repaired · 2023 Q1
Hood: latch
Risk. Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
2016 Nissan AltimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 555 owner complaints about the 2016 Nissan Altima, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-315 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 23, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Nissan Altima has problems
555 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
235Power train4 crash/fire/injury
86Engine3 crash/fire/injury
72Air bags12 crash/fire/injury
65Vehicle speed control5 crash/fire/injury
42Electrical system
42Exterior lighting
29Structure
27Fuel/propulsion system
22Latches/locks/linkages
9215 other systems12 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 235 | 4 |
| Engine | 86 | 3 |
| Air bags | 72 | 12 |
| Vehicle speed control | 65 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 42 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 42 | 0 |
| Structure | 29 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | 2 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 22 | 1 |
| 15 other systems | 92 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2016 Nissan Altima recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
65kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 137 power train complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles118under 100k miles19100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
19 owners mentioned a cost$4,000median
Middle half: $2,250 – $4,750
Air bags
10 owners mentioned a cost$2,214median
Middle half: $1,125 – $2,825
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Altima year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Altima median. How we score
12210618092108123871601591,0478832761,0918244711,0311,5473812424262,3151,1149565553952262351627132304471
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Nissan Altima safety ratings
2016 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Nissan Altima, and the recalls they led to.
- Rear Suspension Control Arm FailureNo recall
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Rear Suspension Control Arm FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Altima owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
To recap: •Nissan manufactured defective transmissions. •Nissan granted me a warranty extension with a fleeting expiration date (2023) to shift the cost away from them. •In 2020, Nissan performed work on my car. The work they performed masked the problem, didn’t fix it. And it deferred the problem,…
My 2016 Nissan Altima has approximately 68,900 miles. When I am stopped and press the gas pedal, the vehicle sometimes hesitates before it begins moving. It does not accelerate normally, which is dangerous when I am pulling into traffic, crossing an intersection, or making a turn. At other times…
My daughter was driving down the road and came to a 2-wayy stop. Went to pull out and the car stalled and started shuddering. On down the road leaving a red light it did the same thing and not wanting to really go.
Own a 2016 Altima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.