The 2012 Nissan Altima has 4 safety recalls and 426 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (149 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints426filed by owners
Crashes · fires24 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths26 · 0reported in complaints
2012 Nissan Altima in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Suspension
NHTSA recall 12V494000 · Oct 10, 2012 · 13,919 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Components: Suspension; Steering
Air bags › Side/window
NHTSA recall 12V055000 · Feb 14, 2012 · 976 vehicles
Problem: 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
NHTSA recall 11V408000 · Aug 9, 2011 · 54 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Problem: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2012 Nissan Altima 2 DR FWD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
9.3%
2012 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
10.5%
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Altima Coupe
26mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 31 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Altima Coupe
26mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 31 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Altima
26mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 32 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Altima Coupe
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Altima
22mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Altima Coupe
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Clutch assembly
149
2
1
1
92,800 mi
Engine
68
2
2
0
80,000 mi
Air bags
57
14
0
16
51,000 mi
Unknown or other
56
2
1
1
80,000 mi
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal
49
3
0
0
93,000 mi
Electrical system Instrument cluster/panel
44
0
1
0
46,500 mi
Structure Body; Body › Door
33
3
0
1
50,000 mi
Service brakes
17
2
0
1
35,875 mi
Suspension
17
3
0
1
30,350 mi
Steering
17
5
0
3
26,357 mi
Visibility/wiper
16
0
0
0
68,250 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
10
1
0
0
76,979 mi
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 17, 2026Steering 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 lowâspeed maneuvering. This condition indicates a potential failure within the steering linkage, intermediate shaft, or associated structural components. Although my VIN does not currently appear in Nissanâs recall database, the symptoms are materially similar to steeringârelated defects previously documented for this model year. Under federal motor vehicle safety standards, any defect that affects steering performance constitutes a…
Aug 11, 2026Structure › 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 first noticed about 6 months prior, but that may have been due to bad rear shocks.
Jul 21, 2026 · crashAir bags 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 me. My passenger air bag went off, however my driver seat airbag did not go off, failing to protect me. My car was completely totaled in result of the accident.
Apr 30, 2026Tires 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 wouldâve crashed into the front of their car. Car was recently purchased from a dealer and the dealer had just gotten it from an auction so little to no information about the tires except for the date on the side, which was 0419, I assume April of 2019. Incident beyond panic caused tire tread to cut rear bumper in half as well as bending up metal positions, where the bumper attached to under the car. The tire also took out the entire…
Mar 23, 2026 · crashUnknown or other 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 warning. The abrupt deceleration appeared inconsistent with road conditions and is consistent with what is commonly described as âphantom braking.â As a result of the sudden stop, I was unable to avoid a collision with the rear of the vehicle despite maintaining a reasonable following distance. After the impact, the Cybertruck initially left…
Mar 26, 2020Engine There is a recall for the manufacturer emissions that the website doesnât have on this car.
Jul 19, 2025Power 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 around 4000rpms. It wouldnât shift gears at all (I know itâs a CVT and doesnât have gears). I then noticed a high squealing noise, thankfully made it home with a lot of honking and middle fingers even though I had my hazards on. Once I made it home, plugged in my OBD scanner and had a pending DTC of P1778 which I have found to be the stepper…
Jun 23, 2025 · crashSteering 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 .suspensions are no longer in tact nor reliable and will pose a danger. All errors were not found by manufacturer and has caused immediate danger to not only driver but everyone on the road. The engine has a rattle only after 2 years which is not usual.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EQ12002 · opened Feb 14, 2012 · closed May 8, 2012Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.
