The Lemon Index2012 Nissan Altima.
The 2012 Nissan Altima is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 111 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 34, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 21 to 26 mpg combined. The best Nissan Altima year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 426 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Altima year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 35K to 106K miles on the car (307 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 65K–113K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 46K–108K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 16K–81K miles
Recalls 4
- steering 2012
These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.
- airbags 2012
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ALTIMA AND VERSA VEHICLES.
- airbags 2011
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 BECA…
Show all 4 recalls
- suspension 2011
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 121 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Service information on the removal and installation of service parts, on certain vehicles, for
- The cvt fail-safe logic has caused a reduction with the vehicle's maximum speed
- "altima, sentra, and rogue; cvt fail-safe condition service information this bulletin has been…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedAutoliv air bag propellant mixture2012
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Altima 2 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
| Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
On august 28, 2015, the person had ran a red light which caused me to t-bone his car in the rear. Therefore it was a hard impact collision and neither air bags deployed for our own safety. ...updated 09/28/15
2012 Nissan Altima owner · NHTSA complaint 10760904
More owner reports
The passenger airbag light flickers on and off or will stay on for periods of time. It is completely random and will do this when no one is in the seat and when there is someone in the seat.
NHTSA complaint 10670923
Transmission leak in bell housing. Transmission leak 1/10/13. Transmission leak 9/11/13. Transmission leak, internal failure 9/30/13.
NHTSA complaint 10661344
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Nissan Altima reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 34; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Altima year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Altima problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (18%), transmission & drivetrain (18%) and electrical (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Altima have?
4 safety recalls (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Altima get?
21 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Nissan Altima safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Altima problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 35,000 and 106,000 miles. The middle report was at 75,000 miles, from 307 complaints.
Does the 2012 Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Nissan Altima cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Nissan Altima have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Altima year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2011 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works