EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Nissan Altima fuel system problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Nissan Altima have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the fuel system at roughly $1,200 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See fuel system across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
| Model year | fuel system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Altima | 5 |
| 2012 Altima (this page) | 3 |
| 2013 Altima | 5 |
| 2015 Altima | 3 |
| 2016 Altima | 3 |
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Nissan Altima we track for fuel system problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (3).
No new NHTSA fuel system complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ALL MODEL YEAR 2012 AND NEWER NISSAN VEHICLES; EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin does NOT apply to LEAF vehicles and Titan XD vehicles with V8 diesel engine. This bulletin has been amended. See Amendment History on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer personnel aware that we are re-notifying customers at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. This bulletin has been amended. Changes have been made throughout. It is necessary for you to read this revised procedure to properly perform this action. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Traveling down a four lane road going 55 MPH. It was around 10 a.m., sunny and dry. There was no debris on the road. I heard a loud "pop" which came from behind the passenger seat and in front of back tire. We looked for debris on the road, saw none. Car was running fine. Continued 10 - 15 more miles to home of father-in-law. Stepped out of car and smelled strong gas fumes. Proceeded…
Had fuel system 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 fuel system problem on the 2012 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, fuel system issues most often appear around 8,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system 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 fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system 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.