Nissan Altima 2007–2012
4th generation (L32)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20265,563 complaints, 4,116 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 4,116
- Median of reported failures
- 72,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Steering (17.3%)
- Recalls
- 6
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 42,000 and 104,912 miles.
Figure 1 · Nissan Altima 2007–2012 · 4,116 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 255 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 50 complaints (1.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 15,000
- 25%
- 42,000
- Median
- 72,000
- 75%
- 104,912
- 90%
- 139,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 255 | 6.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 67 | 1.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 80 | 1.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 72 | 1.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 89 | 2.2% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 104 | 2.5% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 126 | 3.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 126 | 3.1% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 170 | 4.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 118 | 2.9% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 164 | 4.0% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 157 | 3.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 210 | 5.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 174 | 4.2% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 232 | 5.6% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 160 | 3.9% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 193 | 4.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 127 | 3.1% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 177 | 4.3% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 130 | 3.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 157 | 3.8% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 72 | 1.7% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 116 | 2.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 89 | 2.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 115 | 2.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 89 | 2.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 79 | 1.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 62 | 1.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 58 | 1.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 69 | 1.7% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 50 | 1.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 22 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 30 | 0.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 15 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 31 | 0.8% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 27 | 0.7% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 23 | 0.6% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 10 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 16 | 0.4% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 5 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 50 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 5,563 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2012 Nissan Altima, and 4,116 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 42,000 and 104,912 miles. The median is 72,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (17.3% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), the electrical system (13.4% of complaints, typically around 73,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (9.9% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2007–2012 Nissan Altima last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2007–2012 Nissan Altima were filed by 72,000 miles and 90% by 139,000 miles — figures drawn from 4,116 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
50 reports (1.2%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Altima reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2007–2012 Altima: the 3-minute check
Generated from 4,116 mileage-tagged complaints, 6 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 6 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check transmission (CVT) on 2007–2012 cars. JATCO Xtronic CVT overheating and belt/pulley failure producing judder, delayed engagement and loss of drive. Nissan extended CVT coverage to 10 years / 120,000 miles on affected 2007-2010 CVT vehicles.
- Check electronic steering column lock on 2009–2012 cars. ESCL module failure leaves the steering locked and the vehicle unable to start; addressed by recall and warranty extension.
- Check engine (2.5l) on 2007–2012 cars. Elevated oil consumption complaints continuing from the L31 QR25DE family.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 42,000 and 105,000 miles, with a median of 72,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 73,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Nissan Altima 2007–2012
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Airbag system442 reports59,00020,000–104,000Airbag system: 442 reports, median 59,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 104,000 miles.
- Body structure519 reports65,00040,000–88,000Body structure: 519 reports, median 65,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 88,000 miles.
- Electrical system743 reports73,00048,000–100,000Electrical system: 743 reports, median 73,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Steering964 reports80,00059,000–106,000Steering: 964 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 59,000 to 106,000 miles.
