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ProblemsByVin File / 2012-NISSAN-ALTIMA NHTSA data synced 7 hours ago
2012 · Nissan

Nissan Altima problems

423 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.8 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2012 Altima?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

powertrain
144 reports · fails ~93,338 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
airbags
47 reports · fails ~56,726 mi · avg $1,100
severe
electrical
38 reports · fails ~55,138 mi · avg $850
moderate
engine
31 reports · fails ~79,767 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
body
28 reports · fails ~56,786 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
cruise control
25 reports · fails ~107,559 mi · avg $600
severe
steering
16 reports · fails ~50,390 mi · avg $700
severe
visibility
12 reports · fails ~63,894 mi · avg $350
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2012 Altima's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2012 Altima?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2012 Altima · airbags
My vehicle is only 8 years old and recently the airbag light began to flash on the dashboard , which is the sign of a problem with the vehicle. I took my vehicle to the dealership (elk grove Nissan, california) and paid to figure out the problem. After performing the…
2012 Altima · body
The back doors of these cars are taking in water when it rains or when you go to car wash.. As you drive you could hear the water sloshing in the doors. You have to actually open the door and use your hands by picking the rubber at the bottom of the doors to let the water out.…
2012 Altima · electrical
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…
12/28/2012 · at 18,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10490360.0 · see electrical pattern →
2012 Altima · cruise control
The sensor was replaced but the light engine light still came back on now the speed sensor is causing the issue. The abs light comes on while accelerating it jumps and jerks
View all 423 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2012 Nissan Altima? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
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Active recalls showing 2 of 2

severe NHTSA 11V371000 July 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

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.
severe NHTSA 11V408000 August 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.

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.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Altima reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 423 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Nissan Altima has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2012 Nissan Altima?

The 2012 Nissan Altima is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Cruise-control: 25 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 71,000–146,000 mi; Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Nissan Altima?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 144 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 93,338 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 93,338 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Nissan Altima has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Nissan Altima?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 423 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 7 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Nissan/Altima. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Nissan. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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