What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2020 Nissan Altima

Typical pattern

11% of complaints about the 2020 Nissan Altima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2020 vehicle — around the middle of the 178 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (42 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 21,171 miles.

Complaints
263
Median age at failure
4.0 yr
Median mileage
14,500 n=44
Crash / fire / tow
14.4% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
42 reports · 21,171 mi
4.3 yr
9.5%
Other
35 reports · 1,200 mi
3.4 yr
5.7%
Engine
33 reports · 14,500 mi
4.8 yr
9.1%
Collision avoidance
33 reports · 60,000 mi
4.3 yr
18.2%
Service brakes
17 reports · 3,000 mi
4.3 yr
17.6%
Power train
17 reports · 14,500 mi
4.3 yr
5.9%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

25V437000 2025-06-27
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.

Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.

23V628000 2023-09-08
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V169000 2021-03-11
Tires

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.

Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V138000 2021-03-04
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.

A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.

20V685000 2020-11-05
Tires

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima S grade vehicles equipped with Continental ProContact TX tires, size 215/60 R16 H, with TIN date code 3320 and Mold ID S-419149. The tires may have been over cured.

Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.

20V570000 2020-09-22
Visibility:glass, side/rear

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.

Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Other mileage not reported 3 mo in service
I JUST PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE THROUGH NISSAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT ONLY HAS 2000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I HAD THE CAR MY CAR MAKES LIKE A CLICKING POPPING NOISE WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL WHILE HITTING BUMPS. SO I LOOKED AT REVIEWS AND PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT WITH THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THERE HAPPENING WITH THE 2020 TOO... I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND FEEL LIKE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALL BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT ONLY NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SITUATION.... IT FEELS LIKE MY WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF IT'S THAT LOUD...
Other 5,000 mi 8 mo in service
THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER WILL "TWITCH" AT VARIED SPEEDS LIKE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL "PULSE" GOING THROUGH THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. I HAD THE CAR IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF BUTLER NISSAN IN MACON, GEORGIA; THE SERVICE WRITE ADVISED ME THAT THE MECHANIC DID SEE THE ISSUE AS I DESCRIBED, AND STATED THAT THE SERVICE MECHANIC TOOK A BRAND NEW ALTIMA OUT TO SEE IF HE COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THE BRAND NEW ALTIMA DID THE SAME EXACT THING. THIS OCCURS BOTH DRIVING FREELY AND BY USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT A SET SPEED.
Other mileage not reported 9 mo in service
MY FATHER IS CURRENTLY DRIVING ONE FROM ENTERPRISE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE GLASS HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK PREVIOUSLY EXISTING OR IF THE CAR WINDOW GOT VANDALIZED BUT THE WHOLE WINDOW IS GONE AND THE ALARM SYSTEM DIDN'T EVEN GO OFF ETHER. I THINK THE HEAT HIT IT AND MADE THE WINDOW EXPLODE GLASS FROM THE WINDOW WENT EVERYWHERE THE CAR ONLY HAD 27,866 WHENEVER WE GOT IT FROM THE RENTAL CAR PLACE MONDAY I FEEL LIKE NISSAN NEEDS TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS INCIDENT MYSELF AND MY FATHER BOTH TOLD ENTERPRISE ON BLACKSTOCK RD WE FELT LIKE THE CAR HAD A DEFECT.
Service brakes 18,125 mi 1.4 yr in service
CAR SLAMMING ON BRAKES WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLE IS AROUND GAS GUAGE START TO READ WRONG

Other Altima model years

2021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

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