2012 NISSAN ALTIMA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
575
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
7
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
The 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA has received a total of 575 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION, STEERING, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW. 7 technical service bulletins have been issued by Nissan North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Train (145 complaints), Engine (68 complaints), and Air Bags (56 complaints).
Recalls for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA, potentially affecting up to 48,868 vehicles.
Recall 12V494000 — SUSPENSION
| 13,919 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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.
View full details →Recall 12V494000 — STEERING
| 13,919 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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.
View full details →Recall 12V055000 — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
| 976 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
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.
View full details →Recall 11V408000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 54 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THE AFFECTED ACU WILL NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED AND THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO INFLATE IN A CRASH WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNED TO INFLATE. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
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.
View full details →Recall 11V371000 — SUSPENSION
| 20,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
575 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
There is a recall for the manufacturer emissions that the website doesn’t have on this car.
I drove out of town about 40 miles and everything was fine, next day went to leave to come home and immediately noticed high RPMs going about 20MPH. I pulled over, turned the car off and turned it back on, started driving and same thing. I had no choice but to drive it on the interstate. I could get up to 60 very carefully but I was still sitting around 4000rpms. It wouldn’t shift gears at all (I know it’s a CVT and doesn’t have gears). I then noticed a high squealing noise, thankfully made it home with a lot of honking and middle fingers even though I had my hazards on. Once I made it home, plugged in my OBD scanner and had a pending DTC of P1778 which I have found to be the stepper motor. Aka the death code. It’ll start, shift into all other gears, but is making a high squealing noise even when idle and in park and when revving in park the squeal gets louder. I even attempted the “semi manual’ to see if I could get it to catch, I couldn’t at all. No matter what “gear” I was in it wouldn’t bring the RPMs down.
The vehicle is unsafe to driver and others on the road. The power steering hose has had a leak since it was manufactured and was not fixed by the manufacturer at all! Tie rods gave away within 5 years of a mileage less than 24,200 miles. Cv joints along with tie rods have been easily compromised and damaged causing loss of control and steering .suspensions are no longer in tact nor reliable and will pose a danger. All errors were not found by manufacturer and has caused immediate danger to not only driver but everyone on the road. The engine has a rattle only after 2 years which is not usual.
The vehicle is unsafe to driver and others on the road. The power steering hose has had a leak since it was manufactured and was not fixed by the manufacturer at all! Tie rods gave away within 5 years of a mileage less than 24,200 miles. Cv joints along with tie rods have been easily compromised and damaged causing loss of control and steering .suspensions are no longer in tact nor reliable and will pose a danger. All errors were not found by manufacturer and has caused immediate danger to not only driver but everyone on the road. The engine has a rattle only after 2 years which is not usual.
The vehicle is unsafe to driver and others on the road. The power steering hose has had a leak since it was manufactured and was not fixed by the manufacturer at all! Tie rods gave away within 5 years of a mileage less than 24,200 miles. Cv joints along with tie rods have been easily compromised and damaged causing loss of control and steering .suspensions are no longer in tact nor reliable and will pose a danger. All errors were not found by manufacturer and has caused immediate danger to not only driver but everyone on the road. The engine has a rattle only after 2 years which is not usual.
Safety Rating for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
Nissan North America, Inc. has issued 7 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
NTB20-020 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2010-2012 ALTIMA; MIL ON WITH DTC P2423 NOTE: The warranty period for the front exhaust tube with catalyst (20010-ZX10A) has been extended on the Applied Vehicles if the following criteria are met: ï· - The MIL is ON and DTC P2423 is stored in the ECM. ï· - The VIN...
NTB20-022 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN 2010-2012 ALTIMA SEDAN AND COUPE (SULEV); ENGINE CONTROL MODULE INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary emissions recall campaign on certain specific model year 2010-2012 Altima Sedan and Coupe (SULEV) vehicles. The engine control module (ECM) will be inspected, and if needed, reprogrammed. This service will be...
NTB16-098 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2011-2012 ALTIMA; REDUCED PERFORMANCE DUE TO CVT FLUID TEMPERATURE PROTECTION LOGIC IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle speed is, or was, reduced by the CVT fail-safe (reduced vehicle speed) after continuous operation under the following conditions: - High RPM and/or high speed driving (RPM of 4000+ or speeds of 65 mph...
NTB12055E — EQUIPMENT
IF YOU CONFIRM: Customers concern of a "clicking" noise coming from either left or right front/rear CV-type axles during take-off/acceleration. ACTION: Apply Molykote M77 grease (P/N 44003-7S000) to the hub bearing surfaces. NOTE: * Do not remove the axle from the hub or transmission for this bulletin * Refer to...
NTB-13-079 — POWER TRAIN
NISSAN: THE CVT FAIL-SAFE LOGIC HAS CAUSED A REDUCTION WITH THE VEHICLE'S MAXIMUM SPEED. *JS UPDATED 11/16/2013 *JS UPDATED 9/29/14. *PE
NTB-12-051 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
NISSAN: WITH REGARDS TO CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES, NO DRIVABILITY CONCERNS WHEN MIL IS ON FOR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR (MAF) STORED IN ECM. *PE UPDATED 07/22/2014 *JS
NTB12-011C — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKE SYSTEM WILL BE INSPECTED TO CONFIRM THAT NO BRAKE FLUID LEAK IS PRESENT. RESEVOIR WILL BE TOPPED OFF IF NO LEAK IS PRESENT. IF THERE IS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER IS IDENTIFIED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WILL BE REPLACED. NISSAN. *KB
NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the NISSAN ALTIMA
- 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA — 595 complaints
- 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA — 1,375 complaints
- 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA — 2,150 complaints
- 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA — 539 complaints
- 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA — 316 complaints
- 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA (current)
- 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA — 2,969 complaints
- 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA — 1,377 complaints
- 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA — 1,184 complaints
- 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA — 773 complaints
- 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA — 497 complaints
Other NISSAN Models
- NISSAN PATHFINDER — 10,111 total complaints
- NISSAN ROGUE — 9,608 total complaints
- NISSAN MAXIMA — 8,834 total complaints
- NISSAN SENTRA — 8,129 total complaints
- NISSAN MURANO — 7,410 total complaints
- NISSAN VERSA — 4,436 total complaints
- NISSAN FRONTIER — 4,425 total complaints
- NISSAN TITAN — 4,412 total complaints