Looking back at the rich history of the Nissan Altima, it has been a consistent and steady seller from the brand and still remains undeterred in the wake of crossover supremacy. Crossing an impressive 300,000 units of sales, the 2012 Nissan Altima remains unchanged but has seen a slightly higher number of complaints from the owners than the last year’s model. There are close to 400 complaints along with 4 recalls against the sedan to date. The sedan was recalled 4 times for different issues which are transverse link issue, faulty airbag control unit, non-deployment of curtain airbags, and lose bolts of steering and suspension. Also, the NHTSA investigated the sedan for an airbag issue under the name of “Autoliv Airbag Propellant Mixture”. The powertrain and the safety systems are the two areas of the sedan which received the major number of reports from the affected owners. In its class, the Nissan Altima competes with the Kia Optima, the Toyota Corolla, and the Ford Fusion.
Nissan Altima user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Sudden engine stall: The 2012 Nissan Altima has seen plenty of complaints regarding this issue. Due to the failures, the owners experienced sudden stalling of the engines of their vehicles while driving.
- Engine failing to start: Some reports against this issue were also reported against the 2012 Altima. The owners complained that their vehicles refused to start and the failures occurred intermittently.
Safety problems
- Occupant sensor malfunction: Several complainants faced this issue where the sensor malfunctioned. As a result, the airbag warning light stays illuminated after coming on and indicates that the system has been deactivated.
- Brake failure: The brakes of some 2012 Altima models failed while operating the vehicles. Due to the failures, the drivers were unable to stop the vehicle on time and crashed in some instances.
Miscellaneous problems
- Door lock actuator failure: Some owners faced issues with the door lock actuators of their vehicles. In a few instances, the door lock actuators of all the doors failed and in some cases, the actuators of individual doors failed. Due to the failures, the doors were not openable either from inside or outside the vehicles.
2012 Nissan Altima recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
July 19, 2011 |
11V371000 |
Transverse link bolts |
If the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash. |
Nissan will replace the transverse link bolts and nuts and tighten them to the proper torque specification free of charge. The safety recall began on August 8, 2011. |
|
2 |
August 9, 2011 |
11V408000 |
Airbag control unit |
The affected ACU will not operate as designed and this issue may cause the airbags not to inflate in a crash when they are designed to inflate. This could increase the risk of injury. |
Nissan will replace the airbag control unit free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2011. |
|
3 |
February 14, 2012 |
12V055000 |
Curtain airbag inflator |
The side curtain airbags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. |
Nissan will notify the owners, and the dealers will replace one or both side curtain airbag modules, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 12, 2012. |
|
4 |
October 10, 2012 |
12V494000 |
Loose Steering and Suspension Bolts |
The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. |
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin in November 2012. |
Should you buy a used Nissan Altima?
The Nissan Altima offers a solid package in the midsize sedan segment which includes characteristics such as a silent cabin, a handsome list of tech features, and athletic handling. However, the car offers a lesser amount of space at the rear than most of its peers. In the reliability department, the car has had some tough times but the impressive sales figure makes the number of complaints only a negligible percentage. However, there are a few issues that have seen no recalls yet such as the powertrain issues. A used model of the Altima would be a great option for the value it provides but get the vehicle inspected thoroughly before buying.
