Model year record

2012 Nissan Altima

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 592 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V494000

Suspension

Component
Suspension
Manufacturer
Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
13,919
Reported to NHTSA
2012-10-10
Owners notified
2012-11-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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 campaignNHTSA 12V055000

Air bags: side/window

Component
Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
976
Reported to NHTSA
2012-02-14
Owners notified
2012-03-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Manufacturer 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 campaignNHTSA 11V408000

Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Component
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Manufacturer
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
54
Reported to NHTSA
2011-08-09
Owners notified
2011-08-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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 campaignNHTSA 11V371000

Suspension

Component
Suspension
Manufacturer
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
20,000
Reported to NHTSA
2011-07-19
Owners notified
2011-08-08

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train14892,000 mi
Engine7077,800 mi
Air bags5851,000 mi
Unknown or other5780,000 mi
Vehicle speed control4893,000 mi
Electrical system4346,000 mi
Structure: body2350,000 mi
Steering1822,365 mi
Suspension1830,350 mi
Service brakes1735,528 mi
Visibility/wiper1668,250 mi
Fuel/propulsion system1076,979 mi
Tires617,100 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)5100,000 mi
Exterior lighting5500 mi
Seat belts512,340 mi
Seats52,000 mi
Structure540,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling45 mi
Fuel system, gasoline38,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic3
Structure: body: door315,000 mi
Structure: interior panels: dashboard384,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking2
Latches/locks/linkages222,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission296,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint21,000 mi
Traction control system2110,000 mi
Wheels229,509 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel18,300 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines1126,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly1
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems139,150 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1400 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system14,793 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly130,000 mi

The 2011 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2013 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.