Nissan Altima problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 807 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls for the Nissan Altima. That averages 14.0 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.35 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize sedans segment it ranks #1 of 5 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 37.8.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 62% below the 2018 and 2019 models (19 early complaints per model year versus 57).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (29.9 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (4.2). Model years 2018, 2019 and 2020 run at least 50% above this model's average of 14.0 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2022 and 2023 run at least 40% below this model's average of 14.0 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (22.3% of complaints), followed by Engine (16.7%) and Unspecified or other (11.8%). 88 complaints (10.9%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 52 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 134 complaints versus 139 in the previous 12 months — down 4%. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (39). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 37 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 14 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (3). 5 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure” (preliminary evaluation, opened 2023-12-13, closed 2025-07-18).
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Midsize sedans, including Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ▲50%+ | 226 | 25.7 | 0.64 | 15 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 ▲50%+ | 233 | 29.9 | 0.74 | 39 | 7 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 ▲50%+ | 179 | 26.4 | 0.65 | 31 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 70 | 12.1 | 0.3 | 20 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 20 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 30 | 7.9 | 0.2 | 10 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 41 | 14.7 | 0.36 | 15 | 1 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 7 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 3 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 1 | 1.0 | 0.02 | 1 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 134 · Previous 12 months: 139 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Electrical ›
180 · 22.3% · 1.42 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Engine ›
135 · 16.7% · 0.75 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
95 · 11.8% · 1.31 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Brakes ›
90 · 11.2% · 1.85 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure ›
68 · 8.4% · 0.93 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts ›
65 · 8.1% · 2.12 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
51 · 6.3% · 0.54 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems ›
44 · 5.5% · 0.95 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
26 · 3.2% · 0.5 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
23 · 2.9% · 1.14 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
15 · 1.9% · 1.01 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
9 · 1.1% · 0.72 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
6 · 0.7% · 0.17 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 37 months
What owners report
I was driving with my heated seat on when I felt pain and realized my lower back was burnt. When I got home and looked in the mirror, my whole bottom back was red and part of my skin peeling. My heated seat got extremely hot and burnt me.
The contact's wife owned a 2025 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving downhill at 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond.
Our back up camera has colored lines in which won’t go away I can’t see what is around me or behind there were recalls on these cameras but not the 2023 Altima just seeing if others are having this problem. The car is only 3 years old
While operating my 2018 Nissan Altima on September 19, 2026, at approximately 9:20 a.m., during daytime highway traffic, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of propulsion, leaving me entirely immobilized on a highway ramp with no ability to…
This vehicle has a 360 camera system to allow me to see all around the vehicle when parking or leaving a parking area around other vehicles. The cameras provide such a poor quality image that I can not see what is around me and the car.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize sedans
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Altima | 807 | 14.0 | 0.35 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Electrical |
| 2 | Hyundai Sonata | 1,243 | 24.3 | 0.6 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 11 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Malibu | 1,416 | 26.4 | 0.65 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 4 | Toyota Camry | 1,981 | 44.2 | 1.1 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 21 | Engine |
| 5 | Honda Accord | 4,373 | 79.6 | 1.97 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 14
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (2) · 2019 (7) · 2020 (6) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (0) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (2) · 2026 (0)
Investigations
- Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls Open
NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of inf…
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt…
- Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure Closed
On December 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-023 to investigate allegations of engine failures leading to loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Nissan Rogue; MY 2019-2021 Nissan Altima; and MY 2019-2021 Infiniti QX50 vehicles. At that time, ODI had received 6 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) and multiple early warning reports, with consumers reporting e…
- Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure Closed
On July 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened EA19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 Nissan Altima and 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened ODI had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.ODI was concerned about these complaints because many o…
- Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure Closed
PE18-013 was opened on December 1, 2018, with 4 complaints to ODI alleging incidents of the lower control arm fracturing at a connection point to the vehicle chassis due to corrosion. ODI has received an additional 87 complaints since the PE was opened. During PE18-013, Nissan indicated model years 2013-2018 shared a common rear lower control arm design. Nissan provided complaint and warranty data…