Problems · by component
2012 Nissan Altima structure problems
33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Altima cite structure, 8% of all 426 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
33
8% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.