Nissan Altima Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Nissan Altima options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Nissan Altima has 1,195 owner complaints and 23 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Altima
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,195
- Safety recall campaigns
- 23
- Crash-related complaints
- 98
- Fire-related complaints
- 23
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (391 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (7 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Nissan Altima: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe NISSAN ALTIMA has 1,195 NHTSA complaints and 23 recalls on record. 98 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 1,195 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 23 federal recall campaigns
- 98 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
23 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
TIRES
TIRES
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIRES
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,195 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,195 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
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. The vehicle continued accelerating downhill and the contact drove over granite lines on the side of the road to slow the vehicle but the vehicle side-swiped another vehicle and stopped at the bottom of the hill. The contact stated that the vehicle had continued to accelerate through the intersection and he made a right turn up a hill and then made a left turn into a parking lot. The contact proceeded to drive the vehicle in a circle around the parking lot to slow the vehicle down to a near stop before shifting the vehicle into park(P) and shutting off the vehicle. At the time of the crash, no one involved in the crash reported any injuries, and medical attention was refused; however, the contact's insurance company received notice of a lawsuit from the other driver claiming they suffered bodily injuries due to the accident, the injuries remain unknown. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the crash aggravated an existing back injury; however, the injury did not require medical attention. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent collision center and DTC: C1A04-97(Front Radar Center) and C1A26-97(Advanced Driver Assistance System Malfunction) was retrieved. The contact's wife had also received two separate emails for notices regarding the ABS and Braking System Warning. The vehicle remained at the collision center for over a month, and the mechanics failed to determine the cause of the failure. The contact paid off the remainder of the lease agreement and no longer had possession of the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,900.
This vehicle was rented to me on 04/23/2026. While driving, the gear shifter detached from its housing, causing the vehicle to become stuck in Drive. Due to this mechanical failure, I was unable to shift the vehicle into Park, Reverse, or Neutral. As a result, I was required to continuously apply pressure to the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from moving until law enforcement arrived and assisted me. This incident created a hazardous condition that placed both myself and other motorists at risk. The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene and contacted Payless Rental Company, from whom the vehicle was rented, to report the incident. A police report was subsequently filed documenting that a defective and mechanically unsafe vehicle had been rented to a customer.
I am reporting a severe combined safety failure involving fuel delivery and electronic systems. Between 1:22 PM and 3:37 PM, documented evidence shows the vehicle's fuel range dropped by 37 miles while the odometer recorded only 6 actual miles driven—a 600% abnormal fuel consumption rate accompanied by excessive engine noise. The odometer also exhibited erratic behavior, reversing and then spiking while stationary. Additionally, the unit was provided with critically low tire pressure (26 PSI), which continued to drop while parked, indicating an active leak neglected by maintenance. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy in records: the VIN indicates a black vehicle, but the actual unit provided is white. These defects posed an immediate fire and road safety risk, causing significant psychological and physical distress (vertigo).
My car was parked in a driveway for 1 hour and when going to approach my car from that 1 hour of leaving I came back to my front windshield cracked in the center , crack did start from the bottom and go up , no forced trauma , no sign of rock or pebble hit , no sign of any issue on a ring camera within that 1 hour of sitting .
Rear view camera visibility is not clear and brightness at night makes it difficult to see at night. I made appointment with Nissan dealer to check camera. Dealer agreed that camera was not clear and much to bright at night. Dealer said they checked with other Altimms that had same troubles with camera. Dealer said there is nothing they can do. dealer said maybe wait for a manufactures download to correct problem. Well it's been nine months and no downloads or call from dealer. This is definitely a safety hazzard.
The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the back-over prevention camera failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the image appeared blurry and distorted. The contact stated that it was difficult to identify a human from an object because of the failure. The vehicle was taken to two dealers, where it was confirmed that the images appeared blurry and distorted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 145.
