VehicleVerdict

2012 Nissan Altima transmission problems

The 2012 Nissan Altima has 149 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 26% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

149

Transmission complaints

26%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Altima transmission complaints by model year505 complaints1993: 1 complaints1994: 3 complaints1995: 27 complaints1996: 9 complaints1997: 8 complaints1998: 6 complaints1999: 8 complaints2000: 9 complaints2001: 7 complaints2002: 41 complaints2003: 34 complaints2004: 19 complaints2005: 117 complaints2006: 80 complaints2007: 64 complaints2008: 80 complaints2009: 95 complaints2010: 73 complaints2011: 69 complaints2012: 149 complaints2013: 505 complaints2014: 210 complaints2015: 161 complaints2016: 233 complaints2017: 132 complaints2018: 22 complaints2019: 9 complaints2020: 17 complaints2021: 3 complaints2022: 3 complaints2024: 4 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Altima transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CVT STARTS MAKING NOISE, THE RPM GO UP TO 6,000 RPM THEN I LOOSE ENGINE POWER SUDDENLY SO THE CAR SPEED STUCK ON 40 MPH SUDDENLY AND DECREASE THE SPEED EVEN WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL IT JUST MAKES NOISE AND INCREASE THE RPM AND THE NOISE BUT THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 9, 2018 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Nissan Altima have?

NHTSA has 149 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Altima transmission — 26% 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.