAR SPEED STUCK ON 40 MPH SUDDENLY AND DECREASE THE SPEED EVEN WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL IT JUST MAKES NOISE AND INCREASE THE RPM AND THE NOISE BUT THE SPEED DON'T INCREASE, SO A CAR BEHIND ME CRASH TAILGATING MY CAR, I'M NOW WITH SERIOUSLY INJURIES, THE NISSAN CVT IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS, MY CAR ONLY HAS 96,000 MILES.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 8, 2018
MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING IT. GOING UP THE HILL MY CAR ON A HIGHWAY IN THE DESERT WHEN THE SPEED DECLINED IT'S FROM 70MPH TO 45MPH, WHICH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND IT WAS STUCK ON 45MPH, AND ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR BEHIND ME TO CRASH INTO ME WITH MY THREE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. A LOT OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND NOTHING'S HAS BEEN DONE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE A LIFE TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER FOR A RECALL. THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE CARS ARE CRAP. EVERY TIME SOMEONE WALKS INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SEEM TO BE WELL AWARE BUT NO RECALL HE BEEN DONE.
Power train, May 9, 2018
O HILLS AND ON WARM DAYS THE CAR LOSSES POWER AND WONT GO OVER 60 MPH THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CUASED A WRECK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE SAID IT WAS LOW ON FLUID. IT WAS CHECKED AND WAS GOOD.
Power train, May 7, 2018
WHEN DRIVING IN WARM WEATHER FOR 1.5 HOURS OR MORE CVT TRANSMISSION LOSES POWER AND MAKES A WHINING NOISE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE REGARDING THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VEHICLES UP TO 2010 BECAUSE OF IT. TRANSMISSION SAYS IT IS OVERHEATING AND PUTS ITSELF INTO "SAFE MODE" THEREBY LOSING ALL POWER AND ABILITY TO ACCELERATE ON HILLS, ETC. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION.
Power train, Apr 30, 2018
CVT TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. 6 YEARS OLD. LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. STOPPED AT REDLIGHT, COULD NOT PULL OUT OR REVERSE, CAR WOULD ONLY GO 3-5MPH. CAR ENGINE RUNS FINE.
Power train, Apr 26, 2018
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, TURNING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND CAR WON'T GO ABOVE 20 MPH AND WHINES TERRIBLY.
Power train, Apr 11, 2018
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR WITH ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Power train, Apr 10, 2018
IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER, 75 DEGREES F OR ABOVE, THE TRANSMISSION GETS HOT AND FAILS TO PULL. IT GOES INTO SOME TYPE OF MODE THAT SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY RESET THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES OF LETTING THE CAR SIT WITH NOTHING ON. THE CAR WILL CONTINUE FOR A WHILE. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES. THE TRIPS THAT IT HAPPENS ON ARE OVER 75-80 MILES. PLEASE REPLY WITH A POSSIBLE REMEDY. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Power train, Apr 6, 2018
THE CVT TRANSMISSION WILL LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING OVER AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE CAR TO DROP SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY OUT OF THE BLUE.
Power train, Mar 27, 2018
CUT TRANSMISSION SLIPPING CAUSING CAR TO OVER TEN WITH LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION.
Power train, Mar 21, 2018
I HAVE 135,000 MILES ON MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. AND I STARTED HEARING A WHINING NOISE AND ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IT OUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. THEY SAID THAT'S JUST HOW THE ALTIMA SOUNDS. NOW I AM HAVING TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THAT'S GOING TO COST ME 4,000.00. I RESEARCHED TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. GOING UP A HILL THE CAR WOULD WHINE OR WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR STARTED TO JERK UPON PULLING OFF AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL I LET OFF THE BRAKE THEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN.
Power train, Mar 14, 2018
MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. JUST UNDER 7 YEARS OLD AND MY TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND RPM 'S WERE HIGH WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
Power train, Mar 14, 2018
CVT TRANSMISSION ARE NOT , NOT CARS! THERE WAS A RECALL UP TO 2010, BUT THEY CONTINUED TO MAKE THEM WITH CVT! OFTEN WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IT LOSE ALL ACCELERATION! I WENT TO NISSAN AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL AND THEY SAID THAT DUE TO THIS BEING THE MAIN JOB OF THE CHT, THEY SAID A COOLING KIT CAN BE INSTALLED, WHICH IT WAS. 2 YEARS LATER, MY CAR AGAIN SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL. MY GEAR SHIFT MOVES SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES, JUST NO ACCELERATION THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW OVER 10 TIMES IN 2 DAYS!!!!!! BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS NOT SHOWING ON DIAGNOSTIC, THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT THE CARS TRANSMISSION, TRANS FLUID, OR THE GEAR SHIFT. THEY WOULDN'T DO A THING TO MY CAR! THIS IS FORCING ME TO DRIVE WITH UNSAFE CONDITIONS! I AM TAKING INTO A REAL AND HONEST MECHANIC!! NISSAN KNOWS THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE DRIVING DANGEROUSLY, AS THEY REFUSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING!!! THERE IS NO DIPSTICK TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OR ELSE I WOULD DO IT MYSELF. DO THE RIGHT THING AND SAVE MANY PEOPLE FROM GETTING INTO ACCIDENTS AND POTENTIALLY LOSING THEIR LIVES!!! COMING OFF AN OFF RAMP, NO ACCELERATION; DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY NO ACCELERATION, PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AFTER WARMING MY CAR UP NON ACCELERATION. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL!!!!! THIS ISSUE BEGAN 2-3 YEARS AGO, WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED WIT THE COOLING KIT THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST 5 DAYS!!!! GOOGLE THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NISSAN OFFERING NO HELP NOR EVEN A SIMPLE MECHANIC ONCE OVER LOOK!!!! I AM A SOCIAL WORKER WHO WORKS WITH CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, OFTEN TRANPORTING THEM FROM UNSAFE CONDITIONS TO SITUATIONS THAT I AM PROMISING ARE MORE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE! I CAN NO LONGER PROMISE THEM THIS IF MY CAR IS UNSAFE!! I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A MINIMUM OF 5 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE! DEALERSHIP NO HELP!!
