YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Altima Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 48 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Nissan Altima, 11% of its 426 total complaints that year. The median failure mileage was 46,000, with one fire, one crash, and four injuries logged in this area. No related recalls are on file.

Electrical System complaints
48
11% of 426
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
46,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles failed to start with an 'intelligent key issue' message even though the key was present, sometimes recurring despite dealer visits.
  • Owners report unexpected engine stalling at highway speed, such as 35 mph, followed by the engine restarting on its own after a pause.
  • Power door locks and the alarm system behaved inconsistently, locking and unlocking at random or beeping in unexpected patterns.
  • Power windows and locks were reported as slow to operate, an issue that recurred after an earlier dealer repair.
  • One owner reported the vehicle caught fire near the hood and windshield area while parked with the engine off, with no prior warning lights.
  • A sunroof-area water leak dripped into the headliner on both sides of the cabin during rain, whether parked or driving.

When 2012 Nissan Altima electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 21, 2011, latest Apr 1, 2023.

2012 Nissan Altima electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2011May 2013Dec 2014Dec 2015Jan 2017Jan 2018May 2019Feb 2021
48 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2011 to Apr 2023; peak Jan 2015 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Altima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201077 (20%)
  2. 201131 (13%)
  3. 201248 (11%)
  4. 2013590 (26%)
  5. 2014356 (32%)
  6. 2015320 (34%)
  7. 201683 (15%)
  8. 201744 (11%)
  9. 201849 (22%)
  10. 201959 (25%)
  11. 202043 (27%)
  12. 202121 (30%)
  13. 20227 (23%)
  14. 202310 (34%)
  15. 20243 (7%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2012 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 48 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Altima, which is 11% of all 426 complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do these electrical failures usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2012 Altima is 46,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Altima's electrical system?
No. NHTSA does not list any related recalls for the electrical system on the 2012 Nissan Altima.
Were there any fires or injuries linked to these electrical complaints?
Yes. Among the 48 electrical system complaints, NHTSA logs one fire, one crash, and four injuries.
How does 2012 compare to other Altima years for electrical complaints?
The 2012 Altima's 48 electrical complaints and 11% share are lower than the 2013 (590 complaints, 26%), 2014 (356, 32%), and 2015 (320, 34%) model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.