Nissan Altima 2007–2012

4th generation (L32) · L32 · 5,563 complaints, 4,116 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

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 85,250 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 97,305 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 87,500 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 7.9% of complaints (442 reports, 312 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 58,566 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

Of the 5,563 complaints filed against this generation, 266 reported a crash; 93 reported a fire; 199 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.8% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 42,000 and 104,912 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.

Documented problems

Recalls (6)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Nissan Altima 1993–1997
• Nissan Altima 1998–2001
• Nissan Altima 2002–2006
• Nissan Altima 2013–2018
• Nissan Altima 2019–2025