Nissan Altima Problems by Year

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · 15,250 owner complaints analyzed

Years with far more complaints than usual:

2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

NHTSA has 15,250 owner complaints and 53 safety recalls on file for the Nissan Altima, across 32 model years (1995–2026). The 2013 model year has the most complaints (2,313). The most reported problem area overall is power train.

Peak: 2013, with 2,313 complaints

n = 15,250 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Nissan Altima years to avoid? What the complaint data shows

These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Altima year: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.

Model years with the most complaints

2013 Altima: 2,313 complaints, 12 recalls
2009 Altima: 1,547 complaints, 4 recalls
2014 Altima: 1,114 complaints, 8 recalls

Model years with the fewest complaints

2026 Altima: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
2025 Altima: 7 complaints, 2 recalls
2023 Altima: 30 complaints, 0 recalls

Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.

Most common Nissan Altima problems (all years)

Problem area	Complaints	Model years	Crashes
Power Train problems	2,187	31	58
Air Bags problems	1,894	30	413
Engine and Engine Cooling problems	1,890	24	22
Electrical System problems	1,749	32	56
Structure problems	1,742	30	52
Engine problems	1,449	26	39
Steering problems	1,338	29	56
Exterior Lighting problems	1,221	25	31
Suspension problems	906	29	34
Vehicle Speed Control problems	633	27	89
Service Brakes problems	419	28	66
Visibility/wiper problems	404	22	7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems	304	25	46
Fuel/propulsion System problems	299	26	15
Latches/locks/linkages problems	236	23	5
Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems	188	18	8
Seats problems	187	29	17
Visibility problems	175	26	1
Tires problems	167	30	6
Wheels problems	167	29	14
Fuel System, Gasoline problems	159	23	3
Seat Belts problems	158	28	42
Forward Collision Avoidance problems	147	15	19
Equipment	92	20	3
Back Over Prevention	24	9	0
Fuel System, Other	24	10	0
Lane Departure	24	11	5
Equipment Adaptive/mobility	17	10	1
Child Seat	9	7	2
Service Brakes, Air	7	7	2
Interior Lighting	6	5	1
Service Brakes, Electric	6	4	3
Traction Control System	5	4	0
Parking Brake	3	2	1
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness	1	1	0
Firerelated	1	1	0
Other/i Am Not Sure	1	1	0

Nissan Altima problems by model year

Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.

2019: electrical system (58)
2017: power train (133) · air bags (73)
2016: power train (235) · engine (86) · air bags (71) · vehicle speed control (65)
2015: exterior lighting (270) · air bags (177) · power train (161) · engine (66) · suspension (64) · structure (63) · electrical system (56)
2014: exterior lighting (299) · power train (209) · air bags (208) · suspension (132) · engine (77) · electrical system (71) · steering (58) · structure (52)
2013: air bags (514) · power train (505) · exterior lighting (442) · suspension (289) · electrical system (159) · engine (158) · structure (134) · steering (94) · latches/locks/linkages (60) · service brakes (54) · visibility/wiper (52)
2012: power train (149) · engine (68) · air bags (57)
2011: power train (68)
2010: electrical system (74) · power train (73) · air bags (61) · engine (50)
2009: steering (859) · electrical system (466) · engine (107) · power train (95) · air bags (91) · structure (90)
2008: structure (312) · visibility/wiper (168) · air bags (142) · electrical system (90) · power train (80) · service brakes, hydraulic (58) · engine (54)
2007: suspension (121) · air bags (63) · power train (62) · service brakes, hydraulic (57)
2006: structure (221) · engine and engine cooling (189) · engine (166) · power train (79) · electrical system (72)
2005: structure (351) · engine and engine cooling (259) · engine (141) · power train (115) · electrical system (97)
2004: engine and engine cooling (109)
2003: engine and engine cooling (450) · structure (126) · engine (117) · electrical system (89)
2002: engine and engine cooling (594) · structure (128) · engine (92) · electrical system (77)
2001: engine and engine cooling (59)
1995: air bags (61)

All Nissan Altima model years

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Crash rating	Top problem	Compared with other years
2026 Altima	1	0	5★	Electrical System
2025 Altima	7	2	5★	Air Bags
2024 Altima	41	1	5★	Unknown or Other	Far fewer complaints than other years
2023 Altima	30	0	5★	Electrical System	Far fewer complaints than other years
2022 Altima	31	0	5★	Forward Collision Avoidance	Far fewer complaints than other years
2021 Altima	70	2	5★	Forward Collision Avoidance	Far fewer complaints than other years
2020 Altima	158	6	5★	Electrical System	Fewer complaints than other years
2019 Altima	233	7	5★	Electrical System	About as many complaints as other years
2018 Altima	226	2	5★	Unknown or Other	About as many complaints as other years
2017 Altima	391	3	5★	Power Train	More complaints than other years
2016 Altima	554	4	5★	Power Train	Far more complaints than other years
2015 Altima	955	10	5★	Exterior Lighting	Far more complaints than other years
2014 Altima	1,114	8	5★	Exterior Lighting	Far more complaints than other years
2013 Altima	2,313	12	5★	Air Bags	Far more complaints than other years
2012 Altima	426	4	4★	Power Train	More complaints than other years
2011 Altima	241	1	4★	Power Train	About as many complaints as other years
2010 Altima	381	3	—	Electrical System	More complaints than other years
2009 Altima	1,547	4	—	Steering	Far more complaints than other years
2008 Altima	1,030	4	—	Structure	Far more complaints than other years
2007 Altima	471	3	—	Suspension	Far more complaints than other years
2006 Altima	824	3	—	Structure	Far more complaints than other years
2005 Altima	1,091	1	—	Structure	Far more complaints than other years
2004 Altima	276	1	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	About as many complaints as other years
2003 Altima	883	4	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Far more complaints than other years
2002 Altima	1,047	5	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Far more complaints than other years
2001 Altima	159	1	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Fewer complaints than other years
2000 Altima	160	1	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Fewer complaints than other years
1999 Altima	87	0	—	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	Far fewer complaints than other years
1998 Altima	123	0	—	Air Bags	Fewer complaints than other years
1997 Altima	108	1	—	Air Bags	Far fewer complaints than other years
1996 Altima	92	0	—	Air Bags	Far fewer complaints than other years
1995 Altima	180	3	—	Air Bags	Fewer complaints than other years

More from Nissan: all Nissan models · Nissan VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Which Nissan Altima years should you stay away from?

By NHTSA complaints, 2002 (1,047), 2003 (883), 2005 (1,091), 2006 (824), 2007 (471), 2008 (1,030), 2009 (1,547), 2013 (2,313), 2014 (1,114), 2015 (955), 2016 (554) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Altima year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.

What is the biggest problem with the Nissan Altima?

Power Train, with 2,187 complaints across 31 model years.

How many recalls does the Nissan Altima have?

53 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.