2012 Nissan Altima: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Transmission · FL

I drove out of town about 40 miles and everything was fine, next day went to leave to come home and immediately noticed high RPMs going about 20MPH. I pulled over, turned the car off and turned it back on, started driving and same thing. I had no choice but to drive it on the interstate. I could get up to 60 very carefully but I was still sitting around 4000rpms. It wouldn’t shift gears at all (I know it’s a CVT and doesn’t have gears). I then noticed a high squealing noise, thankfully made it home with a lot of honking and middle fingers even though I had my hazards on. Once I made it home, plugged in my OBD scanner and had a pending DTC of P1778 which I have found to be the stepper motor. Aka the death code. It’ll start, shift into all other gears, but is making a high squealing noise even when idle and in park and when revving in park the squeal gets louder. I even attempted the “semi manual’ to see if I could get it to catch, I couldn’t at all. No matter what “gear” I was in it wouldn’t bring the RPMs down.

Filed Sep 6, 2018 · Brakes · 117,000 miles · TX

The traction(slip) symbol has been on for months causing my brakes to squeal regardless of being on the brakes. Transmission has started kicking into lower gears while traveling on interstate speed.

Filed Jun 16, 2017 · Transmission · MD

I have 78k miles and my car is loosing power when I am driving. Looses power after sitting at a light, while driving the car bucks as if its getting stuck in it's gears and when I get up to a certain speed the car makes a squealing noise.

Filed Jul 15, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

Driving long distances my car overheats, looses power going from 70 MPH down to 40 MPH in high speed traffic. I am forced to get off the highway and let it reset itself. It has always made a whining noise during acceleration, and the brakes have squeaked from day one. I have complained to nissan several times and am always been given lame excuses. Now that my warranty is up they have a solution to my problems. New transmission or overheat converter to the tune of $1600. How convenient they have a solution not that my car is out of warranty!! They refuse to help me or fix my car unless I fork over the money. My car has had problems since I purchased it and there was never any resolve. I purchased an extended warranty as I do a lot of driving. My car was out of warranty 2,000 miles when they miraculously found a cause and solution for my problem.

Filed Jun 9, 2013 · Suspension · TX

Headliner was made incorrect for all 2012 models and nissan is aware and refuses to issue a recall. We have two of the same year altima purchased on the same date. Also there is something wrong with the suspension still and when I turn to left it makes a popping sound. Went in to get oil changed and was told I had an oil leak that was going back into my engine and blew one of my cylinders and tore an o-ring so had to have that replaced. Also something wrong with rear defroster that required back windshield to be replaced. Horrible control issues when going over 50 MPH. Also sunroof repaired several times due to repeatedly breaking on the track piece. This car as very poorly made and nissan will not own up to their mistakes. Also breaks squeak non stop and grind and have since cars were purchased, nissan informed us this was normal since they have metal break pads on the 2012 models. If I could give cars back I would in a heartbeat. Huge lemons on the 2012 hence the entire remake of the 2013's, they knew they messed up.

Filed May 10, 2013 · Electrical · 8,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited several electrical failures. The battery fluid would discharge and the battery was replaced once. The doors exhibited an abnormal grinding noise and the doors actuator was replaced. The remote also failed to start the engine and the dealer advised that the failure to start was caused by the anti-theft system. The failure mileage was 8,000 and the current mileage 14,000.

Filed Nov 14, 2012 · Brakes · AL

Maybe a week after purchasing a 2012 nissan altima on july 25, 2012, I heard squeaking sounds when braking. I returned to the dealership and was given a letter from the mechanic stating that it is normal for the brakes to squeak occasionally because the brakes a not made with the same materials used in the past. On oct 29, 2012, I returned to the dealership because the noise increased when stopping and I started to hear scrubbing when stopping. The mechanic checked my car for the 2nd time and only replaced brake padding in the front and shaved one rotor. Now on nov.14, 2012, the noise is continuing and the scrubbing sound is still there. I think the manufacturer should pay to replace my brakes and rotors because the was car new when I left the dealership and I should not have this problem. It sounds dangerous and every time I drive my car I am afraid it my not stop when I brake to stop.