Nissan Altima

Where it stands out against its peers

• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 95% of 2013 cars — 19% of its 2,309 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 4%.
• Suspension: more complaints than 93% of 2013 cars — 13% of its 2,309 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 4%.
• Latches/locks/linkages: more complaints than 91% of 2013 cars — 3% of its 2,309 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 1%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 389 owners reported this, 7 involving a crash
• AIR BAGS — 372 owners reported this, 18 involving a crash
• POWER TRAIN — 364 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• SUSPENSION — 215 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• STRUCTURE — 79 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — 51 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• ENGINE — 44 owners reported this, 3 involving a fire
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 40 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 34 owners reported this
• STEERING — 33 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — 21 owners reported this
• VISIBILITY/WIPER — 20 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

61% of 2021 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 4. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 11V371000

  IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

  NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLTS AND NUTS AND TIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

• 11V408000

  THE AFFECTED ACU WILL NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED AND THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO INFLATE IN A CRASH WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNED TO INFLATE. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.

  NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

• 12V055000

  THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

  NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG MODULES, AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 615-725-1000.

• 12V494000

  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.

  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.

• 13V069000

  If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.

  Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

• 13V158000

  Tires that are significantly over- or under-inflated may fail without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and adjust the spare tire pressure, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 29, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

• 14V138000

  If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

  Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

• 14V565000

  If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

  Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel. In addition, dealers will clean and lubricate the latch joint as needed. If significant corrosion is observed, the latch assembly will be replaced. This repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

20 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2023, closed July 2025.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls

  Audit query, opened December 2022, still open.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

• Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure

  Engineering analysis, opened July 2019, closed June 2025.

• Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2018, closed August 2019.

• Occupant Classification System Failure

  Engineering analysis, opened August 2015, closed May 2017.

• Occupant Classification System Failure

  Recall query, opened March 2015, closed September 2015.

• Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture

  Investigation EQ, opened February 2012, closed May 2012.

• Brake Master Cylinder Internal Leak

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2011, closed March 2012.

• Engine compartment fire

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2007, closed June 2007.

• Engine stall - crank position sensor

  Recall query, opened February 2006, closed July 2006.

• Engine compartment fires

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2002, closed March 2003.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Nissan filed 2 bulletins about the 2026 Altima.

• Structure: 2

• CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT:… · April 2026
• CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT:… · April 2026

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.