RoadVitals

2012 Nissan Altima Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
29
Latest Apr 10, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 424 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Apr 10, 2024

I have owned this vehicle for over ten years and now there is paint delamination on the hood and roof of the vehicle which is a manufacture defect.

NHTSA ID
11582188
Incident
Apr 1, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Dec 18, 2021

The hood latch is defective and the hood can not close properly.

NHTSA ID
11444262
Incident
Dec 18, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Oct 18, 2021

While driving at 70mph on interstate the hood flew open with no known explanation as to why as hood had not been opened by anyone in the last 120 days prior to incident. This caused hood to snap back, strike and smash windshield and significantly dent roof of car in front of moonroof.

NHTSA ID
11437179
Incident
Oct 16, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Nov 23, 2020

MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA'S SUNROOF IS LEAKING, WHETHER DRIVING OR PARKED. I HAVE HAD THE DRAINS CLEANED, THE HEADLINER REMOVED AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON INFINITI'S AND NISSAN'S SINCE 2003. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY NISSAN, BEING IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE IN ALL MODELS. I HAVE SPENT HUNDRED'S OF DOLLARS TRYING TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID
11375980
Incident
Nov 23, 2020
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND BECAME STICKY AND REFLECTIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE GUNN NISSAN OF DENTON DEALER, LOCATED AT: 5650 S INTERSTATE 35 E, CORINTH, TX 76210 AND WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS AT THE DEALER'S, THE TECHNICIAN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000. FE

NHTSA ID
11355560
Incident
Sep 19, 2019
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND CAUSED A GLARE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER LOCATED IN WESTERN, FLORIDA WHERE THE TECHNICIAN FAILED TO ADDRESS THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ID
11351822
Incident
Aug 28, 2018
Mileage
12,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 7, 2020

DASHBOARD HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY STICKY AND SHINY, CAUSING A GLARE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD

NHTSA ID
11337979
Incident
Nov 4, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 2, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND STICKY WITH AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUTHERLIN NISSAN LOCATED AT 8125 E. COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32817, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID
11337236
Incident
Mar 20, 2016
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 18, 2020

MY DASHBOARD IN MY 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING IN THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANY OF THEM. I NEED MY DASHBOARD REPAIRED. THIS MELTING CAUSES A BAD GLARE OF MY WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325025
Incident
Apr 4, 2020
Body & structure
Filed May 18, 2020

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING FROM THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. IT US CAUSING A BAD REFLECTION WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. I NEED IT REPAIRED BY NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325019
Incident
Apr 4, 2020
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Aug 29, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SUN GLARE WHILE DRIVING A VISIBILITY HAZARD WAS PRESENT THE GLARE WAS CAUSED BY THE MELTING DASHBOARD THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED CAUSING A SUN GLARE AND VISIBILITY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER(UNKNOWN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
11252177
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND CREATED A GLARE. THE VEHICLE ALSO EMITTED A STRONG RUBBER ODOR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11243982
Incident
Jul 1, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Jan 16, 2019

MY DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE MELTING AND IS STICKY TO THE TOUCH. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN THEY SHOW NO CONCERN AS TO THE DASH BOARD MELTING OR ANY RESOLVE TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. IT CAUSES A BAD GLARE ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUNLIGHT. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN MATERIALS.

NHTSA ID
11170461
Incident
May 19, 2018
Body & structure
Filed Aug 16, 2018

ALL 4 OF MY DOOR ACTUATORS ARE SUDDENLY NOT WORKING. THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE WITH A POSSIBLE RECALL. ALL 4 SHOULD NOT GO BAD AT ONCE.

NHTSA ID
11120243
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
134,100 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jun 30, 2018

FLASHING SEATBELT SIGN RELATING TO PASSENGER SIDE. ALSO WHEN IT RAINS BOTH FRONT AND BACK DOORS ARE FILL WITH WATER. WHEN DRIVING WATER CAN BE HEARD SWOOSHING. AFTERWARD TO RELIEVE THE NOISE, I HAVE TO PICK UP THE RUBBER AT THE BASE OF THE DOORS AND WATER WILL RAN OUT.

NHTSA ID
11104825
Incident
Jan 5, 2018
Body & structure
Filed Jan 19, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. DUE TO THE GLARE OF THE SUN, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD MELT AND BECOME VERY STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WOODY FOLSOM NISSAN OF VIDALIA (1609 E 1ST ST, VIDALIA, GA 30474) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO VIDALIA NISSAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE PICTURES OF THE DASHBOARD WERE TAKEN TO PROVIDE TO THE PERSON WHO WAS ASSISTING WITH THE CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,071.

NHTSA ID
11063791
Incident
Aug 23, 2017
Mileage
75,071 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Oct 24, 2017
Crash reported

I HIT A DEER HEAD ON@ 40 MPH, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID
11039396
Incident
Oct 20, 2017
Mileage
8 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 29, 2016

THE BACK DOORS OF THESE CARS ARE TAKING IN WATER WHEN IT RAINS OR WHEN YOU GO TO CAR WASH.. AS YOU DRIVE YOU COULD HEAR THE WATER SLOSHING IN THE DOORS. YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY OPEN THE DOOR AND USE YOUR HANDS BY PICKING THE RUBBER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORS TO LET THE WATER OUT. THEN IT GUSHES OUT LIKE AN OPEN FAUCET.

NHTSA ID
10938623
Incident
Jun 6, 2015
Body & structure
Filed Aug 4, 2016

LEAKING SUNROOF. WHEN WE GET A HEAVY RAIN, WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE SUNROOF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ID
10893159
Incident
May 16, 2016
Mileage
15,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Nov 20, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 4 CAR PILE UP ON THE HIGHWAY. MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF ON IMPACT AND WAS ABOUT 30-40 SEC. DELAYED. AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN I WAS UNBUCKLING MY SEATBELT AND GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. MOST OF MY INJURIES WERE CAUSED BY THE AIRBAG. CAR WAS TOTALED I'M MAKING THIS REPORT IN CASE SOMEONE PURCHASES CAR AT AUCTION AND ONLY REPLACES DRIVER AIRBAG HOPEFULLY THEY WILL CHECK CURTAIN AIRBAGS FOR DEFECTS AS WELL SO SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T GET HURT.

NHTSA ID
10794994
Incident
Nov 1, 2015
Mileage
80,304 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 13, 2015

FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSAGE SIDE ARE VERY SOFT .

NHTSA ID
10781742
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Body & structure
Filed Jun 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10723280
Incident
Feb 4, 2012
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10722671
Incident
Feb 5, 2014
Body & structure
Filed May 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER INSIDE THE DOOR PANELS OF THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHAKE THE DOORS IN ORDER TO GET THE WATER OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS TO THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID
10716446
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Mileage
15,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 21, 2015

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LISTED ON 9/23/14. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT AFTER GETTING A CARFAX REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN FLIPPED WHILE IN LA. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THE TITLE FOR THE CAR HAS BEEN A "REBUILT TITLE OR "SALVAGED TITLE" AND CAN'T SEEN TO GET ANYMORE. HELP PLEASE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10676988
Incident
Sep 23, 2014
Mileage
36,689 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .