VehicleVerdict

2012 Nissan Altima engine problems

The 2012 Nissan Altima has 72 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

72

Engine complaints

12%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Altima engine complaints by model year752 complaints1993: 18 complaints1994: 14 complaints1995: 30 complaints1996: 10 complaints1997: 8 complaints1998: 14 complaints1999: 8 complaints2000: 55 complaints2001: 68 complaints2002: 752 complaints2003: 591 complaints2004: 142 complaints2005: 407 complaints2006: 358 complaints2007: 76 complaints2008: 75 complaints2009: 118 complaints2010: 54 complaints2011: 42 complaints2012: 72 complaints2013: 165 complaints2014: 80 complaints2015: 66 complaints2016: 86 complaints2017: 40 complaints2018: 13 complaints2019: 52 complaints2020: 38 complaints2021: 7 complaints2022: 7 complaints2023: 5 complaints2024: 5 complaints
Altima engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE AT A RESTAURANT ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WIFE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SURGE FROM THE ENGINE PROPELLING THE CAR FORWARD AND OVER AN EMBANKMENT FORTUNATELY FOR A FEW TREES AND GOD'S HELP MY WIFE IS THANKFULLY STILL ALIVE THE EMBANKMENT HAD APPROXIMATELY 100' DROP THIS HAS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 5, 2017 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2012 Nissan Altima have?

NHTSA has 72 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Altima engine — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.