NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Nissan Altima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
LIGHT IN THE GLOVEBOX DOESNOT HAVE A SWITCH. IT TURNS ON AS SOON AS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. MY GLOVEBOX WAS FULL OF SOME PAPER AND I OPENED THE GLOVE BOX TO FIN DHTE PAPERS BECAME VERY HOT TO TOUCH AND I FELT LIKE THEY WOULD BURN ANY MOMENT. A SWITCH SHOULD BE INCLUDED SO THAT THE LIGHT TURNS ON ONLY WHEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS OPENED. ANY CLOTH OF EASILY FLAMMABLE MATERIAL CAN CATCH FIRE DUE TO HEAT AND GO UNNOTICED.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS CROOKED - BOTH ACROSS THE BACK AND ACROSS THE SEAT. THIS MEANS ONE'S SHOULDERS AND TORSO ARE TWISTED AND FACING THE CENTER CONSOLE, NOT THE STEERING WHEEL. HIPS ARE UNEVEN WITH THE RIGHT SIDE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE LEFT. THIS IS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND PAINFUL POSITION TO BE IN. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT ALL 2012 ALTIMAS ARE LIKE THIS AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM! I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS IN FACT CROOKED IN THE MORE THAN TWO DOZEN EXAMPLES I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CHECK. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BOTTOM IS NOT SUPPOSED TO SAG OR BE UNEVEN ON EITHER SIDE. I'VE CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE DEALERSHIP IS MY ONLY AVENUE TO PURSUE A REMEDY. DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP'S DETERMINATION THAT THE SEAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE CROOKED MY CHOICES ARE PAY SOMEONE ELSE OR TRY MYSELF TO SHIM THE ENTIRE SEAT OR TRY TO ADJUST THE MECHANISM UNDERNEATH TO LEVEL THE BOTTOM. NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE SEAT BACK... *TR
MY BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE HIT BOTH PEDALS SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP!!! *JS
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CLUTCH FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS A SPONGY FEEL. THE DEALER FOUND WHITE GREASE IN THE FLUID. THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND SALVE CYLINDER WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *JB
HEADLINER WAS MADE INCORRECT FOR ALL 2012 MODELS AND NISSAN IS AWARE AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. WE HAVE TWO OF THE SAME YEAR ALTIMA PURCHASED ON THE SAME DATE. ALSO THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION STILL AND WHEN I TURN TO LEFT IT MAKES A POPPING SOUND. WENT IN TO GET OIL CHANGED AND WAS TOLD I HAD AN OIL LEAK THAT WAS GOING BACK INTO MY ENGINE AND BLEW ONE OF MY CYLINDERS AND TORE AN O-RING SO HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED. ALSO SOMETHING WRONG WITH REAR DEFROSTER THAT REQUIRED BACK WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED. HORRIBLE CONTROL ISSUES WHEN GOING OVER 50 MPH. ALSO SUNROOF REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO REPEATEDLY BREAKING ON THE TRACK PIECE. THIS CAR AS VERY POORLY MADE AND NISSAN WILL NOT OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES. ALSO BREAKS SQUEAK NON STOP AND GRIND AND HAVE SINCE CARS WERE PURCHASED, NISSAN INFORMED US THIS WAS NORMAL SINCE THEY HAVE METAL BREAK PADS ON THE 2012 MODELS. IF I COULD GIVE CARS BACK I WOULD IN A HEARTBEAT. HUGE LEMONS ON THE 2012 HENCE THE ENTIRE REMAKE OF THE 2013'S, THEY KNEW THEY MESSED UP. *TR
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. IGNITION SWITCH WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD TO BE REMOVED SO THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. THEN THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS REMOVED TO RESET. BATTERY CABLE WAS RECONNECTED AND FUEL PUMP FUSE REINSTALLED. CAR WOULD NOW START AND SHUT OFF NORMALLY. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BUT IT CONCERNS US BECAUSE THIS CAR IS ONLY FOUR MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS INTERMITTENTLY OFF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL EFFICIENCY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT GETTING THE CLAIMED MPG AS STATED FROM NISSAN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS BARELY GETTING OVER 20 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,331.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2012 NISSAN ALTIMA RENTAL VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAME TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP ON THE LEFT- OF- MIDDLE LANE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN FROM 60 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUMES INDICATING THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING OR MELTING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO, INDICATION THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED.
