Should I buy a 2012 Nissan Altima with documented suspension problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented suspension issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2012 Nissan Altima suspension problems

moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$900

Related recalls

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.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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.

Service Bulletin NTB99-001F Dec 2021

STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin NTB99-001e Feb 2021

STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin NTB12-055g Jan 2020

CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin NTB00033E Jul 2013

SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin NTB12060B May 2013

SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer would like to activate a subscription for any of the following services: - SiriusXM Satellite Radio, NavTraffic, NavWeather, Travel Link Weather OR If a radio is replaced for any reason, and a customer has an active subscription to any of the above services, OR If a customer claims to have an active subscription to any of the above services, AND any portion of the subscribed service is not operating, ... follow the steps in this bulletin to activate/refresh the service.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

Suspension problems in the 2012 Altima start early and span the life of the vehicle. One owner heard rattling and vibration at just 736 miles—early enough that a suspension recall existed, but their VIN wasn't covered. Another experienced veering left and right at only 5,000 miles; a dealer confirmed the suspension needed replacement but the owner never had it done.

Mid-life failures show up as control issues. At 29,509 miles, one owner couldn't get wheels aligned because suspension components (noted as faulty calipers) wouldn't cooperate. At 23,000 miles, another owner's vehicle swayed uncontrollably side to side over 30 mph. When turning, some owners hear popping sounds; others report the car shakes abnormally at highway speeds.

The worst case: at 236,000 miles, a rear suspension component failed completely, and the driver's side rear tire literally hung from the frame while the vehicle was in motion—banging and dragging heard before the driver pulled over. The car had to be towed and never got fixed; Nissan offered no help.

Owners consistently report Nissan either refused to act on the defects or claimed they weren't covered under recalls despite identical model years having the same problems. Control and handling issues persist even at low mileage, suggesting design problems rather than normal wear.

Same Nissan Altima suspension reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015

Failure modes owners describe

Rear suspension linkage failure

Rear suspension components failed, allowing the tire to detach from the vehicle during operation. This is a complete structural failure of the rear suspension assembly.

When: 236,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal banging sound from rear end; Dragging sound; Vehicle shaking abnormally; Rear driver side tire hanging from suspension

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed but not repaired; remains at independent mechanic

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but offered no assistance

Suspension alignment issues preventing wheel alignment

Faulty suspension components made it impossible to properly align the wheels. This results in abnormal vibration during highway driving.

When: 29,509 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Rear tires worn prematurely; Vehicle shakes abnormally at 55+ MPH; Wheels cannot be aligned correctly

Repairs/costs cited: Identified during tire replacement at local dealer; faulty calipers noted

Suspension rattling and vibration at low mileage

Early-stage suspension noise and vibration reported at extremely low mileage. Owner was notified of suspension recall but VIN was not included in the recall campaign.

When: 736 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Rattling noise; Vibration

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign ID 11V371000 (Suspension); VIN not included in recall scope; no assistance offered

Suspension causing directional instability

Suspension defects caused the vehicle to veer side to side and become unstable during normal driving. Dealer confirmed suspension replacement was needed but repair was not completed.

When: 5,000 miles initial failure; 74,331 miles current

Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle veers from left to right at various speeds; Unstable handling

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer assessed that suspension needed replacement; no repairs performed

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no assistance offered

Front suspension instability and shaking

Front suspension exhibits shaking during vehicle operation, particularly under load such as climbing inclines. Contributing to overall drivability concerns.

Symptoms owners cite: Front suspension shaking during operation; Vehicle loses power climbing inclines

Suspension-related clunking sound when turning

Popping noise from suspension when making left turns. Indicates worn or damaged suspension components.

Symptoms owners cite: Popping sound when turning left

Overall suspension quality and design defects

Multiple owners report chronic suspension problems affecting vehicle handling, safety, and drivability across a range of mileages. Issues at very low mileage suggest design or manufacturing defects rather than wear.

When: Reported from 736 miles onwards

Symptoms owners cite: Horrible control issues over 50 MPH; Vehicle instability; Poor handling characteristics

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple owners report Nissan refused recalls and offered no assistance

Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2012 Nissan Altima?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?

Based on the 10 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 70,301 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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.