2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SL 115,425 MILES AND TRANSMISSION DEAD.
2012 nissan Altima powertrain problems
moderate 144 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
144
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
WHILE DRIVING, OR WANTING TO DRIVE AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WILL INCREASE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED (UP TO RED LINE), BUT THE CAR TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND UNTIL, SUDDENLY, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. THIS CAN HAPPEN FROM A COLD START, AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AFTER A QUICK STOP AT A BUSINESS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL WARM, ETC.
WHILE DRIVING, EITHER WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OR WITHOUT, THE ENGINE RPMS WILL QUICKLY BOUNCE BETWEEN HIGH RPMS AND LOW RPMS THOUGH THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT CHANGE AT ALL. THE ENGINE IS REVVING FASTER, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.
CVT TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT POORLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLOWLY DESTROYING ITSELF CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER, HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE AND EVENTUALLY FAIL. THE DATE I SELECTED FOR WHEN IT HAPPENED IS THE DATE I NOTICED THE ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE.
NO FORVER GEAR OR REVERSE GEAR AT ALL .AND HAVE ALOT OF CODE 720 1723 1778 0868 0715 1722 0746 0826 1701
Transmission spudders at times. It is very delayed when pulling out sometimes. Turning the car off and back on might help sometimes. Car will go in limp mode. Nissan dealer said it was the Transmission. There is a big safety concern because when you push the gas trying to cross an intersection, it might lag behind and not go. This could result in being hit. This has been a great car but the cat is…
I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA ON A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD. I WAS IN THE TURNING LANE WHEN MY CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD POWER AND THE ENGINE REVVED WHEN I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE CAR THEN JERKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. A FEW HUNDRED MORE YARDS AND IT STOPPED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I RESTAR…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 144 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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