Nissan Altima Steering Problems
Owners have filed 1,338 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Nissan Altima across 29 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (859). The words owners use most often: “steering lock” (31% of reports).
- 1,338steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 56mention a crash
- 28mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%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.
- Steering lock: mentioned in 421 of 1,338 complaints (31%)
- Wouldn start: mentioned in 86 of 1,338 complaints (6%)
- Key fob: mentioned in 79 of 1,338 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Nissan Altima at $1,400, and half of them between $1,200 and $1,500.
Based on 174 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2023), 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 steering problems happen?
Based on 1,042 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,338 complaints, 56 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 28 an injury.
Nissan Altima steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Altima | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2023 Altima | 1 | 3% | 5,300 |
| 2021 Altima | 7 | 10% | — |
| 2020 Altima | 13 | 8% | 2,500 |
| 2019 Altima | 3 | 1% | 9,750 |
| 2018 Altima | 12 | 5% | 36,700 |
| 2017 Altima | 16 | 4% | 20,525 |
| 2016 Altima | 16 | 3% | 45,500 |
| 2015 Altima | 48 | 5% | 14,500 |
| 2014 Altima | 58 | 5% | 16,304 |
| 2013 Altima | 94 | 4% | 23,000 |
| 2012 Altima | 17 | 4% | 26,358 |
| 2011 Altima | 12 | 5% | 72,000 |
| 2010 Altima | 20 | 5% | 64,000 |
| 2009 Altima | 859 | 56% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Altima | 37 | 4% | 72,000 |
| 2007 Altima | 17 | 4% | 70,000 |
| 2006 Altima | 15 | 2% | 69,000 |
| 2005 Altima | 31 | 3% | 85,000 |
| 2004 Altima | 11 | 4% | 63,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 13 | 1% | 110,000 |
| 2002 Altima | 15 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2001 Altima | 5 | 3% | 119,971 |
| 2000 Altima | 3 | 2% | 84,000 |
| 1999 Altima | 2 | 2% | — |
| 1998 Altima | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1997 Altima | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1996 Altima | 3 | 3% | — |
| 1995 Altima | 1 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Steering:rack and pinion
Model years: 2024
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Altima vehicles. The bolts connecting the electronic power steering unit to the steering rack may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
Risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC997.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Model years: 2020, 2021
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
Risk: A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.
Suspension; steering
Model years: 2012, 2013
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.
Risk: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
am submitting a formal safety defect report regarding the steering system on my 2012 Nissan Altima Coupe. The vehicle exhibits a loose and unstable steering feel, accompanied by a distinct clunking impact whenever the wheel is turned, including during lowâspeed maneuvering. This condition…
I was driving home from the store like 4 blocks away and on the road thereâs dip n the road you canât avoid it so after i drive over it the airbag light comes on with hitting anything.
When I make a turn, I hear a clicking noise and also when I come to a complete stop, I can a sound that sounds like a grunting noise. I had new brakes, rotors and brand new tires put on in 2025. I think my ball joints and tie rod is defective. I have a triple AAA membership and I just renewed it in…
The first code it threw was for the master air flow sensor then it started bogging out not going over 1RPM -throwing the code "P17F0 CVT Judder" and has left me in some really,really bad situations in traffic, and when it boggs down like that (no matter how many times I turn it off and restart it…
Steering wheel module buttons are not working . / needs a sensor replaced - recalibration.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Altimas have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,338 owner complaints about steering 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 steering?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Nissan Altima?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,400 (half paid between $1,200 and $1,500), from 174 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “steering lock”, in 421 of 1,338 complaints, followed by “wouldn start” (86).
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)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,221)
- Suspension problems (906)
See all Nissan Altima problems.