Altima (L32)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Engine Reliability Ratings
VQ35DE
3.5L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
QR25DE
2.5L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
4 additional engine variants with fewer than 10 complaints not shown.
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Hybrid (HEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima
Too few field reports to rate this generation against peers yet. Most recently launched models accumulate complaints over the first 2-3 years.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 7 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Sample complaint excerpts
Electric Propulsion
- [2007] TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TWO ENGINES: AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, HE COULD NOT HEAR THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ENGINE RUNNING. APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS ACTIVATED. CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WERE PRESENT IN THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED.
- [2008] WHEN I GET INTO THE CAR AND PUSH THE START BUTTON, THE CAR TURNS ON BUT THE READY IS NOT SIGNALING AND THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE. THE CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY THE DAY BEFORE AND NOW THE CAR WON'T MOVE. THERE ALSO A WEIRD BUZZING TYPE SOUND WHEN I PRESS THE BREAK. *TR
- [2011] WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR LOST POWER SUDDENLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. NISSAN ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INVERTER ON THE CAR. *TR
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2007] VEHICLE FIRST WOULD NOT START, EVEN WHEN KEY INSERTED. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF PRESSING BRAKE CAR STARTS. CAR NOW SHOW VDC SLIP, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, AND OTHERS COMING ON. CAR WILL NOT START AFTER NOT USING FOR TWO DAYS. DEALERSHIP STATES HYBRID BATTERY NEEDS REPLACEMENT @ COST OF OVER $6000.00. CAR ALSO WOULD LOOSE POWER ON TALE OFF FROM LIGHT. STARTING PROBLEMS ERRACTIC. DEALERSHIP STATE BRAKE
- [2007] MY HYBRID WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HYBRID WATER PUMP HAD FAILED. NIACIN DID NOT HAVE THEIR OWN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY IN 2007 SO THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE HYBRID WATER PUMPS FOR THAT MODEL YEAR BECAUSE OF FAILURES. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER NIACIN OF BOURNE IN MASSACHUSETTS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND FAXED
- [2010] TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID RECALL - TOYOTA HYBRID PRIUS SYSTEM WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER TWO HYBRID SYSTEM RECALLS USED BY NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDS 2007-2011. MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTLY AND SUDDENLY LOSS ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARDNESS WHICH CO
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Vehicle-Level Issues
These issues affect the Nissan Altima regardless of engine variant.
Recalls (13)
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.
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.
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.
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.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 7, 2010 THROUGH APRIL 13, 2010. SOME OF THE FRONT SIDE MEMBER ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WELDED TO SPECIFICATION DUE TO A TOOL MAINTENANCE ERROR.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 225 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION WELD ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 1,018 MY 2008 ALTIMA VEHICLES. THE LEFT SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 3,403 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS. SOME THESE WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD CAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUTS ATTACHING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOOSE.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) REPLACED DURING SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE SOFTWARE. IF THE TPMS IS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT ALERT THE DRIVER TO A DECREASE IN THE TIRE PRESSURE AS DESIGNED.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF A SUFFICIENTLY HOT OBJECT ENTERS THE AIR FILTER HOUSING THROUGH THE ENGINE FRESH AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND CONTACTS THE ENGINE AIR FILTER, THE FLAMMABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIR FILTER MATERIAL ARE SUCH THAT THE FILTER MAY IGNITE.
All Generations
Alternatives in Midsize Sedan
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2007-2012 Nissan Altima problems?
The 2007-2012 Nissan Altima has accumulated 7,388 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Steering, Electrical System, Body/Trim. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Nissan Altima engine is most reliable?
The 2007-2012 Nissan Altima was offered with 6 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.5L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima a good used car?
The 2007-2012 Nissan Altima can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 7,388 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima have?
The 2007-2012 Nissan Altima has 7,388 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima?
There are 13 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2007-2012 Nissan Altima vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Nissan Altima?
Before buying a used Nissan Altima, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Steering, Electrical System, Body/Trim, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Altima?
The 2012 Nissan Altima received an overall 4-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (10.5% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 7,388 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.