Is the 2012 Nissan ALTIMA reliable?

The 2012 Nissan ALTIMA has 577 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2012 Nissan ALTIMA?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (149 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (72 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (58 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2012 Nissan ALTIMA?

Yes, there are 4 recall(s): AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE, STEERING, SUSPENSION. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Nissan ALTIMA?

The 2012 Nissan ALTIMA gets 24 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2000. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2012 Nissan ALTIMA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2012 Nissan ALTIMA is approximately $1,700/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2012 Nissan ALTIMA

Q: Is the 2012 Nissan ALTIMA often stolen?

The Nissan ALTIMA was the #4 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 15,200 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: high.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Nissan ALTIMA has 577 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 344. The most common issue is transmission problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: 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. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 28 crash reports 22 injuries

577

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

149 complaints

26%

• 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
• ALTIMA WAS SERVICED AT A DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A WEEK AGO FOR OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. I WAS DRIVING THE 2012 ALTIMA FROM WORK ON 4/10/14. IT LOOKED THE CAR WAS STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES. I SLOWED DOWN AND MANAGED TO GET HOME, ALL ALONG IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STOP ANY TIME, LUCKILY
• 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE STARTED NOTICING LITTLE GLITCHES, IN OTHERWISE SMOOTH RIDES. THEN HE STARTED EXPERIENCING A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY MOVING. ON WEDNESDAY APR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2012 Nissan ALTIMA

Based on 416 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 75K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

128

100-150K

103

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Earlier than typicalmedian 47K mi · 32 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

Earlier than typicalmedian 50K mi · 20 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Earlier than typicalmedian 36K mi · 14 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

Earlier than typicalmedian 26K mi · 12 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 30K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

Earlier than typicalmedian 8K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW14/02/2012

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.

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

Fix: 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.

High theft risk

#4 most stolen in 2025

The Nissan ALTIMA was the #4 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 15,200 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Widely available, high resale demand

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2012 Nissan ALTIMA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,001

Per month

$167

Per mile

16.7¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,401/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,500/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Nissan ALTIMA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,700

Full coverage / month

$142

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

+2%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.15x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1700

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan ALTIMA Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2012 ALTIMA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 577 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: DRIVING LONG DISTANCES MY CAR OVERHEATS, LOOSES POWER GOING FROM 70 MPH DOWN TO 40 MPH IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. I AM FORCED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND LET IT RESET ITSELF. IT HAS ALWAYS MADE A WHINING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION, AND THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED FROM DAY ONE. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO NISSAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)