Owners have filed 425 safety complaints about the 2012 Nissan Altima with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.
Complaints for this vehicle report 24 crashes, 2 fires, 26 injuries. No deaths have been reported.
Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2012 Nissan Altima, here is how reports break down by system.
"Had transmission fluid changed now starts bit doesn't go in gear took it to shop and was told I need a new transmission don't understand why new fluid would cause this and have heard nissan has had numerous problems with cat transmission"
"PURCHASED CAR AUGUST 8, 2020. WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 08/24. TOOK THE CAR TO NEBORHOOD TIRE PRO'S IN DECATUR, GA. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE. CAR RECEIVED 3 CODES. ONE CODE WAS P1718. WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN STONE MOUNTAIN. HEALTH WAGES THE SERVICE MANGER AFFIRMED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION."
For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2012 Nissan Altima peaked later than usual, in 2018.
Across the Nissan Altima model years we track, the 2013 has the most complaints on file (2,309); the 2012 ranks 6 of 7.
4 recalls apply to some or all 2012 Nissan Altima vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.
NISSAN 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 TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE …
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.
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.
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →
As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 425 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Altima with NHTSA. The most-reported system is power train / transmission.
The 2012 Nissan Altima has 4 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.
Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.
This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.