2012 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 Altima years
The 2012 Nissan Altima has 426 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 6th worst out of 16 model years. Its verdict is Caution, with Transmission & Powertrain issues (149 complaints, 35% share) the top concern.
- Complaints
- 426
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 24 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 26 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24.5
- 21.5 city / 29 hwy
Top 2012 Nissan Altima problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain149 (35%)
- Engine105 (25%)
- Airbags57 (13%)
- Other56 (13%)
- Electrical System48 (11%)
- Structure & Body41 (10%)
- Brakes27 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires23 (5%)
- Steering17 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers17 (4%)
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in crashes at speeds around 35 to 45 mph, sometimes with a police report filed.
- Vehicles surged forward unexpectedly while shifting into park or braking, in one case pushing the car into a building.
- A parked vehicle with the engine off caught fire near the hood and windshield with no prior warning indicators.
- A rear seat belt failed to secure properly after a rear-end collision at an estimated 35-40 mph, causing head impact injuries.
- The steering wheel input did not match vehicle direction, with the car continuing straight despite steering right.
- Power steering hose leaks and tie rod failures were reported, in one case occurring under 24,200 miles.
2012 Nissan Altima recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 12V494000Oct 10, 2012Steering13,919 vehicles
Steering
Nissan 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 were not torqued to proper specification.
Risk: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
- NHTSA 12V055000Feb 14, 2012Airbags976 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
Nissan 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 in insufficient output of compressed gas.
Risk: The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bag modules, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 12, 2012. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 615-725-1000.
- NHTSA 11V408000Aug 9, 2011Airbags54 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Nissan 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 because the air bag control unit (acu) was assembled incorrectly.
Risk: The affected acu will not operate as designed and this issue may cause the air bags not to inflate in a crash when they are designed to inflate. This could increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will replace the air bag control unit free of charge. The safety recall began on august 22, 2011. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
2012 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21.5 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Nissan Altima reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 426 complaints and a Complaint Index of 67 for the 2012 Altima, ranking it 6th worst of 16 model years with a Caution verdict relative to other Altima years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Nissan Altima?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues lead with 149 complaints, 35% of the total, and a median failure mileage of 92,800 miles.
- Does the 2012 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls covering steering (transverse link and power steering rack bolts), airbags (side curtain propellant and control unit), and suspension components.
- How does the 2012 Altima compare to other years?
- With a Complaint Index of 67, 2012 is better than 2013 (100, Avoid) and 2014 (93, Avoid) but worse than 2011 (40, Good) and 2021-2023 (Best verdicts).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan Altima?
- EPA rates it at 24.5 mpg combined (21.5 city, 29 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $2,650.