2012 Nissan Altima Problems

425 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Power Train · verdict AVOID 32/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Power Train149
Engine68
Air Bags57
Unknown Or Other56
Vehicle Speed Control49
Electrical System44

In the owners’ words

“Took the car to a repair shop to get an alignment. Was told that the frame rear cross member was so rusty that it needed to be replaced, and that if it broke while driving I would lose control of the car. The component has not been removed from the car. No one else has looked at the car. Only prior warning/message/symptom was uneven rear tire wear first noticed about 6 months prior, but that may have been due to bad ”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Nissan Altima owner
“I was working, and as I was on my way to a location a lady in front of me came to a complete stop since a couple of ducks were crossing causing me to come to a complete stop as well. As I stopped I looked into my rearview mirror I noticed the lady behind me was not stopping and then smashed into the back of me launching me into the car in front of me. My passenger air bag went off, however my driver seat airbag did n”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Nissan Altima owner
“The vehicle is unsafe to driver and others on the road. The power steering hose has had a leak since it was manufactured and was not fixed by the manufacturer at all! Tie rods gave away within 5 years of a mileage less than 24,200 miles. Cv joints along with tie rods have been easily compromised and damaged causing loss of control and steering .suspensions are no longer in tact nor reliable and will pose a danger. A”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Nissan Altima owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
14/02/2012Air Bags:Side/Window SAFETYNISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ALTIMA AND VERSA VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS THAT CONTAIN AN INCORRECT PROPELLANT MIXTURE FOR THE INITIATOR COMPONENT USED, RESULTING I
09/08/2011Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive SAFETYNISSAN 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 BECA
10/10/2012Steering SAFETYNissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that
19/07/2011SuspensionNISSAN 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. THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED

Questions owners ask

Is the 2012 Nissan Altima reliable?

On the federal record it scores 32/100: 425 owner complaints (30.36 per year on the road) and 4 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Nissan Altima?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Power Train, with 149 of 423 categorised reports.

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The 2012 Nissan Altima scored 32/100 on the federal record.

Full 2012 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Altima yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking