Reliable Auto DB

2012 Nissan Altima reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 426 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Altima over 15 years — 23 per year. The other Altima years sit at about the same rate: their median is 25 complaints per year. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Steering, Side and window, and Inactive sensor control module.

2012 Nissan Altima
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

426

Per year

23

Recalls

4

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (149 of 426), then Engine (68) and Air bags (57). Those filings include 24 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 16 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Altima has 2,312 complaints, 185 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Nissan Altima. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall Steering 2012-10-10 · NHTSA campaign 12V494000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall air bags, side and window 2012-02-14 · NHTSA campaign 12V055000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall air bags, frontal, inactive sensor control module 2011-08-09 · NHTSA campaign 11V408000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall Suspension 2011-07-19 · NHTSA campaign 11V371000
Summary 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 WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CREATING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION.
Remedy NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLTS AND NUTS AND TIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Complaints by component (426 total)

Powertrain
149
Engine
68
Air bags
57
Speed control
49
Electrical system
44
Structure
33
Service brakes
17
Steering
17
Suspension
17
Visibility and wipers
16
Fuel and propulsion system
10
Seats
7
Tires
6
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
Exterior lighting
5
Seat belts
5
Engine and engine cooling
4
Fuel system, gasoline
3
Hydraulic brakes
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
2
Traction control
2
Visibility
2
Wheels
2
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

24

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

16

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

52011212012152013292014412015382016442017692018582019442020212021142022112023620245202552026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "am submitting a formal safety defect report regarding the steering system on my 2012 Nissan Altima Coupe. The vehicle exhibits a loose and unstable steering feel, accompanied by a distinct clunking impact whenever the…"
    Steering, Suspension · filed 2026-09-22
  • "Took the car to a repair shop to get an alignment. Was told that the frame rear cross member was so rusty that it needed to be replaced, and that if it broke while driving I would lose control of the car. The component…"
    Structure · filed 2026-08-16
  • "I was working, and as I was on my way to a location a lady in front of me came to a complete stop since a couple of ducks were crossing causing me to come to a complete stop as well. As I stopped I looked into my…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-07-24
  • "215/60/r16 Driving down, interstate st 70 steering wheel started to shake, then load noise as if running over something, then could see the entire middle tread of the tire flying into the lane behind me to the right. So…"
    Tires · filed 2026-05-01
  • "I am reporting a potential unintended automatic emergency braking event involving a 2025 Tesla Cybertruck. On 23Mar2026, at approximately 40 mph, I was traveling behind a Tesla Cybertruck on a public roadway. There were…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Nissan Altima 2 DR FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2012 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Altima 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 23 32 26 MPG $2500
Altima 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 20 27 22 MPG $2950
Altima Coupe 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Altima Coupe 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800
Altima Coupe 2.5L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Altima Coupe 3.5L, 6-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 18 27 21 MPG $3100

Compare

Next year 2013 Nissan Altima See every Nissan Altima model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Altima reliable?

Owners have filed 426 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Altima over 15 years — 23 per year. The other Altima years sit at about the same rate: their median is 25 complaints per year. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Steering, Side and window, and Inactive sensor control module.

What are common problems with a 2012 Nissan Altima?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (149 of 426), then Engine (68) and Air bags (57). Those filings include 24 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 16 that report an injury.

Is the 2012 Nissan Altima more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Altima has 2,312 complaints, 185 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Nissan Altima been recalled?

The 2012 Nissan Altima has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Nissan Altima?

Owners have filed 426 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Altima with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Nissan Altima get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Nissan Altima is 24 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Altima take?

0W-20 (2.5L); 5W-30 (3.5L V6)

What does Nissan service campaign PC490 cover on the Nissan Altima?

Nissan ran voluntary service campaign PC490 on certain 2013-2016 Altima (L33) vehicles to reprogram CVT software after hydraulic pressure could drop and allow belt slip (MIL P0776 and poor acceleration); Nissan states that campaign is not a safety recall.

What generation is the 2014 Nissan Altima?

5th generation (L33) (2013-2018).