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2012 Nissan Altima Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 423 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is one of the better years for the Nissan Altima

The 2012 model year shows below-average complaints compared to other years of this model — a good sign for reliability.

F
39/100

Avoid This Year — 2012 Nissan Altima

The 2012 Nissan Altima is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
423
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
23
Crashes + Injuries
2 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 Nissan Altima?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Nissan Altima (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Nissan dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V055000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #11V408000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V494000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #11V371000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Nissan Altima

Based on 423 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
144
Air Bags
47
Unknown Or Other
38
Electrical System
38
Structure
28
Engine
27
Vehicle Speed Control
25
Steering
16
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Nissan Altima — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 380 complaints 2011 241 complaints 2012 423 complaints 2013 2,302 complaints 2014 1,105 complaints 2015 940 complaints 2016 543 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2013 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2010, 2011, 2012 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Nissan Altima

Is the 2012 Nissan Altima reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Nissan Altima has 4 recalls and 423 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Altima have?
The 2012 Nissan Altima has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Altima?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Nissan Altima are: Power Train, Air Bags, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Nissan Altima safe to buy?
The 2012 Nissan Altima has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Nissan Altima should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Nissan Altima are: 2010, 2011, 2012. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2013.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.