Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Nissan Altima
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Nissan Altima has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 426 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #12V494000 Loose Steering and Suspension Bolts NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V055000 CURTAIN AIR BAG INFLATOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V408000 AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V371000 TRANSVERSE LINK BOLTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 149 complaints
- Engine 68 complaints
- Air Bags 57 complaints
- Unknown or Other 56 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 49 complaints
- Electrical System 44 complaints
Of the 426 complaints on file, 24 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 426 complaints, owners report 26 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,800–$6,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Nissan Altima has a moderate count of 426 complaints and four recall campaigns related to critical components like the steering and air bags. The data suggests some reliability concerns, especially in the power train and engine areas, but overall evidence is limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| Engine | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,000–$2,500 | occasional |
| Air bags | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil changes every 5,000 miles
- Tire rotations every 7,500 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Coolant check annually
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual transmission noises
- Engine knocking sounds
- Air bag warning light
- Steering wheel vibration
- Delayed acceleration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Nissan Altima at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.