THE HEADREST IS TILTED FORWARD SO FAR THAT IT MAKES IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. YOUR HEAD IS FACING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALMOST, INSTEAD OF FACING THE ROAD. IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND PAINFUL DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SINCE THE DEALER CAN'T. *TT
HI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED WITH MY NISSAN ALTIMA DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING ON THE STREET. IT IS PARTICULARLY VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MAKING TURNS, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS LIKE A 4 LANE ROAD(THE DIVIDER IS VISIBLE WHEN IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE). IT IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ROADS IN AN AREA, YOU WILL END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD (THE LIGHT IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH AND NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH). I WAS LUCKY THAT THE ROADS WERE EMPTY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT CARS FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHICH ARE OLDER AND SMALLER LIGHT UP ROADS BETTER THAN MY NEW CAR DOES(EX: HYUNDAI ELANTRA). SIR, I HAVE APPROACHED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM TO INSTALL HID LAMPS ON MY CAR(I WOULD PAY FOR IT) AND THEY SAY NISSAN WOULD NOT DO IT. SOME TIMES IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE NO HEAD LIGHTS AND AS IF I AM DRIVING WITH LIGHTING FROM OTHER CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE PROPER HEADLAMPS WITH RIGHT AMOUNT OF LIGHTING AND WIDE ENOUGH BEAM TO ENSURE A SAFE AND NON-LIFE THREATENING DRIVING EXPERIENCE. THANKS, A DRIVER WHO WANTS TO BE ALIVE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED OF THE ROAD AND I WANTED TO MAKE A FULL STOP BUT I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME! I PUSHED AND PUSHED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE NEVER BRAKE!! ALSO MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! THERE IS PHYSICAL AND BODILY DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME! ALSO MY CAR WAS DAMAGED! NISSAN SHOULD STEP UP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM! *TR
THE DISPLAY SCREEN THAT COMMUNICATES NAVIGATION MAP, RADIO, PHONE, BACKUP CAMERA PICTURE, ETC. STOPPED WORKING. *TR
TRAVELING DOWN A FOUR LANE ROAD GOING 55 MPH. IT WAS AROUND 10 A.M., SUNNY AND DRY. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. I HEARD A LOUD "POP" WHICH CAME FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IN FRONT OF BACK TIRE. WE LOOKED FOR DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, SAW NONE. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. CONTINUED 10 - 15 MORE MILES TO HOME OF FATHER-IN-LAW. STEPPED OUT OF CAR AND SMELLED STRONG GAS FUMES. PROCEEDED AROUND BACK OF CAR TO PASSENGER SIDE. OBSERVED A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE IN FRONT OF REAR PASSENGER TIRE. SLOW, STEADY DRIP WAS COMING FROM BOTTOM OF CAR ABOVE PUDDLE. CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER IN LEXINGTON, KY. THEY REPORTED THE FUEL TANK WAS PUNCTURED. *TR
IF YOU LEAVE THE KEY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IT IS TOUCHING THE VEHICLE THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE KEY AND START THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THE KEY MUST BE WITH YOU (INSIDE) IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THERE IS NO WARNING STATING OTHERWISE. THIS IS A PERSONAL SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, WHICH POWERED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF, WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,500.
ON 7-19-11I TOOK POSSESSION OF A NEW NISSAN ALTIMA AT SARATOGA NISSAN, MALTA, NY. SHORTLY AFTER THAT DATE I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT SELT AUDIBLE WARNING DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 8-26-11 FOR REPAIR OF THAT COMPONENT BUT WAS TOLD, IN WRITING, THAT THIS VEHICLE "WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH AN AUDIBLE CHIME". THIS IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL ON THIS VEHICLE THAT STATES THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUDIBLE SEAT BELT WARNING "CHIME". ALSO IT APPEARS INCONSISTENT WITH NHTSA NEW VEHICLE STANDARD 571.208, S 7.3. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUDIBLE SEAT BELT WARNING REMINDER, OR IF NISSAN HAS BEEN GRANTED AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ALL NISSANS HAVE LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AT STARTUP AT AROUND 30 MILES PER HOUR. NISSAN SAYS IT IS THE ABS BRAKE TEST. VERY ANNOYING AND VERY LOUD. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT INADVERTANTLY DEPRESSED BOTH PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.