Nissan Altima Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 304 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Nissan Altima across 25 model years. The 2008 model year has the most (58). The words owners use most often: “master cylinder” (24% of reports).
- 304service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 46mention a crash
- 20mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $760typical repair cost reported by owners
- 17%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 72 of 304 complaints (24%)
- Brake fluid: mentioned in 42 of 304 complaints (14%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Nissan Altima at $760, and half of them between $670 and $920.
Based on 29 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 193 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 304 complaints, 46 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 20 an injury.
Nissan Altima service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Altima | 1 | 14% | 6,900 |
| 2023 Altima | 1 | 3% | 65,200 |
| 2022 Altima | 1 | 3% | 55,000 |
| 2021 Altima | 3 | 4% | 44,794 |
| 2020 Altima | 1 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2014 Altima | 2 | 0% | 108,500 |
| 2013 Altima | 4 | 0% | 13,500 |
| 2012 Altima | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2011 Altima | 4 | 2% | 19,531 |
| 2010 Altima | 4 | 1% | 29,250 |
| 2009 Altima | 14 | 1% | 11,165 |
| 2008 Altima | 58 | 6% | 35,000 |
| 2007 Altima | 57 | 12% | 48,500 |
| 2006 Altima | 16 | 2% | 4,645 |
| 2005 Altima | 29 | 3% | 24,189 |
| 2004 Altima | 9 | 3% | 69,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 8 | 1% | 72,000 |
| 2002 Altima | 25 | 2% | 80,000 |
| 2001 Altima | 4 | 3% | 61,000 |
| 2000 Altima | 11 | 7% | — |
| 1999 Altima | 14 | 16% | — |
| 1998 Altima | 12 | 10% | 96,500 |
| 1997 Altima | 8 | 7% | — |
| 1996 Altima | 5 | 5% | — |
| 1995 Altima | 10 | 6% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Model years: 2015
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Altima and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured October 6, 2015, to October 7, 2015. The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened.
Risk: If the bolts were not properly tightened, the caliper may detach and reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will check the brake caliper mounting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 1995
Problem: Certain of the brake hoses for the right rear wheel were routed incorrectly so that contact is made with a suspension component. This causes abrasion to the hose and eventual leakage.
Risk: A leaking brake hose reduces braking capability, increases stopping distances and increases the risk of an accident.
Fix: The right rear brake hose will be inspected to determine if it is routed correctly. Misrouted hoses will be inspected for damage, replaced if necessary, and correctly routed.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact's mother owned a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her mother was driving 20 MPH, the brakes suddenly stopped responding when the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle crashed into a pole. The brake pedal was depressed, and the parking brake was activated, but the…
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…
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking lot, the contact shifted into drive(D) and then to reverse(R) to exit the parking lot, and while driving 3 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact…
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while his son was driving 50 MPH, the ABS warning illuminated, and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer associated the…
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that since owning the vehicle, the brakes, brake pads, or brake rotors were replaced every year to a year and a half. The contact became aware of the failure while depressing the brake pedal with an abnormal, grinding sound coming from the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Altimas have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 304 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the Nissan Altima. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Nissan Altima service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Nissan Altima?
Owners report a typical cost of $760 (half paid between $670 and $920), from 29 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “master cylinder”, in 72 of 304 complaints, followed by “brake fluid” (42).
Other Nissan Altima problems
- Power Train problems (2,187)
- Air Bags problems (1,894)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,890)
- Electrical System problems (1,749)
- Structure problems (1,742)
- Engine problems (1,449)
- Steering problems (1,338)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,221)
See all Nissan Altima problems.