- Engine346 reports83,00057,000–121,000Engine: 346 reports, median 83,000 miles, middle half 57,000 to 121,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise548 reports85,00060,000–117,000Problems owners could not categorise: 548 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 117,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline530 reports97,00058,000–127,000Transmission and driveline: 530 reports, median 97,000 miles, middle half 58,000 to 127,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 964 | 17.3% | 80,000 | 59,000–106,000 |
| Electrical system | 743 | 13.4% | 73,000 | 48,000–100,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 548 | 9.9% | 85,000 | 60,000–117,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 530 | 9.5% | 97,000 | 58,000–127,000 |
| Body structure | 519 | 9.3% | 65,000 | 40,000–88,000 |
| Airbag system | 442 | 7.9% | 59,000 | 20,000–104,000 |
| Engine | 346 | 6.2% | 83,000 | 57,000–121,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 257 | 4.6% | 70,000 | 44,000–95,000 |
| Suspension | 231 | 4.2% | 67,000 | 42,000–94,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 179 | 3.2% | 73,000 | 30,000–122,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Nissan Altima 2007–2012 · 4,116 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 37% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 64% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 82% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.2% of reports (50) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
37% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 59,000–106,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 48,000–100,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 60,000–117,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 58,000–127,000 mi
- Body structure — middle half 40,000–88,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 20,000–104,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 57,000–121,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
64% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Body structure — median 65,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 59,000–106,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 48,000–100,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 60,000–117,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 58,000–127,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 20,000–104,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 57,000–121,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
82% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Steering — median 80,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 73,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 85,000 mi
- Body structure — median 65,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 59,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 58,000–127,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 57,000–121,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 72,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 17.3% of complaints (964 reports, 787 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,000 and 106,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 13.4% of complaints (743 reports, 600 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 73,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 100,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.9% of complaints (548 reports, 278 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 117,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.5% of complaints (530 reports, 422 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 97,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 58,000 and 127,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 9.3% of complaints (519 reports, 341 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 88,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 7.9% of complaints (442 reports, 312 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 59,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 104,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2009 model year drew the most — 2,150 complaints — while 2011 drew the fewest at 320. The median year sits at 588.
That makes 2009 an outlier: roughly 3.7 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the suspension (2), the airbag system (2), equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 5,563 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 266 (4.8%)
- Fires
- 93
- Injury reports
- 135
- Fatality reports
- 6
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Transmission (cvt) 2007–2012
JATCO Xtronic CVT overheating and belt/pulley failure producing judder, delayed engagement and loss of drive. Nissan extended CVT coverage to 10 years / 120,000 miles on affected 2007-2010 CVT vehicles.
Electronic Steering Column Lock 2009–2012
ESCL module failure leaves the steering locked and the vehicle unable to start; addressed by recall and warranty extension.
Engine (2.5l) 2007–2012
Elevated oil consumption complaints continuing from the L31 QR25DE family.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 598 | 472 |
| 2008 | 1,376 | 911 |
| 2009 | 2,150 | 1,706 |
| 2010 | 541 | 391 |
| 2011 | 320 | 220 |
| 2012 | 578 | 416 |
Recalls (6) — is your car included?
Nov 2012 · 2012 · SuspensionThe affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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.
Mar 2012 · 2012 · Air BagsThe side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. 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.
Aug 2011 · 2012 · Air BagsThe affected acu will not operate as designed and this issue may cause the air bags not to inflate in a crash…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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.
Aug 2011 · 2011–2012 · SuspensionIf the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. If the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Sep 2010 · 2008–2010 · EquipmentOverheated batteries could result in a fire.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2010. Owners may contact garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
May 2010 · 2010 · StructureIf several structural welds are out of specification on a single vehicle, it may have an effect on the…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. If several structural welds are out of specification on a single vehicle, it may have an effect on the vehicle crash performance.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and if necessary repair free of charge. The safety recall began on may 13, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners reported
The driver seat in my 2007 Nissan Altima has moved while i am driving since i bought the car. I have brought this in to be serviced for this problem over 6 times in the last year and they have failed to fix it. They performed Nissan TSB ntb08-089 twice already and the seat still moves around when i am driving. This is…
2007 · 30 miles · Seats
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.…
2007 · 50 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The vehicle takes over 40 minutes of driving to have the heat blower activate on cold temperatures. Starting and letting the vehicle run idle for 20 minutes before driving doesn't seem to help this situation. Heater will not work under any circumstance, cause the windows to fog up while driving and putting the driver…
2007 · 50 miles · Problems owners could not categorise
Regarding the current (2013-2014) Nissan recall due to airbag defect: we traded in our 2007 Altima for a 2014 model. The 2007 model appeared to have the same airbag defect being described in the current recall. During our ownership of the 2007 model, the passenger seat airbag sensor malfunctioned about 80% of the…
2007 · 100 miles · Airbag system
Built from 4,116 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page