Nissan Altima Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 419 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Nissan Altima across 28 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (54). The words owners use most often: “brake switch” (5% of reports).
- 419service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 66mention a crash
- 29mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%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.
- Brake switch: mentioned in 21 of 419 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the Nissan Altima at $770, and half of them between $460 and $940.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2026), 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 problems happen?
Based on 290 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 419 complaints, 66 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 29 an injury.
Nissan Altima service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Altima | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2023 Altima | 3 | 10% | 5,300 |
| 2022 Altima | 4 | 13% | — |
| 2021 Altima | 18 | 26% | — |
| 2020 Altima | 17 | 11% | 3,000 |
| 2019 Altima | 29 | 12% | 8,798 |
| 2018 Altima | 48 | 21% | 31,000 |
| 2017 Altima | 19 | 5% | 25,630 |
| 2016 Altima | 11 | 2% | 50,514 |
| 2015 Altima | 26 | 3% | 34,000 |
| 2014 Altima | 26 | 2% | 44,926 |
| 2013 Altima | 54 | 2% | 34,000 |
| 2012 Altima | 17 | 4% | 35,875 |
| 2011 Altima | 8 | 3% | 24,000 |
| 2010 Altima | 28 | 7% | 49,135 |
| 2009 Altima | 32 | 2% | 65,100 |
| 2008 Altima | 33 | 3% | 66,536 |
| 2007 Altima | 8 | 2% | 66,000 |
| 2006 Altima | 10 | 1% | 79,000 |
| 2005 Altima | 8 | 1% | 110,000 |
| 2004 Altima | 1 | 0% | 40,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 4 | 0% | 87,900 |
| 2002 Altima | 3 | 0% | 140,459 |
| 2001 Altima | 3 | 2% | 187,000 |
| 2000 Altima | 1 | 1% | 107,000 |
| 1999 Altima | 1 | 1% | 255,900 |
| 1998 Altima | 1 | 1% | 180,000 |
| 1997 Altima | 1 | 1% | — |
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.
Vehicle pulled out in front of me exiting from parallel park into oncoming traffic causing me to skid(slam brakes) & steer off into the other lane of traffic. When I got out to check the scenery & make sure she was okay, she flipped me off & Proceeded to curse me out
Service brakes, hydraulic foundation components: disc: caliper The bolts on all 4 of my tires are constantly going loose and I have problems with my front brakes never lasting as long as they should and always burn out very fast.
I purchased a 2022 Nissan Altima from CarMax on February 25, 2026. Less than three weeks after purchase, the electronic parking brake unexpectedly engaged while I was driving on multiple occasions, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop. This created a serious safety hazard because the vehicle…
Driving on the freeway and car goes into limp mode very dangerous situation as spend was reduced and almost got rear ended by truck
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the auto-braking system unexpectedly activated, and there was a grinding sound coming from the brakes; however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The ABS warning light was illuminated. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the brakes…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Altimas have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 419 owner complaints about service brakes 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?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes. 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 problems on the Nissan Altima?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $460 and $940), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “brake switch”, in 21 of 419 complaints.
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.