NHTSA owner complaints

Brand record

Nissan Recalls by Model: Reliability and Common Problems

Every Nissan model in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2025: the recall campaigns for each model, which models and years owners complain about most, and the problems they report.

NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 202629,280 complaints31 models

Short answer

The Altima drew the most owner complaints of any Nissan in NHTSA's file for 2010 to 2025, then the Rogue and the Sentra. The Rogue and the Pathfinder have the most recall campaigns, 41 and 33.

Best-sellers draw the most reports, so a high count is not a failure rate. Check one car with its VIN.

What we know beyond the file

The 2013 Altima airbag complaints match recalls 13V-069 and 16V-244 for the passenger occupant sensor, which can switch off the passenger airbag or misjudge an adult in the seat. NHTSA lists no recall or investigation for the exterior lighting complaints on the 2014 and 2015 Altima.

Nissan recalls by model

Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each Nissan model, model years 2010 to 2025, read Oct 2, 2026. Each campaign counts once per model, however many years it covers. NHTSA's recall service returned no answer for Pathfinder 2020; Altima 2022 and 2023; Sentra 2012; Versa 2016, 2022 and 2025; Leaf 2011 and 2012; Murano 2010, 2011 and 2021, so those years are not counted. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.

  • Rogue
    Most often: fuel system
    41
  • Pathfinder
    Most often: airbag system
    33
  • Altima
    Most often: airbag system
    32
  • Sentra
    Most often: airbag system
    28
  • Versa
    Most often: airbag system
    24
  • Leaf
    Most often: airbag system
    18
  • Murano
    Most often: hydraulic braking
    13

Nissan complaints by model

Owner complaints to NHTSA for each Nissan model with at least 1,000 of them, model years 2010 to 2025, and the year that drew the most. A best-seller draws more reports than a rare model, so read these as counts, not failure rates. 24 smaller models are left out.

  • Altima
    Most: 2013 · airbag system
    7,134
  • Rogue
    Most: 2023 · engine
    6,392
  • Sentra
    Most: 2013 · powertrain
    3,233
  • Pathfinder
    Most: 2013 · powertrain
    2,736
  • Versa
    Most: 2012 · airbag system
    2,077
  • Murano
    Most: 2015 · powertrain
    1,340
  • Leaf
    Most: 2019 · electrical system
    1,071

Nissan model years with the most complaints

The ten Nissan model years owners complained about most, with the system they named most. These are the years to inspect hardest before you buy, not a verdict on every car.

  • 2013 Altima
    Airbag system22%
    2,308
  • 2014 Altima
    Exterior lighting25%
    1,113
  • 2015 Altima
    Exterior lighting26%
    947
  • 2013 Pathfinder
    Powertrain41%
    890
  • 2023 Rogue
    Engine39%
    687
  • 2018 Rogue
    Braking system39%
    666
  • 2013 Sentra
    Powertrain48%
    638
  • 2013 Rogue
    Powertrain51%
    608
  • 2017 Rogue
    Powertrain20%
    595
  • 2014 Pathfinder
    Powertrain37%
    574

Most common Nissan problems

The systems owners named most across every Nissan model and year in the file, counted from each model year's six most-named systems.

  • Powertrain
    22% of the complaints
    6,554
  • Engine
    14% of the complaints
    4,003
  • Airbag system
    12% of the complaints
    3,629
  • Electrical system
    12% of the complaints
    3,481
  • Braking system
    7% of the complaints
    1,940
  • Exterior lighting
    4% of the complaints
    1,053

Our guides for these problems

Powertrain
PowertrainBad transmission symptomsPowertrainTransmission slippingPowertrainJerks when accelerating
Engine
EngineBlown head gasket signsEngineCar shuts off while drivingEngineEngine power reduced
Electrical system
Electrical systemAlternator or battery?Electrical systemDashboard warning lights
Braking system
Braking systemBrake warning lightBraking systemABS light onBraking systemWarped brake rotors

Check engine codes Nissan owners name

The OBD-II codes owners wrote into their complaints for the 1 Nissan model years we have read in full, one count per complaint. None of these codes has a guide yet.

OBDP0776Pressure control solenoid B stuck off8
OBDP0965Pressure control solenoid B range/performance5
OBDP2813Generic OBD-II code4
OBDB0028Generic OBD-II code3

Common questions

Are Nissans reliable?

The complaint file can't grade a brand, because it counts reports, not failures per car sold. What it shows is where Nissan owners report trouble: the powertrain most, then the engine, and the Altima, Rogue and Sentra draw the most complaints.

Which Nissans should you stay away from?

No model is bad in every year. The model years with the most owner complaints are 2013 Altima, 2014 Altima, 2015 Altima and 2013 Pathfinder; inspect those hardest and check their recalls before you buy.

Which Nissan has the most recalls?

The Rogue, with 41 recall campaigns across model years 2010 to 2025, then the Pathfinder with 33.

What is the most common problem with Nissans?

Owners name the powertrain most, in 6,554 complaints, 22% of the Nissan record, then the engine, in 4,003.

How do I check if my Nissan has a recall?

Enter the 17-character VIN in our free recall checker or on NHTSA's recall page. It lists open recalls for that one car, and the dealer does the repair for free.

What the complaint record can't tell you

How many were soldA best-seller looks worse than a rare model.
Whether your car has itA count isn't a probability for one car.
Who filedRecalls and news send owners to the form.
What it costsNo repair prices on this page.

Sources

Show all 4 sources
NHTSA owner complaints fileFederal file of Aug 25, 2026
Complaints by model, year and system
NHTSA recallsRead Oct 2, 2026
Recall campaigns by model
NHTSA recall 13V-069Read Oct 3, 2026
Passenger occupant sensors, 2013 Altima
NHTSA recall 16V-244Read Oct 3, 2026
Occupant classification, 2013-2016 Altima

Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.