Model record
Nissan Altima Years to Avoid: Reliability and Recalls
Every Nissan Altima model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2024: how many complaints each year drew, the problem owners named most, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 20267,134 complaints15 model years
The Nissan Altima years with the most owner complaints are 2013, 2014 and 2015. Owners named the airbag system most for 2013, and the exterior lighting for 2014 and 2015.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate, and the newest years have had less time on the road to collect them.
Most of the complaints fall in the 2013 to 2018 generation, the Altima Nissan called all-new for 2013, and they peak at 2,308 for 2013.
Nissan Altima complaints by model year
Every Nissan Altima model year in NHTSA's owner complaint file, 2010 to 2024. Years with 2,000 or more complaints are dark; beside each bar is the system owners named most that year.
- 2010Electrical system18%380
- 2011Powertrain28%241
- 2012Powertrain34%425
- 2013Airbag system22%2,308
- 2014Exterior lighting25%1,113
- 2015Exterior lighting26%947
- 2016Powertrain42%552
- 2017Powertrain34%390
- 2018Braking system21%224
- 2019Electrical system25%228
- 2020Electrical system24%157
- 2021Electrical system29%69
- 2022Automatic emergency braking27%30
- 2023Electrical system34%29
- 2024Engine12%41
Best Nissan Altima years by complaint count
Of the years with at least five years on the road, these drew the fewest owner complaints. Fewer reports is not a clean bill of health: check the recalls for the exact car, and remember 2022, 2023 and 2024 have had less time to collect complaints.
- 2021Electrical system · 2 recalls69
- 2020Electrical system · 6 recalls157
- 2018Braking system · 2 recalls224
Most common Nissan Altima problems
The systems owners named most across all 15 model years, counted from each year's six most-named systems.
- PowertrainNamed most in 4 of 15 years1,545
- Airbag systemNamed most in 1 of 15 years1,197
- Exterior lightingNamed most in 2 of 15 years980
- EngineNamed most in 1 of 15 years691
- SuspensionNever the top system in a year496
Our guides for these problems
Check engine codes Nissan Altima owners name
The OBD-II codes owners wrote into their complaints for the Altima years we have read in full (2013), one count per complaint. None of these codes has a guide yet.
Nissan Altima years to avoid by generation
Nissan called the 2013 and 2019 Altima all-new, so the years in the file fall into three groups. NHTSA's file has the Altima from 2010 to 2024.
2010–2012
Last years before the all-new 2013
2012 most complaints · powertrain
- 2010380
- 2011241
- 2012425
1,046 complaints · 3 model years
2013–2018
All-new for 2013
2013 most complaints · airbag system
- 20132,308
- 20141,113
- 2015947
- 2016552
- 2017390
- 2018224
5,534 complaints · 6 model years
2019–2024
All-new for 2019
2019 most complaints · electrical system
- 2019228
- 2020157
- 202169
- 202230
- 202329
- 202441
554 complaints · 6 model years
Nissan Altima recalls by year
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each model year, read Oct 2, 2026. A campaign that covers several years counts in each of them. NHTSA's recall service returned no answer for 2022 and 2023, so those years are not counted. Recall repairs are free at the dealer; check one car with its VIN.
- 2010Most often: equipment3
- 2011Most often: suspension1
- 2012Most often: airbag system4
- 2013Most often: airbag system12
- 2014Most often: airbag system8
- 2015Most often: airbag system10
- 2016Most often: body structure4
- 2017Most often: body structure3
- 2018Most often: latches and locks2
- 2019Most often: fuel system7
- 2020Most often: tires6
- 2021Most often: steering2
- 2022No answer from NHTSA—
- 2023No answer from NHTSA—
- 2024Most often: steering1
Nissan Altima crash test ratings by year
NHTSA's overall star rating for each model year, with the frontal, side and rollover stars beside it.
- 2010No overall rating—
- 2011Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2012Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 44/5
- 2013Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2014Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2015Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2016Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2017Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2018Frontal 5 · Side 5 · Rollover 45/5
- 2019Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 55/5
- 2020Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 55/5
- 2021Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 55/5
- 2022Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 55/5
- 2023Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 55/5
- 2024Frontal 4 · Side 5 · Rollover 55/5
Federal investigations
NHTSA's defect office has opened 8 investigations into 6 problems that cover Nissan Altima model years from 2010 to 2024. An investigation looks into a possible defect; it is not a finding.
Common questions
What are the Nissan Altima years to avoid?
The years with the most owner complaints are 2013, 2014 and 2015. Treat them as the years to inspect hardest, not as a verdict on every car: run the VIN for open recalls and have the systems owners named checked before you buy.
What year is the most reliable Nissan Altima?
Complaints can't name a most reliable year, because the file counts reports, not failures per car sold. Of the years with at least five years on the road, 2021 drew the fewest complaints: 69. Newer years have fewer still, but they have had less time to collect them.
What is the most common problem with the Nissan Altima?
Across every year in the file, owners named the powertrain most, in 1,545 complaints, then the airbag system, in 1,197.
Which Nissan Altima years have the most recalls?
2013, 2015 and 2014, with 12, 10 and 8 recall campaigns.
Altima year pages
20132,308What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 4 sources
Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.