Read 14 more owner reports
A tractor trailer hit my vehicle from behind/driver side rear in snowy road conditions and then jackknifed causing my vehicle to spin out of control across the interstate. My 2 children were in the backseat, my [XXX] son driver side rear & [XXX] daughter passenger rear. My husband was in front passenger seat. No air bags deployed, the vehicle was a total loss, we almost got killed. The impact was mainly on the driver side rear where the initial impact happened & my son’s seat was pushed up & completely detached from the rest of the vehicle and yet his SRS Side Airbag never deployed. Please see images below of the air bags not deploying . If that tractor trailer hit us 2 inches different, my son would be dead right now. There were injuries and we were seen by EMS on scene & then the hospital later. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Altima. While driving for Uber, a customer alerted the contact of an abnormally strong odor in the rear seats of the vehicle. The contact later discovered that there was white mold inside the trunk of the vehicle and the spare tire compartment which was caused by the filament used to seal the liners in the trunk and rear seats. The contact was concerned about the health risk. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle and closing the door, the rear windshield shattered spontaneously. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,893.
Component/System Failure: Front driver's seatback cover assembly (Nissan Part Number: 87650-9HB2B). The factory structural stitching on the center backrest panel is actively unraveling and separating. The component is available for inspection upon request. ​ Safety Risk: The seatback cover serves as the structural envelope for the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Side-Impact Airbag. Because the structural factory stitching has failed, the engineered tension of the airbag housing unit is compromised. A unravelling cover cannot ensure the precise breakaway path required for the side airbag to deploy correctly. This structural defect poses a severe safety liability, risking delayed deployment, non-deployment, or improper trajectory of a critical safety restraint during a collision. ​Inspections by Others & Dealer Confirmation: The physical separation of the stitching was presented to and verified by an authorized manufacturer dealership (Hubler Nissan) on April 21, 2026. The dealership acknowledged the physical failure of the stitching but refused to perform a factory-certified repair. Nissan's warranty claims the restraint system is covered for 60,000 miles, yet the dealership officially advised me to take the vehicle to a third-party, non-certified local shop ("Dr. Vinyl") to repair the structural housing of an active explosive device. This creates an unacceptable safety liability for both the vehicle occupants and Nissan. ​ Warning Lamps & Prior History: No active dashboard SRS warning lamps are illuminated, as the fault is a physical structural breakdown rather than an electrical failure. The issue first appeared prior to 36,000 miles and continues to progressively worsen.
I came home to the glass shattered on the rear windshield of the car. It was buckled up but in pieces. Some of the class has been removed. If driving and this happened it could have caused an accident. Called dealer they said to file a case with Nissan
When the vehicle is put in reverse, the screen for the rear camera goes completely blank. This is a known defect with many Nissan vehicles, to which Nissan has issued numerous recalls to address this exact issue. However, the year, make, and model of my vehicle has not been included in any of Nissan’s recalls.
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the contact received third-degree burns to the buttocks from the driver’s side seat warmer. The contact was in a wheelchair due to the burns, and medical attention was required. A dealer was contacted and requested to open the vehicle seats. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,073.
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, the brakes erroneously activated, and the vehicle felt as if it was sliding while driving in the rain. The Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided due to the address. The failure mileage was unknown.
The vehicle was unknowingly purchased with an improperly assembled braking system from which is formally known as Koeppel Nissan. The braking assembly failed during operation, resulting in loss of proper braking capability and causing a collision. The braking failure created a serious safety risk to the myself (the driver) and others on the roadway. There were no warning lights, dashboard messages, or other indicators prior to the braking failure. The issue with the braking assembly was not identified at the time of purchase and when the vehicle was returned to Koeppel Nissan to have cosmetic damages fixed. A request was made to thoroughly check of the braking system. After repairs, Koeppel Nissan assured there were no issues with braking system. It was discovered months afterward by Thruway Nissan dealership that the rear rotor pads were mismatched and the driver rear pad was installed upside down. The issue was viewed by a Thruway Nissan service technician, who identified the improper braking assembly. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Nissan Motor Corporation Consumer Affairs for this issue but has been reported. The vehicle and the braking system components are available for inspection upon request.
The driver’s seat heater malfunctioned and produced excessive heat while activated during normal vehicle operation. The heat became extremely intense at a low temperature and resulted in burns to the driver’s midsection, lower back, and upper buttocks. I, the driver sustained physical injuries including burning sensations, skin irritation, and visible discoloration marks in the affected areas. The excessive heat occurred without warning and created a safety hazard to the driver while operating the vehicle. There were no warning lights, messages, or alerts indicating a problem with the seat heating system prior to the incident. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Nissan Motor Corporation Consumer Affairs. An inspection appointment originally scheduled for February 24, 2026 was rescheduled to March 12, 2026. The vehicle and seat heating components are available for inspection upon request.
