2012 Nissan Altima Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 68about this part
- Share
- 16%of 426 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 68 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Nissan Altima, 16% of the 426 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“As I was starting to slow down in preparation of taking a turn off the frontage road my car completely shut off, my brakes and steering locked and luckily I was able to complete my turn into a gas station where I immediately put it in park and restarted via push start., 2 days later this occurred again on a fairly busy street where I repeated the steps to start it again. …”
NHTSA complaint #11228596, filed 2019-07, 161,000 miles“I only have 96,000 miles on my vehicle and I can't accelerate. I was on the highway when this happened. It picks and chooses when it wants to accelerate and I almost caused an accident on the highway and on the inner roads. This is not safe and Nissan refuses to take responsibility”
NHTSA complaint #11415359, filed 2021-05, 96,000 miles“I bought my car only a few months ago and recently taking it to the bench at their service, the technicians notified me that I had a leak and the gascket engine oil cooler need to be replaced after that I've been searching the internet about the problem and I found it s a very common fault in this model, many owners report this problem and everyone wonders why there is no recall yet”
NHTSA complaint #11195234, filed 2019-04, 76,000 miles“My Nissan Altima 2012 has significant reduction in speed while taking trips less than 40 miles. Driving on fast lane on highway about 70 miles then all of a sudden it reduces all by itself to 35-40 MPH and I almost got into in accident because I did to know what was going on but had to get off the onto the side of the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #11071885, filed 2018-02, 35 miles“My vehicle when driving will not throttle correctly so I have to pull over on the road and turn the car off and than turn it back on. After turning the car back on I would rub the engine to make sure it would throttle pass 3. Lately though my car has been turning off while driving which is a big safety for my self and other drivers. Because I have to turn the car of and on quickly especially if im on the freeway.”
NHTSA complaint #11186730, filed 2019-03, 172,479 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10152515Nov 28, 2018OBD II EVAP Tube Warranty Enhancement The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer…
- 10119282Nov 28, 2016NISSAN; DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION FOR ABS DTC C1130 SERVICE INFORMATION When diagnosing for DTC C1130 (ENGINE SIGNAL): ECM related DTCs (P-codes) must be diagnosed, repaired, and…
- 10074565Nov 25, 2015Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10192478Nov 25, 2014SERVICE INFORMATION Starting with 2010 Model Year, Nissan vehicles have been gradually incorporating a new type of DTC known as Permanent DTC or P-DTC. If a vehicle is equipped…
- 10044780Jun 18, 2014Nissan: with regards to certain model vehicles, no drivability concerns when mil is on for mass air flow sensor (maf) stored in ecm. *pe updated 07/22/2014
- 10192293Jan 13, 2014SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement Engine Control Modules (ECMs) for many newer Nissan vehicles are now "Blank" ECMs. Blank ECMs come without software and must be programmed (not…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 12% |
| 2023 | 6 | 20% |
| 2022 | 7 | 23% |
| 2021 | 6 | 9% |
| 2020 | 37 | 20% |
| 2019 | 48 | 21% |
| 2018 | 14 | 6% |
| 2017 | 39 | 10% |
| 2016 | 86 | 16% |
| 2015 | 66 | 7% |
| 2014 | 77 | 7% |
| 2013 | 158 | 7% |
| 2012 | 68 | 16% |
| 2011 | 36 | 15% |
| 2010 | 50 | 13% |
| 2009 | 107 | 7% |
| 2008 | 54 | 5% |
| 2007 | 31 | 7% |
| 2006 | 166 | 20% |
| 2005 | 141 | 13% |
| 2004 | 30 | 11% |
| 2003 | 117 | 13% |
| 2002 | 92 | 9% |
| 2001 | 7 | 4% |
| 2000 | 4 | 3% |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% |
| 1994 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2012 Nissan Altima
149 complaintsOther or unknown
58 complaintsAir bags
57 complaintsVehicle speed control
49 complaintsElectrical system
44 complaintsBody and structure
33 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaintsSteering
17 complaintsSuspension
17 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsSeats
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Nissan Altima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology