Nissan Altima

Owners filed 15,460 complaints across 33 model years of the Nissan Altima. The 2013 drew the most (2,310); the 2025 the fewest (6).

Model years33
Complaints15,460
Recalls138
Fires215
Deaths16

Every Nissan Altima model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
20256
21Air BagsRoutine
202441
117Unknown or OtherRoutine
202329
015Electrical SystemRoutine
202230
015Unknown or OtherRoutine
202170
217Electrical SystemRoutine
2020158
6515Electrical SystemFatalities reported
2019231
7522Electrical SystemAbove average
2018225
211Unknown or OtherAbove average
2017391
3724Power TrainAbove average
2016553
4328Power TrainFatalities reported
2015952
10546Exterior LightingAbove average
20141,114
8852Exterior LightingFatalities reported
20132,310
12963Air BagsFatalities reported
2012425
4224Power TrainAbove average
2011241
1511Power TrainAbove average
2010380
3925Unknown or OtherAbove average
20091,547
4836SteeringFatalities reported
20081,028
41353StructureFatalities reported
2007471
32228SuspensionFatalities reported
2006824
41443Structure › BodyAbove average
20051,091
21848Structure › BodyAbove average
2004276
5314Engine and Engine CoolingAbove average
2003883
101341Engine and Engine CoolingFatalities reported
20021,047
122829Engine and Engine CoolingHigh concern
2001159
2222Engine and Engine CoolingFatalities reported
2000160
2525Engine and Engine CoolingRoutine
199987
4319Air Bags › FrontalRoutine
1998123
4217Air Bags › FrontalRoutine
1997108
3531Air BagsRoutine
199692
2520Air Bags › FrontalRoutine
1995180
5737Air Bags › FrontalRoutine
1994106
4234Air Bags › FrontalRoutine
1993122
3319Air Bags › FrontalRoutine

Which Nissan Altima years should you avoid?

On raw complaint volume the 2013 is the weakest year on record, with 2,310 complaints concentrated in the air bags. It carries 12 recalls.

Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.