Yesterday at around 9:10 AM I was driving home southbound on the New Jersey Parkway around exit 89. It was a clear day. It was about 43°, the sun was out. I was doing the speed limit which was 65 mph. I heard a loud bang and then my moonroof spontaneously exploded and all of the glass fell on me and in the car, luckily I was not hurt. I leased this vehicle a little over two years ago. Ever since I have driven it, I have stated to the dealership in writing and on the phone that I feel it is not right and unsafe. I have had three Popped tires in under a year , granted they were from potholes, but I have been complaining about the tires. I have said repeatedly they don’t feel right there is something wrong with them and they’re not even safe for the road because if you hit anything, it immediately pops out the side wall. They are clearly too thin, and not safe for driving even locally. There is a class action lawsuit against Nissan for spontaneous moonroof explosions and there are tons of people talking about online the inadequacies of the Bridgestone tires on the 2024 Nissan Altima.
On [XXX] I purchased a brand-new 2024 Nissan Altima SR from Vaden Nissan located at 10421 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31419, Phone 912-920-5600; with approximately 25 miles on the odometer. On the day of purchase, the vehicle emitted a noticeable mold odor inside the cabin. The vehicle was returned to the dealership on March 11, 2024, due to the mold odor. It was again returned on March 13, 2024, after water was discovered inside the trunk area of the vehicle. At the time of sale and shortly thereafter, water was present inside the trunk area, and the vehicle continued to exhibit water intrusion. The water intrusion appears to be associated with defective weatherstripping or sealing, which allowed moisture to enter the vehicle. On March 19, 2024, the dealership returned the vehicle to me with visible mold present inside the vehicle. The mold condition was observable at the time it was returned to consumer use. The vehicle was not professionally remediated for mold contaminated before being released back to consumer possession. A professional mold inspection later identified over 100,000 mold spores and at least ten (10) different types of mold inside the vehicle. Although the source of water intrusion was reportedly repaired on October 25, 2024, the vehicle remains inoperative and unsafe due to mold contamination. The mold condition persists despite repair attempts. I remain in possession of the vehicle, which cannot be safely driven or occupied. The manufacturer was notified of the water intrusion and mold contamination; however, the safety issue remains unresolved. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this matter to determine whether the water intrusion and resulting mold contamination present a broader safety concern and whether the handling and return of the vehicle to consumer use was appropriate given the visible mold condition.INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
MY 2024 Nissan Altima, with approximately 13,000 miles stalled while driving in 10 degree Fahrenheit weather with snow on the road. My speed was around 45 MPH. The vehicle immediately stalled and all the lights on the dashboard went on. The warning flashed something about an engine error. The brakes seized up while in snowy weather and with cars very close behind me. Easily could have caused an accident and was a pretty scary event. The car is maintained well and have very low mileage and is taken care of well. I slowed down and then another error screen popped up saying to immediately take care for service. While I was attempted to slow down with brake pedal super hard to push; I attempted to put car in neutral with my hazard lights on by now. Car started again while I was coasting about 20 mph, with engine light showing. I immediately took it to the closest dealership to me for service and left it there. This is completely unacceptable behavior for a new car of this type and I never experience anything ever like this with my old 2012 Nissan Altima. This could have caused a very bad accident had I not been driving and my wife or something else not as calm as me were to be driving. I suggest investigating this because I have read about recalls for this type of thing on previous models of Nissans. Currently vehicle is parked at dealership for service on 1-24-2026.
Problems with the engine and transmission.
Showing 20 of 1,195 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Nissan Altima
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Nissan Altima, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Nissan Altima has 1,195 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Nissan Altima has 23 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 98 of the Nissan Altima's 1,195 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Nissan Altima vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Nissan Altima vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Nissan Altima has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Nissan Altima reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Nissan Altima reliable?
Poor. The Nissan Altima has 1,195 NHTSA owner complaints and 23 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Nissan Altima years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (391 complaints), 2019 (232 complaints), 2018 (225 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Nissan Altima problems?
Top reported issues: UNKNOWN OR OTHER (238 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (208 complaints); POWER TRAIN (193 complaints).
Does the Nissan Altima have recalls?
Yes — 23 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Nissan Altima. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.