What are the most common Nissan Altima problems?
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2012 Nissan Altima has 19 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners, Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor / Air Bag Warning Light Fault, P0016 — Crank/Cam Position Correlation from Stretched Timing Chain & Worn Guides/Tensioner. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2012 Nissan Altima has 19 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 3 issues are rated critical: VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners and Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor / Air Bag Warning Light Fault and P0016 — Crank/Cam Position Correlation from Stretched Timing Chain & Worn Guides/Tensioner. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Altima problems?
Repair costs for known Nissan Altima issues range from $60 to $2,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners, typically costs $1,200-$2,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2002-2018 Nissan Altima VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners?
On the 3.5L VQ35DE V6 the plastic secondary timing chain guides/tensioner shoes become brittle and break, and the secondary (cam) chain tensioners lose tension. This produces a loud rattle or whine from the front of the engine, most pronounced for the first few seconds of a cold… Repairs typically run $1,200-$2,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor / Air Bag Warning Light Fault?
Multiple 2007-2012 Altima owners report the air bag warning light flashing and the passenger air bag status behaving incorrectly due to faults in the occupant classification system (OCS) or related seat sensor components. This can disable the passenger frontal air bag when it sho… Repairs typically run $250-$1,800. Severity: high.
What is the 2007-2018 Nissan Altima P0016 — Crank/Cam Position Correlation from Stretched Timing Chain & Worn Guides/Tensioner?
P0016 is one of the most well-documented Altima powertrain failures and is a hallmark of the 2.5L QR25DE (it also affects the 3.5L V6). The ECM sets P0016 when the camshaft (Bank 1, Sensor A) and crankshaft signals fall out of their expected relationship. On the Altima this is mo… Repairs typically run $1,000-$2,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2002-2012 Nissan Altima Power Steering Rack and High-Pressure Hose Leaks Leading to Loss of Assist?
Hydraulic power steering Altimas commonly develop leaks from the steering rack seals or high-pressure hose assemblies. Owners report groaning noises, fluid on the subframe, a burning smell from fluid contacting hot components, and progressively heavier steering effort. On higher-… Repairs typically run $250-$1,400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2002-2012 Nissan Altima Crankshaft and Camshaft Position Sensor Failures Causing Stalling or No-Start?
Altimas in this period frequently suffer from failing crankshaft position sensors and camshaft position sensors, especially on the 2.5L and 3.5L engines. Owners report intermittent stalling at stops or while driving, extended cranking, sudden no-start conditions, and check-engine… Repairs typically run $150-$600. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima Sunroof Drain Leakage Causing Wet Front Floor, BCM Corrosion, and Electrical Malfunctions?
A recurring issue on 2007-2012 Altimas with a moonroof is clogged or poorly routed sunroof drains that allow water to overflow into the cabin, often soaking the front carpet and padding. Owners report musty odors, wet passenger or driver footwells, and in some cases electrical pr… Repairs typically run $100-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2002-2021 Nissan Altima Catalytic Converter Efficiency Failure (P0420) on the QR25DE?
P0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold) is one of the most common check-engine codes on the 2.5L Altima. The integrated exhaust-manifold/catalyst on these cars loses efficiency as the substrate degrades, the downstream oxygen sensor begins tracking the upstream sensor,… Repairs typically run $300-$1,850. Severity: medium.
What is the 2002-2016 Nissan Altima Exhaust Manifold Cracking Causing Ticking Noise and Exhaust Leak?
The exhaust manifold on the Altima is prone to developing cracks from repeated heat cycling, producing a ticking/tapping noise from the front of the engine that is loudest on cold start (and often quiets as the metal expands and the crack closes), along with an exhaust smell and… Repairs typically run $300-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2018 Nissan Altima Front ABS Wheel Speed Sensor Failure Triggering ABS, VDC, and SLIP Lights?
A failed front ABS wheel speed sensor (or its corroded/damaged wiring) is a common cause of the simultaneous ABS, VDC (vehicle dynamic control), and SLIP warning lights on the Altima. Because the sensor feeds speed data to multiple modules, one bad sensor lights several warnings… Repairs typically run $80-$350. Severity: medium.
What is the 2002-2012 Nissan Altima Front Wheel Bearing and Hub Failure Causing Humming Noise and ABS/Wheel Speed Issues?
