2012 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

68Engine complaints

16.1%Of all 423 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN145 · 34.3%

ENGINE68 · 16.1%

AIR BAGS56 · 13.2%

Unspecified / other56 · 13.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL48 · 11.3%

Share of the 423 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Nissan Altima overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT VIBRATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS…”NHTSA complaint 10852933 — filed 04/01/2016

“TWICE, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 75 MPH ON I25 HEADED NORTH. AS I ARRIVED INTO COLORADO SPRINGS, MY VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30…”NHTSA complaint 10766490 — filed 09/21/2015

“CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAT SHIELD CAN CORRODE CAUSING A RATTLE DURING ACCELERATION AND POSSIBLY CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE COMMON REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE IS…”NHTSA complaint 10714086 — filed 05/01/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Nissan Altima have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Nissan Altima: 68 of 423 complaints on file (16.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Nissan Altima have in total?

423 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 23 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 26 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.