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
426 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2020
DASHBOARD LOOKS ALMOST MELTED AND VERY STICKY
Structure, Aug 28, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND CAUSED A GLARE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER LOCATED IN WESTERN, FLORIDA WHERE THE TECHNICIAN FAILED TO ADDRESS THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
Engine, Aug 25, 2020
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.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 25, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A SERVICE BULLETIN: NTB13-079D DATED NOVEMBER 25, 2015. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 215,000.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 23, 2020
I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 350 MILES USING THE CRUISE CONTROL I WOULD ACCELERATE OR CANCEL AND THEN ACCELERATE WITH TRAFFIC THIS WORKED THROUGHOUT MY TRIP UNTIL I REACHED BETWEEN 350 TO 400 MILES THEN IT STOPPED WORKING FOR ACCELERATION AT 75 MILES AN HOUR WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER WITH THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS OR THE GAS PEDAL
Engine, Aug 19, 2020
ON 8/17/2020 AT 11:30AM I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN EVERYTHING IN MY CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. I QUICKLY PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS MY CAR RESTARTED WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS THAT DAY. ON 8/18/2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1750HRS AFTER EXITING THE EXPRESSWAY, AGAIN MY CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS MY IT RESTARTED. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 46,000 MILES, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR IS SERVICED AS SCHEDULED BY MANUFACTURER. I CURRENTLY HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 8/28/2020 WITH NISSAN OF QUEEN FOR AN EVALUATION OF THIS PROBLEM.
Engine, Aug 1, 2020
CVT TRANSMISSION
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 30, 2020
CAR AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES SPEED FROM 65 MPH TO 35 MPH WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT INCREASE SPEED WHEN DRIVING AT AN HOUR OR BETTER AT 65 MPH OR GREATER. WHEN IT AUTODECELERATES IT MAKES A WHINING NOISE AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AGAIN UNTIL YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ALLOW THE CAR TO SIT FOR 30 MINS OR BETTER.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 30, 2020
DASH HAD BECOME TACKY AND SHINY, PRODUCING GLARE WHEN DRIVING TOWARD THE SUN. BECOMES WORSE ON HOT DAYS. DOES NOT RESOLVE, LINT AND ANYTHING ELSE STICKS TO IT.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jul 19, 2020
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S SEDAN, PURCHASED NEW PLUS EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH 3 MILES ON IT. AT 64K MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER ABOUT A. HOUR AT NORMAL SPEEDS ON A HOT DAY THE CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 60MPH. THE RPM GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE ANT THE CAR BEGAN TO DECREASE IT'S SPEED EVENTUALLY DESCENDING TO 20 MPH WHILE THE RPM GAUGE FLUCTUATED FROM 2K TO 5K RPM. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON RESPONSIVE EXCEPT FOR A LOUDER WHINING NOISE AS IT WAS PRESSED . WE PULLED OVER FOR A WHILE AND THE VEHICLE WENT TO NORMAL. THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE WE ARRIVED HOME. THE DEALER RESPONDED STATING A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED BUT NOT COVERED THEY SAID MY WARRANTY WAS NOT VALID. I COMPLAINED, THEY CONTACTED HEADQUARTERS I GUESS AND STATED TO ME BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER 70K MILES THE COMPANY WOULD PAY PARTIAL FOR THE REPAIR BUT MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 1200. NOT ONLY DID I THINK THIS WAS UNFAIR BUT I ALSO DIDN'T HAVE AN EXTRA 1200 LYNG AROUND. SO UNFORTUNATELY I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS CAR DRIVES FINE FOR ABOUT 40 MIN. SO NO LONG COMMUTES.