A recurring higher-mileage Altima problem is front wheel bearing wear, often first noticed as a humming or growling noise that increases with road speed. As the bearing deteriorates, owners may feel vibration, looseness, or see ABS warnings if the integrated wheel speed signal be… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
What is the 2005-2012 Nissan Altima Melting / Sticky Dashboard That Glares and Cracks in Sunlight (Class-Action Settlement)?
Dashboards on these Altimas (most heavily reported on 2007-2009 cars in hot, sunny climates) degrade with heat and UV exposure, becoming shiny, sticky/gooey, and reflective, and can crack along the seams. The high-gloss reflection off the windshield creates a glare that owners re… Repairs typically run $250-$2,000. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2018 Nissan Altima P0174 — System Too Lean (Bank 2) on 3.5L VQ35DE V6 from Intake Plenum/Manifold Vacuum Leak?
P0174 references Bank 2, which physically exists only on the Altima's 3.5L VQ35DE V6 (the inline-4 has no Bank 2), so this code points specifically at the V6 rear cylinder bank. It nearly always appears together with P0171, and that pairing is the diagnostic tell: a lean conditio… Repairs typically run $250-$800. Severity: medium.
What is the 2002-2012 Nissan Altima Premature Front Strut Wear Causing Knocking / Clunk Over Bumps?
RepairPal documents front struts wearing prematurely on the Altima and producing a knocking/clunking noise from the front end, especially over bumps and uneven roads. The noise often comes from worn strut internals or a failing upper strut mount/bearing. Beyond noise and a bouncy… Repairs typically run $300-$800. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2018 Nissan Altima P0171 — System Too Lean (Bank 1) from Cracked Intake Air Duct or Leaking Intake Manifold Gasket?
On the Altima's 2.5L QR25DE four-cylinder (and Bank 1 of the 3.5L V6), P0171 sets when the fuel-trim correction runs beyond about +25% because unmetered air is entering the engine downstream of the mass-air-flow (MAF) sensor. The two dominant Altima-specific culprits are (1) the… Repairs typically run $120-$600. Severity: medium.
What is the 2002-2018 Nissan Altima QR25DE Ignition Coil Failures Causing Misfires (Cylinders 1 and 4)?
The 2.5L QR25DE four-cylinder is widely documented for repeated coil-on-plug ignition coil failures, with cylinders 1 and 4 (the end cylinders) failing most often. A failing coil triggers a single-cylinder misfire, rough idle, hesitation, and a flashing check engine light. Failur… Repairs typically run $60-$400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2007-2020 Nissan Altima EVAP Canister Vent Control Valve Failure (P0455 / P0456 Leak Codes)?
After a loose/failed gas cap, the most common cause of EVAP leak codes (P0455 large leak, P0456 very small leak) on the Altima is a failed EVAP canister vent control valve mounted near the charcoal canister at the rear of the vehicle. The valve seal sticks or fails to seal, so th… Repairs typically run $60-$250. Severity: low.
What is the 2007-2017 Nissan Altima HVAC Blend / Mode Door Actuator Clicking and Temperature Control Failure?
The plastic gears in the HVAC air-mix (blend) and mode door actuators strip, producing a repetitive clicking or knocking sound from behind the dash, usually loudest when the climate system is turned on or the temperature is changed. A failed blend actuator leaves the temperature… Repairs typically run $80-$350. Severity: low.
What is the 2007-2013 Nissan Altima Power Window Regulator Failure (Window Falls or Sticks Off-Track)?
The power window regulator (the cable-and-rail mechanism that raises the glass) is a frequently reported failure on these Altimas. The plastic cable guides or the cable itself break, so the window jams, drops into the door, or rises crooked/off-track. Owners and dealers describe… Repairs typically run $150-$450. Severity: low.
What is the 2007-2018 Nissan Altima P0128 — Coolant Below Regulating Temperature from Thermostat Stuck Open?
On the Altima, P0128 sets when the ECM sees that engine coolant fails to reach its target operating temperature (roughly 180-200F) within the expected time/warm-up cycle. The overwhelming Altima-specific cause is a thermostat stuck open (or a thermostat that opens too early), whi… Repairs typically run $180-$550. Severity: low.