Power train, Feb 24, 2018
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.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 21, 2018
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
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 9, 2018
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.
Power train, Dec 29, 2017
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SL 115,425 MILES AND TRANSMISSION DEAD.
Power train, Nov 7, 2017
SINCE WHEN MY CAR HAD 31,000 MILES IT'S BEEN WINGING AND LOSING POWER RAPIDLY, NO ACCELERATION, IT'S A CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IT'S A REALLY DANGEROUS CAR. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SO MANY TIMES . NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSION ARE VERY DANGER. IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN THE FREEWAY BECAUSE IT CAN GO FROM 65 MPH DOWN TO 5 MPH RAPIDLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND PROTECT THE LIFE OF PEOPLE.
Power train, Sep 17, 2017
AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS ON A TRIP THE CVT TRANSMISSION STOPS ACCELERATING AND YOU SLOW TO A CRAWL WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A BIG RIG WHO COULDN'T SLOW DOWN IN TIME
Power train, Sep 1, 2017
THE 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 3.5 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN SUDDEN LOSS OF CLUTCH PRESSURE OCCURRED. THIS RESULTED IN THE INABILITY TO CHANGE GEARS AND THEREFORE EFFECTIVELY CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM SPEED SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE GIVEN GEAR. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A FAULTY CONCENTRIC CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER.
Power train, Aug 31, 2017
MY 2012 ALTIMA 2.5S HAS SHUT DOWN TRANSMISSION WISE(CVT) AND IT WILL NOT SPEED UP EVEN WHEN GAS PEDAL IS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR! TODAY IT DID THIS FOR A TOTAL OF 120 MILES...THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU CANT GET YOUR CAR OUT OF THE WAY OF EVEN GET TO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN THE GAS IS PUSHED DOWN...I BARELY MADE IT HOME TODAY WITH OF COURSE A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR AND MY CAR WOULDNT RESPOND...I GOOGLED "2012 ALTIMA WILL NOT SPEED UP GOING UPHILL" WHAT I FOUND ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT...WHATS IT GOING TO TAKE? SOMEONE GETTING KILLED WHICH IS WHAT IT USUALLY TAKES TO GET SOMETHING POSITIVE DONE? NISSAN NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS IMMEDIATELY..
Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 23, 2017
WHEN TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AT 70-100 MPH CAR WILL LOOSE ACCELERATION AND SLOWLY SLOW DOWN TO 40 MPH NO MATTER HOW FAR THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. WILL NOT REGAIN POWER UNTIL THE CAR IS PULLED OVER SHUT OFF AND WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES RESTARTED AND WILL REPEAT AGAIN WITHIN 15 -20 MINUTES OF REACHING 70 MPH.
Power train, Aug 15, 2017
SUSTAINED DRIVING MORE THAN AN HOUR THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND FORCES SENSOR TO "FAIL SAFE MODE" CAUSING VEHICLE TO DRIVE ONLY AT LOW SPEED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON THE OPEN ROAD DUE TO DRIVING WAY UNDER POSTED SPEED OR HAVING TO STOP N ROAD SIDE.
Power train, Jul 27, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 75MPH, MY CAR JUST STOPPED GOING. I DECELERATED VERY QUICKLY. I WAS PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WOULD NOT INCREASE SPEED. IT JUST WOULD NOT GO. THE RPMS WENT OVER 3,000. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY WARNING IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THERE WERE A LOT OF VEHICLES ON ROAD AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME AND A TRUCK HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BEHIND ME. THE TRUCK AND OTHER VEHICLES WERE ALL SWERVING ON EITHER SIDE OF ME TO GET OUT OF MY LANE AND AS A RESULT, I COULD NOT GET MY VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD UNTIL THEY ALL PASSED. AS I KEPT COASTING ALONG WAITING FOR OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, I KEPT PRESSING GAS PEDAL. EVENTUALLY THAT WORKED AND I BEGAN TO PICK UP SPEED AGAIN, BUT MY CAR WAS ACCELERATING VERY SLOWLY. I DROVE TO EXIT AND GOT OFF OF HIGHWAY. I WAITED ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE RETURNING HOME SAME WAY. ON DRIVE HOME ACCELERATING WAS SLOW AND RPMS WERE ERRACTIC. THERE WAS ALSO A WHINING NOISE WHEN I GAVE CAR GAS. THIS HAPPENED ONCE MORE. I NO LONGER DRIVE CAR ON HIGHWAY SO I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT STOPPING WHILE DRIVING, BUT IT STILL WHINES, ACCELERATES SLOWLY, AND RPMS ARE ERRATIC. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AT SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALERSHIP. MY CAR ONLY HAS 108,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE NEVER MISSED ANY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WHICH DEALERSHIP PERFORMED MAJORITY OF IT. THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY COVERED UP TO 60,000 MILES. NOW I'M TOLD THAT AT 108,000 MILES, I NEED A NEW TCC, VALVE BODY, AND SOLENOIDS.
Power train, Engine, Jul 10, 2017
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR 1 HOUR OR MORE, VEHICLE GOES INTO FAIL-SAFE MODE, MEANING THE RPMS WILL NOT GO OVER 2500. SO, IF ONE IS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH, THEN ARRIVES AT A HILL, THEN THE VEHICLE SPEED COULD DECREASE TO 40 MPH. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND NISSAN HAS A SERVICE KIT FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE WHY IT IS NOT A RECALL...