2012 Nissan Altima: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2012 / nissan / altima
known issues	5 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-04)
complaints	425 on file (2011-09-06 → 2026-08-16)
recalls	4
investigations	1
fars	439 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Steering and suspension component failureSTEERING, SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN6 complaints2019-01 → 2025-06altima-2012-steering-suspension-failure

11670314 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
11620637 The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle, followed by a dragging sound. The contact also stated that the vehicle began to shake abnormally
11437779 The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the steering wheel would emit an abnormal whining noise while both stationary and while making turns in either direction. As the failure persisted, the steering wheel began to vibrate, and excessive force was needed

Engine oil cooler seal leakENGINE4 complaints2018-07 → 2019-06altima-2012-engine-oil-cooler-leak

11217239 THE SEAL ON THE OIL COOLER OF MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED AND NISSAN WON'T REPAIR IT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ON MY VEHICLE
11195234 I BOUGHT MY CAR ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO AND RECENTLY TAKING IT TO THE BENCH AT THEIR SERVICE, THE TECHNICIANS NOTIFIED ME THAT I HAD A LEAK AND THE GASCKET ENGINE OIL COOLER NEED TO BE REPLACED
11114140 I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE OIL COOLER CHANGE TWICE WITHIN 14 MONTHS OF OTHER. AND THE ENGINE OIL SENSOR

CVT loss of power and acceleration on the highwayPOWER TRAIN94 complaints2018-07 → 2025-07altima-2012-cvt-loss-of-acceleration

11491518 After making right turn onto very busy 4 lane road with cars traveling 55 mph, the car failed to accelerate and had no power. Car acted as though it was in neutral
11508828 The CVT failsafe high fluid temperature protection mode enacted while I was driving on the highway at speeds of 65 to 70 mph going with the flow of traffic
11231028 THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING THE COMPLAINANT WAS STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CVT TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM INADEQUATE TO COOL FLUIDS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO SAFE DRIVING/LIMP MODE

Dashboard melting causing windshield glareVISIBILITY/WIPER33 complaints2018-06 → 2022-11altima-2012-dashboard-melting-glare

11492388 2012 Altima defective sticky melting dashboard cause severe windshield glare when driving when sun from a certain angle
11360956 DASH IS MELTING AND SHINY CREATING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. THIS STARTED YEARS AGO AND ONLY GETS WORSE
11103658 THE DASH IS MELTING CREATING A SHINY RESIDUE COVERING THE DASH. WHEN THE SUN OR BRIGHT LIGHTS GUYS AT NIGHT IS SHINING THE SHINY DASH REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD CREATING A GLARE THAT OBSTRUCTS YOUR VISION WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING ON ANY HIGHWAY OR ROAD

Passenger seat occupant classification sensor faultAIR BAGS18 complaints2018-12 → 2023-12altima-2012-airbag-occupant-sensor

11559125 The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the OCS control unit was malfunctioning
11310935 SRS SUPPLEMENTAL AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING WHEN STARTING THE CAR UP. FOR WHILE I PUT UP WITH THIS, BUT I WAS CONCERNED. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS
11428614 Pressure sensor in passenger seat connected to passenger side air bag became defective, affecting (shutting off) the entire air bag system. Started off with 'passenger air bag off' sign being illuminated at all times, even when an adult was sitting in the passenger seat

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
425	2011-09-06	2026-08-16	24	2	POWER TRAIN:149; ENGINE:68; AIR BAGS:57; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:56; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:49

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
12V055000	14/02/2012	AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW	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.	THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.	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.
11V408000	09/08/2011	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE	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.	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.	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.
12V494000	10/10/2012	STEERING	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.	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.	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.
11V371000	19/07/2011	SUSPENSION	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.	IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.	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.

Investigations all years →

action_number	status	subject	components	opened	closed	recall_campaign	summary
EQ12002	closed	Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture	AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW	2012-02-14	2012-05-08	·	The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	439	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Nissan Altima vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/nissan/altima

@misc{wrenchpro_2012_nissan_altima_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Nissan Altima},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/nissan/altima}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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