2012 Nissan Altima Engine Problems
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2012 Nissan Altima, 16% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 80,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “cvt transmission” (9% of reports).
- 68engine complaints
- 80,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 60%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- CVT transmission: mentioned in 6 of 68 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 53 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 68 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Nissan Altima engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Altima | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2023 Altima | 6 | 20% | — |
| 2022 Altima | 7 | 23% | — |
| 2021 Altima | 6 | 9% | 51,000 |
| 2020 Altima | 33 | 21% | 12,738 |
| 2019 Altima | 48 | 21% | 52,000 |
| 2018 Altima | 14 | 6% | 22,228 |
| 2017 Altima | 39 | 10% | 51,850 |
| 2016 Altima | 86 | 16% | 53,000 |
| 2015 Altima | 66 | 7% | 55,000 |
| 2014 Altima | 77 | 7% | 67,500 |
| 2013 Altima | 158 | 7% | 61,000 |
| 2012 Altima | 68 | 16% | 80,000 |
| 2011 Altima | 36 | 15% | 86,069 |
| 2010 Altima | 50 | 13% | 68,000 |
| 2009 Altima | 107 | 7% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Altima | 54 | 5% | 100,000 |
| 2007 Altima | 31 | 7% | 121,000 |
| 2006 Altima | 166 | 20% | 110,500 |
| 2005 Altima | 141 | 13% | 97,000 |
| 2004 Altima | 30 | 11% | 92,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 117 | 13% | 122,438 |
| 2002 Altima | 92 | 9% | 124,000 |
| 2001 Altima | 7 | 4% | 133,543 |
| 2000 Altima | 4 | 3% | 136,673 |
| 1997 Altima | 1 | 1% | 131,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2012 Nissan Altima. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
There is a recall for the manufacturer emissions that the website doesnât have on this car.
Clunking and bouncing from right tire followed by acceleration not working properly
The sensor was replaced but the light engine light still came back on now the speed sensor is causing the issue. The abs light comes on while accelerating it jumps and jerks
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Nissan Altimas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 68 owner complaints about engine for the 2012 Nissan Altima (16% of the 426 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Nissan Altima engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 80,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2012 Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “cvt transmission”, in 6 of 68 complaints.
Other 2012 Nissan Altima problems
- Power Train problems (149)
- Air Bags problems (57)
See all 2012 Nissan Altima problems or engine problems across all Altima years.