Power train, Jul 13, 2020
MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS BOUGHT AT 40K MILES. IT RAN GOOD FOR WAS MAINTAINED. AT 108K MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR (CVT TRANSMISSION) AND WOULD EVENTUALLY LOSE POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY WERE ONLY FOR THE PRIOR YEAR MODELS SO THERE WAS NOTHING I CAN DO. IT IS NOW AT 120K MILES AND IT HASN'T GOTTEN SO BAD I CAN'T DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT COMPLETELY DIAGNOSED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT THREW WHAT THEY REFER TO AS A 'DEATH CODE' AND SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIES. I'M A STUDENT AND IN THE MILITARY SO I STAY VERY BUSY AND MY CAR NOT BEING RELIABLE HAS PUT A STOP TO EVERYTHING. A TRANSMISSION GOING BAD AT 120K MILES SHOULD NOT BE A THING. I TRULY FEEL CHEATED BY NISSAN WITH THIS CAR.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jul 7, 2020
DASHBOARD HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY STICKY AND SHINY, CAUSING A GLARE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD
Structure, Jul 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND STICKY WITH AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUTHERLIN NISSAN LOCATED AT 8125 E. COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32817, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Power train, Jul 1, 2020
ONGOING ISSUE WHERE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING FURTHER DISTANCES (30-40 MILES) OR UPHILL IN THE MOUNTAINS AND IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER IS FORCED TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAIT UNTIL VEHICLE CAN COOL DOWN AND GAIN POWER AGAIN. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS OR EXTENDED THE WARRANTY AS IT IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION.
Power train, Jun 15, 2020
VEHICLE WAS FINE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. *TR
Air bags, Jun 2, 2020
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STARTED GOING OFF ANY TIME THE CAR IS ON - INDICATING THERE IS NO AIRBAG FUNCTIONING EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAY THE WHOLE SEAT CUSHION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. COST ABOUT $1000. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 2, 2020
THE DASH IS STICKY AND GLOSSY WHICH THROWS A GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD. I END UP WITH A SMALL AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD TO SEE OUT OF. I HAVE TO SIT UP TALL OR LEAN OVER IN ORDER TO FIND A SPOT TO GET A CLEAR VIEW IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. HOLDING THE POSITION TO SEE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME IS A STRAIN ON THE BODY. I'M HAVING TROUBLE SEEING WHERE I AM GOING AND AM WORRIED I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jun 1, 2020
THIS CAR HAS JUST 101,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOING THE OVERDRIVE. I READ INTO IT AND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM NISSAN SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLES AND FIX IT ITS NOT LIKE WE PAY 5 BUCKS FOR A CAR ITS NOT EVEN PAID OFF AND I ALREADY HAVE PROBLEMS. I WENT TO SEE WHAT WRONG AND ITS THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. *TR
Structure, May 18, 2020
MY DASHBOARD IN MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING IN THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY OF THEM. I NEED MY DASHBOARD REPAIRED. THIS MELTING CAUSES A BAD GLARE OF MY WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. *TR
Structure, May 18, 2020
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING FROM THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. IT US CAUSING A BAD REFLECTION WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. I NEED IT REPAIRED BY NISSAN. *TR
Engine, May 6, 2020
THE ENGINE HAS ALWAYS MADE EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT IT HAS BEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN NISSAN ALTIMAS. I FEEL THAT GIVEN THE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IT TAKES TO FIX THAT NISSAN SHOULD EITHER PUT OUT A RECALL OR COMPENSATE FOR THIS AS IT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO BE STRANDED ONE THE TRANSMISSION DOES EVENTUALLY FAIL. *TR
Power train, May 5, 2020
THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSIONS - LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE WINDS UP BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT FOR ME AND SAYS IT'S GOT CODE P1778 AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 6, 2020
WHILE DRIVING FOR 1/2 HOUR OR MORE MY CAR LOSES POWER THIS HAS CAUSED MY CAR TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST GETTING HIT. IN ORDER TO GET POWER BACK YOU HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT. WE HAVE CHECKED ALL FLUIDS REPLACED SPARK PLUGS BATTERY ALTERNATOR FILTERS AND IT STILL DOES THIS. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2012 NISSAN AND DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY HARVARD SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED.
Air bags, Mar 2, 2020
THE AIR BAG SWITCH UNDER THE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 27, 2020
VEHICLE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT IS CAUSING A VISIBILITY ISSUE WITH A GLARE AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD.