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. Then it gushes out like an open faucet.
2012 Nissan Altima body problems
moderate 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The hood latch is defective and the hood can not close properly.
Had body trouble with your 2012 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2012 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 15,000 and 84,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 84,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.