Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, he noticed that the dashboard was shiny and was melting in a small area. The failure expanded to cover the entire dashboard causing visibility issues while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer; however, the mechanic declined to diagnose the failure without a diagnostic fee being paid. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard was melting and became shiny, causing a visibility issue from the windshield reflection. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,439.
Took the car to a repair shop to get an alignment. Was told that the frame rear cross member was so rusty that it needed to be replaced, and that if it broke while driving I would lose control of the car. The component has not been removed from the car. No one else has looked at the car. Only prior warning/message/symptom was uneven rear tire wear first noticed about 6 months prior, but that may have been due to bad rear shocks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky and melting. The contact stated that there was a glare coming from the dashboard and reflecting onto the windshield making it difficult to see while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
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.
Body complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2012 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the body & structure of the 2012 Nissan Altima, 8% of the model year's 426 complaints. The component named most often is body (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Nissan Altima body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2012 Nissan Altima, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Altima body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.