Nissan Altima problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 798 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls for the Nissan Altima. That averages 15.7 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.37 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize sedans segment it ranks #1 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 40.0.
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
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Nissan Altima has logged 798 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls, averaging 15.7 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical vehicles with an index of 0.37. The 2019 model year recorded the highest rate at 29.8 complaints per year while the 2025 model year had the lowest at 3.6, and owners should research models from 2018 through 2020 carefully as they run at least 50% above the average. The most common problem area is Electrical accounting for 22.2% of complaints followed by Engine at 16.7%, with recurring terms including "front", "obstruction", "radar", "sensor" and "actuators". Additionally, 86 complaints or 10.8% describe a crash or fire involving 50 injuries and 1 death, while the latest defect investigation regarding complete loss of motive power due to engine failure was opened on 2023-12-13 and closed on 2025-07-18.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.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 61% below the 2018 and 2019 models (19 early complaints per model year versus 57).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (29.8 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (3.6). Model years 2018, 2019 and 2020 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully. Model years 2022 and 2023 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (22.2% of complaints), followed by Engine (16.7%) and Interior & equipment (11.8%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “front”, “obstruction”, “radar”, “sensor” and “actuators”. 86 complaints (10.8%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 50 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 143 complaints versus 132 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (40). 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 defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure” (opened 2023-12-13, closed 2025-07-18).
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Midsize sedans, including Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Years to research carefully | 225 | 25.9 | 0.62 | 63 | 0.71 | 18 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 229 | 29.8 | 0.71 | 52 | 0.64 | 40 | 7 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 Years to research carefully | 179 | 26.8 | 0.64 | 40 | 0.7 | 35 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 69 | 12.2 | 0.29 | 8 | 0.13 | 19 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 20 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 10 | 0.14 | 0 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 29 | 7.9 | 0.19 | 10 | 0.12 | 11 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 41 | 15.3 | 0.36 | 29 | 0.41 | 18 | 1 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2025 Fewest complaints | 6 | 3.6 | 0.09 | — | — | 2 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
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: 143 · Previous 12 months: 132 Steady
Problem areas
Interior & equipment ›
94 · 11.8% · 1.31 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- camera20
- obstruction9
- front radar6
- unavailable front4
Brakes ›
88 · 11.0% · 1.82 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- braking31
- front39
- aeb13
- emergency24
Body & structure ›
68 · 8.5% · 0.93 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- windshield30
- linkages recall8
- locks linkages9
- latches locks9
Transmission / powertrain ›
51 · 6.4% · 0.55 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- cvt15
- transmission29
- accelerate10
- lost8
Driver-assist systems ›
44 · 5.5% · 0.96 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- sensor15
- aeb9
- emergency braking12
- automatic emergency10
Steering
26 · 3.3% · 0.5 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering18
- rod6
- tie4
- wheel10
Wheels, tires & suspension
23 · 2.9% · 1.16 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire15
- sidewall7
- continental4
- spare4
Other
14 · 1.8% · 0.97 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- seat warmer3
- injuries4
- seats3
- approximate3
Lighting
9 · 1.1% · 0.72 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- headlights7
- dim3
- bright3
- night4
Fuel system
6 · 0.8% · 0.17 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- front178
- obstruction40
- radar42
- sensor73
- actuators23
- unlock38
- aeb29
- emergency73
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 37 months
What owners report
My car is supposed to have an automatic braking system/collision detection. Two cars in front of me slammed on their brakes and the car in front of me slammed on his brake, and I didn't have enough time to react.
I was driving down the freeway at about 70 miles an hour. When a warning came up, saying engine malfunction power reduced, the car then started the shaking a bit and not getting any power. Smoke started pouring out of the hood.
I leased and then bought a new 2020 Altima in 11/19 with 4 Continental tires. On 8/27/26 I saw a hole and fissures in the sidewall of the right-rear tire (Continental Pro Contact TX 215 / 55 R 17.
The passenger‑side airbag warning light first appeared within the first year of ownership. During that visit, the dealership did not repair the defect. They only reset the warning light and told me it was not a problem.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a trade-in, and during the test drive, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode.
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 | 798 | 15.7 | 0.37 | Improving | Steady | 14 | Electrical |
| 2 | Chevrolet Malibu | 1,391 | 26.3 | 0.63 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 3 | Hyundai Sonata | 1,211 | 26.7 | 0.63 | Stable | Steady | 10 | Engine |
| 4 | Toyota Camry | 1,935 | 43.9 | 1.04 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Engine |
| 5 | Honda Accord | 4,247 | 87.5 | 2.08 | Improving | Steady | 18 | 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)
Investigations
- 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…
- 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 in…
- 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…
- 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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Altima model year has the most complaints?
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (29.8 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (3.6).
Is the Nissan Altima getting better or worse?
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 61% below the 2018 and 2019 models (19 early complaints per model year versus 57). In the last 12 months owners filed 143 complaints versus 132 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Nissan Altima problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (22.2% of complaints), followed by Engine (16.7%) and Interior & equipment (11.8%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “front”, “obstruction”, “radar”, “sensor” and “actuators”.
How does the Nissan Altima compare with other Midsize sedans?
Within the Midsize sedans segment it ranks #1 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 40.0. It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Midsize sedans, including Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Does the Nissan Altima have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 14 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (3). 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure” (opened 2023-12-13, closed 2025-07-18).