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2012 Nissan Altima problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
57% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Nissan Altima are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 63 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 48%).
Does the 2012 Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 206 of 363 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Altima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (57%), and the largest group is filed under power train (149). For comparison, the 2011 scores 49% and the 2013 scores 46%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Nissan Altima years
Of the 13 Nissan Altima years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (57%). The worst is the 2016 (65%), the best the 2021 (14%). By volume, the 2012 drew 426 complaints (206 drivetrain), against 245 for the 2011 and 2,312 for the 2013.
Nissan Altima years to avoid and best years →
2010 Altima problems · 2011 Altima problems · 2012 · 2013 Altima problems · 2014 Altima problems · 2015 Altima problems · 2016 Altima problems · 2017 Altima problems · 2018 Altima problems · 2019 Altima problems · 2020 Altima problems · 2021 Altima problems · 2023 Altima problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Nissan Altima
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Nissan Altima said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 206 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Nissan Altima engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2012 Nissan Altima, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Nissan Altima? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 206 of 363 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Altima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (57%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Nissan Altima?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Nissan Altima is power train: 149 of 426 complaints (35%) name it, followed by engine (68) and air bags (57). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2012 Nissan Altima reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 57% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Nissan Altima years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Nissan Altima?
No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2012 Nissan Altima, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Nissan Altima years are better?
Among the Nissan Altima years we track, the 2021 (14%), the 2018 (21%) and the 2023 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (57%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-altima
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.