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Nissan AltimaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 15,499 NHTSA owner complaints across 34 model years, the Nissan Altima years to avoid are 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015, and the strongest years are 1999, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Altima has 54 safety recalls on record.

Nissan Altima
Years to avoid'02 '03 '05 '06 '08 '09 '13 '14 '15Use caution: 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2017Best years'99 '21 '22 '23Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints15,499Top: Power trainSafety recalls541993–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Nissan Altima years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Altima median. Tap a year for its full report.

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2026Too new–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2025Too new–/1007 complaints · 2 recalls2024Solid58/10044 complaints · 1 recall2023Best75/10030 complaints · 0 recalls2022Best76/10032 complaints · 0 recalls2021Best67/10071 complaints · 2 recalls2020Solid51/100162 complaints · 6 recalls2019Solid45/100235 complaints · 7 recalls2018Solid53/100226 complaints · 2 recalls2017Caution39/100395 complaints · 3 recalls2016Caution33/100555 complaints · 4 recalls2015Avoid23/100956 complaints · 10 recalls2014Avoid20/1001,114 complaints · 8 recalls2013Avoid11/1002,315 complaints · 12 recalls2012Caution39/100426 complaints · 4 recalls2011Solid53/100242 complaints · 1 recall2010Caution40/100381 complaints · 3 recalls2009Avoid16/1001,547 complaints · 4 recalls2008Avoid21/1001,031 complaints · 4 recalls2007Caution35/100471 complaints · 3 recalls2006Avoid24/100824 complaints · 3 recalls2005Avoid20/1001,091 complaints · 1 recall2004Solid50/100276 complaints · 1 recall2003Avoid24/100883 complaints · 4 recalls2002Avoid21/1001,047 complaints · 5 recalls2001Solid58/100159 complaints · 1 recall2000Solid56/100160 complaints · 1 recall1999Best68/10087 complaints · 0 recalls1998Solid64/100123 complaints · 0 recalls1997Solid60/100108 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid66/10092 complaints · 0 recalls1995Solid50/100180 complaints · 3 recalls1994Solid59/100106 complaints · 2 recalls1993Solid62/100122 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Nissan Altima problems

All model years combined: 15,499 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train219374
Air bags1956469
Engine and engine cooling191790
Electrical system1775128
Structure175286
Engine145695
Steering134061
Exterior lighting122633
Suspension91735
29 other systems3992472
54 recalls

Nissan Altima recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

13%Air bags: critical fasteners26V-526 · 2025 · Aug 12, 2026 · 149 vehicles76%Doors: latch26V-023 · 2025 · Jan 20, 2026 · 26,432 vehicles73%Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical25V-437 · 2019–2020 · Jun 27, 2025 · 443,899 vehicles80%Steering: rack and pinion23V-882 · 2024 · Dec 21, 2023 · 5 vehicles70%Sensing system: camera23V-628 · 2019–2021 · Sep 8, 2023 · 153,376 vehicles96%Tires21V-169 · 2019–2020 · Mar 11, 2021 · 36,141 vehicles94%Linkages: tie rod assembly21V-138 · 2020–2021 · Mar 4, 2021 · 2,407 vehicles90%Tires20V-685 · 2020 · Nov 5, 2020 · 2,214 vehicles75%Visibility: glass, side/rear20V-570 · 2020 · Sep 22, 2020 · 150 vehicles40%Hood: latch20V-315 · 2013–2018 · May 28, 2020 · 1,831,818 vehicles80%Sensing system: camera19V-654 · 2018–2019 · Sep 12, 2019 · 1,228,830 vehicles88%Delivery: fuel pump19V-316 · 2019 · Apr 18, 2019 · 374 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 54 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

15 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Altima

  1. Complete loss of motive power due to engine failurePE23023 · 2019–2021 · closed Jul 18, 2025
    Led to recall 25V-437
  2. Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open RecallsAQ22003 · 2018–2022 · still open
    Open
  3. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2013–2018 · still open
    Open
  4. Rear Suspension Control Arm FailureEA19002 · 2013–2018 · closed Jun 16, 2025
    No recall
  5. Rear Suspension Control Arm FailurePE18013 · 2013–2018 · closed Aug 21, 2019
    No recall
  6. Occupant Classification System FailureEA15004 · 2013–2014 · closed May 2, 2017
    Led to recall 15V-681
  7. Occupant Classification System FailureRQ15001 · 2013–2014 · closed Sep 1, 2015
    No recall
  8. Autoliv Air Bag Propellant MixtureEQ12002 · 2012 · closed May 8, 2012
    No recall
  9. Brake Master Cylinder Internal LeakPE11020 · 2007–2008 · closed Mar 14, 2012
    No recall
  10. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREPE07026 · 2007 · closed Jun 27, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-267