Nissan Altima Structure Problems
Owners have filed 1,742 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Nissan Altima across 30 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (351). The words owners use most often: “floor boards” (10% of reports).
- 1,742structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 52mention a crash
- 42mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,650typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%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.
- Floor boards: mentioned in 175 of 1,742 complaints (10%)
- Dashboard melting: mentioned in 163 of 1,742 complaints (9%)
- Driver passenger: mentioned in 156 of 1,742 complaints (9%)
- Rusted through: mentioned in 127 of 1,742 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Nissan Altima at $1,650, and half of them between $980 and $3,250.
Based on 92 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2023), 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 structure problems happen?
Based on 1,280 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,742 complaints, 52 mention a crash, 15 a fire, 42 an injury.
Nissan Altima structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Altima | 1 | 14% | — |
| 2024 Altima | 5 | 12% | 80,000 |
| 2022 Altima | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2021 Altima | 1 | 1% | 2,000 |
| 2020 Altima | 6 | 4% | 25,000 |
| 2019 Altima | 6 | 3% | 16,100 |
| 2018 Altima | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2017 Altima | 18 | 5% | 57,150 |
| 2016 Altima | 29 | 5% | 31,005 |
| 2015 Altima | 63 | 7% | 58,000 |
| 2014 Altima | 52 | 5% | 55,000 |
| 2013 Altima | 134 | 6% | 51,475 |
| 2012 Altima | 33 | 8% | 50,000 |
| 2011 Altima | 27 | 11% | 50,000 |
| 2010 Altima | 30 | 8% | 61,000 |
| 2009 Altima | 90 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 2008 Altima | 312 | 30% | 65,550 |
| 2007 Altima | 27 | 6% | 73,752 |
| 2006 Altima | 221 | 27% | 100,360 |
| 2005 Altima | 351 | 32% | 103,000 |
| 2004 Altima | 42 | 15% | 114,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 126 | 14% | 111,000 |
| 2002 Altima | 128 | 12% | 100,000 |
| 2001 Altima | 4 | 3% | 38,005 |
| 2000 Altima | 5 | 3% | 135,350 |
| 1999 Altima | 4 | 5% | 160,000 |
| 1998 Altima | 6 | 5% | 140,000 |
| 1997 Altima | 8 | 7% | 169,000 |
| 1996 Altima | 4 | 4% | — |
| 1995 Altima | 4 | 2% | 41,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Structure:emergency:escape/egress/exit; latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2015, 2016, 2017
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
Structure
Model years: 2010
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 altima vehicles manufactured from april 7, 2010 through april 13, 2010. Some of the front side member assembly components may not have been welded to specification due to a tool maintenance error.
Risk: If several structural welds are out of specification on a single vehicle, it may have an effect on the vehicle crash performance.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and if necessary repair free of charge. The safety recall began on may 13, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Structure:body:door
Model years: 2009
Problem: Nissan is recalling 225 my 2009 altima vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 214, "side impact protection." these vehicles may have been manufactured with an out-of-specification weld on the door assembly.
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: All the affected vehicles have been brought back from the dealerships and remedied at the factory. No vehicles had been retailed.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On XXX, at approximately 5:00 a.m., my son was driving my 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL (VIN [XXX]) to work at approximately 55 mph when the hood unexpectedly flew open while the vehicle was moving. The vehicle had approximately 156,000 miles. The hood came up into his field of vision and significantly…
Took the car to a repair shop to get an alignment. Was told that the frame rear cross member was so rusty that it needed to be replaced, and that if it broke while driving I would lose control of the car. The component has not been removed from the car. No one else has looked at the car. Only prior…
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Altima. While driving for Uber, a customer alerted the contact of an abnormally strong odor in the rear seats of the vehicle. The contact later discovered that there was white mold inside the trunk of the vehicle and the spare tire compartment which was caused by the…
Hood popped up while driving and smashed windshield and did additional body damage. Secondary hood latch safety mechanism was non operable according to mechanic who looked at it after incident. Hood latch was replaced as part of recall in 2022. Spoke to Nissan but they are dismissing because there…
The hood to my car randomly unlatched and smashed my windshield while I was going 30mph.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Altimas have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,742 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Nissan Altima?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,650 (half paid between $980 and $3,250), from 92 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “floor boards”, in 175 of 1,742 complaints, followed by “dashboard melting” (163).
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)
- Engine problems (1,449)
- Steering problems (1,338)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,221)
- Suspension problems (906)
See all Nissan Altima problems.