2012 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

ON 7-19-11I TOOK POSSESSION OF A NEW NISSAN ALTIMA AT SARATOGA NISSAN, MALTA, NY. SHORTLY AFTER THAT DATE I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT SELT AUDIBLE WARNING DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 8-26-11 FOR REPAIR OF THAT COMPONENT BUT WAS TOLD, IN WRITING, THAT THIS VEHICLE "WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH AN AUDIBLE CHIME". THIS IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL ON THIS VEHICLE THAT STATES THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUDIBLE SEAT BELT WARNING "CHIME". ALSO IT APPEARS INCONSISTENT WITH NHTSA NEW VEHICLE STANDARD 571.208, S 7.3. PLEASE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10423918 at NHTSA ↗

ALL NISSANS HAVE LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AT STARTUP AT AROUND 30 MILES PER HOUR. NISSAN SAYS IT IS THE ABS BRAKE TEST. VERY ANNOYING AND VERY LOUD. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10429409 at NHTSA ↗

IF YOU LEAVE THE KEY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IT IS TOUCHING THE VEHICLE THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE KEY AND START THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THE KEY MUST BE WITH YOU (INSIDE) IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THERE IS NO WARNING STATING OTHERWISE. THIS IS A PERSONAL SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10436623 at NHTSA ↗

TRAVELING DOWN A FOUR LANE ROAD GOING 55 MPH. IT WAS AROUND 10 A.M., SUNNY AND DRY. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. I HEARD A LOUD "POP" WHICH CAME FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IN FRONT OF BACK TIRE. WE LOOKED FOR DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, SAW NONE. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. CONTINUED 10 - 15 MORE MILES TO HOME OF FATHER-IN-LAW. STEPPED OUT OF CAR AND SMELLED STRONG GAS FUMES. PROCEEDED AROUND BACK OF CAR TO PASSENGER SIDE. OBSERVED A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE IN FRONT OF REAR PASSENGER TIRE. SLOW, STEADY DRIP WAS COMING FROM BOTTOM OF CAR ABOV…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440495 at NHTSA ↗

THE DISPLAY SCREEN THAT COMMUNICATES NAVIGATION MAP, RADIO, PHONE, BACKUP CAMERA PICTURE, ETC. STOPPED WORKING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 112 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441268 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED OF THE ROAD AND I WANTED TO MAKE A FULL STOP BUT I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME! I PUSHED AND PUSHED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE NEVER BRAKE!! ALSO MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! THERE IS PHYSICAL AND BODILY DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME! ALSO MY CAR WAS DAMAGED! NISSAN SHOULD STEP UP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10443237 at NHTSA ↗

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA RENTAL VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAME TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP ON THE LEFT- OF- MIDDLE LANE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN FROM 60 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUMES INDICATING THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING OR MELTING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO, INDICATION THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449791 at NHTSA ↗

2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL EFFICIENCY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT GETTING THE CLAIMED MPG AS STATED FROM NISSAN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS BARELY GETTING OVER 20 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10450959 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-07-19 (July 19, 2011)

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 25, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011 AT THE CANTON, MISSISSIPPI PLANT. THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CREATING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION.

Consequence: IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: 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. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2011-08-09 (August 9, 2011)

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 21, 2011 AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 28, 2011 BECAUSE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU) WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence: THE AFFECTED ACU WILL NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED AND THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO INFLATE IN A CRASH WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNED TO INFLATE. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2012-02-14 (February 14, 2012)

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ALTIMA AND VERSA VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS THAT CONTAIN AN INCORRECT PROPELLANT MIXTURE FOR THE INITIATOR COMPONENT USED, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT OUTPUT OF COMPRESSED GAS.

Consequence: THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG MODULES, AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 615-725-1000.

Reported: 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.