YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Altima Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 41 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Nissan Altima, 10% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 38,344. No related recall covers this component.

Structure & Body complaints
41
10% of 426
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
38,345 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Dashboards develop a sticky, melted-looking surface that produces glare and reduces visibility, sometimes with an odor.
  • Door actuators and locks fail, in one case affecting all four doors at once and in another leaving a door lock disengaged for an extended time.
  • The hood has been reported to fly open while driving at highway speed, striking and cracking the windshield and denting the roof near the moonroof.
  • Water leaks into front and rear doors during rain, producing a sloshing sound that owners address by removing the rubber seal to drain it.
  • Paint delamination on the hood and roof has been reported after years of ownership.
  • The headrest tilts forward excessively, forcing the driver's head toward the instrument panel.

When 2012 Nissan Altima body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint May 23, 2012, latest Aug 16, 2026.

2012 Nissan Altima structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2012Mar 2014Oct 2015Oct 2017Aug 2019Nov 2020Mar 2022
41 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2012 to Aug 2026; peak Oct 2014 (2).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2012 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Altima model year

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

  1. 201038 (10%)
  2. 201130 (12%)
  3. 201241 (10%)
  4. 2013229 (10%)
  5. 201497 (9%)
  6. 2015110 (12%)
  7. 201657 (10%)
  8. 201736 (9%)
  9. 201818 (8%)
  10. 201912 (5%)
  11. 202010 (6%)
  12. 20216 (9%)
  13. 20222 (7%)
  14. 20231 (3%)
  15. 20248 (20%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2012 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA has logged 41 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Altima, which is 10% of the 426 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Nissan Altima's body or structure issues?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this Structure & Body complaint category for the 2012 Altima.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2012 Altima is 38,344.
Did these body problems lead to crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this component area for the 2012 Altima includes 3 crashes and 2 injuries.
How does the 2012 Altima compare to other years for this issue?
The 2012 Altima's 41 complaints and 10% share are similar to 2010 (38 complaints, 10%) and 2011 (30 complaints, 12%), while 2013 saw far more complaints at 229.

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.