2012 Nissan Altima Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 105 Engine complaints for the 2012 Nissan Altima, 25% of that year's 426 total complaints. Owners commonly report sudden unintended surges, loss of acceleration, and stalling, with a median failure mileage of 77,400. No related recalls are listed for this component.
- Engine complaints
- 105
- 25% of 426
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 77,400 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Vehicle unexpectedly surges forward while braking or shifting into park, sometimes causing a crash into a building or curb.
- Engine loses power or fails to accelerate at highway speed after extended cruise control use, then temporarily returns to normal after the vehicle is shut off and restarted.
- Vehicle stalls or hesitates at moderate speeds around 35 mph and then resumes normal operation without repair.
- Engine or CVT makes an abnormal noise accompanied by vibration or deceleration, in one case diagnosed as needing CVT replacement.
- Vehicle fails to start and requires a jump start on repeated occasions, with the cause left undetermined by the dealer.
- Oil cooler leak found during a routine oil change, with the owner noting a possible related recall for the model but none applying to their specific VIN.
When 2012 Nissan Altima engine complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 23, 2012, latest Nov 22, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Nissan Altima
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Altima model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine problems on the 2012 Nissan Altima?
- NHTSA lists 105 Engine complaints for the 2012 Altima, which is 25% of the 426 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Nissan Altima engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Engine component on the 2012 Altima.
- At what mileage do 2012 Altima engine problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Engine complaints on the 2012 Altima is 77,400 miles.
- What kind of engine issues do 2012 Altima owners report?
- Owners describe sudden surges while parking, loss of acceleration after cruise control use, stalling at moderate speeds, abnormal noises tied to the CVT, and failure to start.
- Did the engine problems cause any crashes or fires?
- NHTSA data tied to Engine complaints for the 2012 Altima lists 3 crashes and 2 fires, with 0 injuries reported.