NHTSA has received 226 owner complaints about the 2018 Nissan Altima, or 25.7 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.64, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #41 of 76 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Nissan models its rate is 9% lower; against other Midsize sedans it is 32% lower.
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
Complaints filed between 2018-09-13 and 2026-10-04. Median delay from incident to filing: 14 days.
226Complaints
25.7Complaints per year on the road
0.64Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
2Recalls
4.9%Share involving a crash or fire
15Last 12 months
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 29.9 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 63 complaints, 27% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Electrical (21.2% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (16.4%) and Airbags & seat belts (14.2%). 11 reports (4.9%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 6 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 32 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the second year (25% of incidents). In the last 12 months 15 new complaints were filed, versus 17 in the 12 months before — down 12%.
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for this model year. 4 NHTSA investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls” (audit query, opened 2022-12-16, still open).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.64
vs. other Nissan models0.91
vs. other 2018 models0.54
vs. other Midsize sedans0.68
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (63)0.73
Brake light switch went out 3 months after getting car. Car would not start then after it started it would not go in gear nor would the brake lights turn on dealership repaired it.
Electrical · 2023-03-20 · ODI 11512915 · Crash
I was rear-ended in my car while at a red light. The car hit me 35 mph plus., Pushing me into the Tahoe in front of me. My shoulder strap driver side DID NOT restrain me and NONE of the air bags deployed. I flew forward towards the steering wheel and dash.
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…
Engine · 2026-10-04 · ODI 11768824
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.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-25 · ODI 11759463
While driving at regular road speeds, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic safety component failure. The primary hood latch disengaged, and the secondary safety backup latch failed to catch or secure the hood.
Body & structure · 2026-08-17 · ODI 11757342
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Risk: Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 19V654000 · 2019-09-12
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
AQ22003 · audit query · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · Opened 2022-12-16 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
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 RuptureOpen
EA21002 · engineering analysis · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Opened 2021-09-17 · Model years: 2018
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 FailureClosed
EA19002 · engineering analysis · SUSPENSION:REAR · Opened 2019-07-29 · Closed 2025-06-16 · Model years: 2018
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 FailureClosed
PE18013 · preliminary evaluation · SUSPENSION:REAR · Opened 2018-12-01 · Closed 2019-08-21 · Model years: 2018
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…
