2016 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 553 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 28 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 32 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchMay 28, 2020
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again 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 install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Campaign 20V315000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, emergency, escape/egress/exitDec 19, 2018
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
Campaign 18V915000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchJan 18, 2017
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 17V040000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationApr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Campaign 16V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
70 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jul 30, 2026
There is an active recall for the generic 2016 Nissan Altima OCS sensor, but it does not apply to my specific VIN apparently. This sensor is a problem with other vehicles of the same year, make, and model, but I am apparently on the hook for almost $1000 repair cost because the recall did not extend to my VIN. Again, same year, make, model, and issue as other 2016 Nissan Altimas, but the recall did not extend for some reason.
Air bags, Jul 21, 2026, crash
Upon impact driver's side and passenger side airbags did not deploy.
Air bags, Dec 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with curtain air bags failure. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair, and the contact was informed that the cost of the repair would not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 102,464.
Air bags, Seats, Sep 25, 2025
I am experiencing an issue with the airbag light on my 2017 Nissan Altima S model, which is showing code B0020. This airbag code indicates a problem with the passenger side airbag system, typically caused by damaged wiring, a malfunctioning seat sensor, or a loose connector beneath the driver's seat. The repair quote from my local Nissan dealership ranges from $1728 to $3500, depending on the faulty components and the labor required for installation. This is a recognized problem for Nissan, and their failure to address it raises significant concerns regarding safety. Currently, I am uncertain about how to proceed with the repair due to the high costs involved.
Air bags, Aug 18, 2025
Air bag indicator light turns on indicating a failure of the airbag system. I understand this disables this safety system putting all passengers at risk. The dealer advised the issue is caused by the driver seat side airbag wiring failure. From reading other users, this appears to be a common issue due to severe bends of the wiring from the connector to the airbag. To me this is a design failure which normally does not occur. The cost is ~3000 USD to replace the seat back.
Electrical system, Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 8, 2025
Water leak...from trunk and sunroof....electrical problems airbag light on and off.....sensor issues i paid out of pocket.
Air bags, Jun 15, 2025
The air bag sensor light is on continuously. According to the manual it indicates there is something wrong with our airbag. After reading several comments from individuals this seems to be a problem with many.
Air bags, May 5, 2025
Airbag light sensor is on in the dashboard
Air bags, Aug 15, 2024
Air bag sensor light comes on; took to Nissan Glen Burnie MD dealership and believed they rectified the issue (removing debris) and did a reset. Light came back on and took it to Nissan Bowie MD and they could not determine the cause and did a reset. Light came back on and took it to Nissan Bowie MD and B0020-13 code was returned resulting in having to replace seat and sensor (no issue with wiring found). Contacted Nissan after seeing many other complaints for same issue with Altima sensor. No help from Nissan since they don't have it listed for a recall. This represents a major safety issue as my understanding is the air bag is not active when the light is on.
Air bags, Aug 11, 2024
Accident Description: On August 2024, a 2016 Nissan Altima SL was being driven at a low speed through a residential neighborhood under clear and dry conditions. The ambient temperature was between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Without any prior warning or external impact, the vehicle's airbag system suddenly and unexpectedly deployed. Both the driver and front seat passenger, who were wearing seat belts. Additionally, the vehicle's door locks appeared to malfunction, impeding the passenger's exit. The vehicle has approximately 76,000 miles and is not currently under recall. Component or System Failure: The airbag system, including the airbag modules and potentially the door lock mechanism, malfunctioned. The vehicle is currently undergoing inspection by the insurance company and will be made available for inspection by NHTSA upon request. Safety Risk: The unexpected deployment of the airbags while the vehicle was at a low speed posed a significant safety risk to the occupants. The injuries sustained, including neck, shoulder, and back pain, demonstrate the potential for serious harm. Furthermore, the malfunctioning door locks hindered passenger egress and could have exacerbated the situation in a more severe accident such as if this would have happened on an expressway or highway at a high rate of speed with other vehicles involved, this would have been a deadly accident. Reproduction or Confirmation: The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center yet. Inspections: The vehicle is currently scheduled to undergoing inspection by the insurance company. No inspections by the manufacturer, police, or other parties have been conducted yet. Warning Signs: No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating an issue with the airbag system was observed prior to the incident.
Air bags, Jun 19, 2024
Air bag light is on and occupant classification sensor is malfunctioning. Passenger airbag will not deploy in the event of an accident.
Air bags, Service brakes, Nov 27, 2023
My airs bags lights on it won’t go off The contact is hoping for a recall relating to this issue or defect.
Air bags, Oct 1, 2023
air bag light stays on error code B0020-13 they repaired occupancy sensor drivers side at a cost of $310.00 light went off came back on next day took it back to nissan they reset it again they said they would reach out to nissan so the light next day come back on
Air bags, Seats, Aug 24, 2023
I have a 2016 Nissan Altima S. The airbag light is on without accident. I went four times to the Nissan dealer to fix the problem. They just told me it was a past code (B0020-13), cleared it the first three times, and told me the problem was on the driver-side airbag. But after a few months, the airbag light was still on again. I was told the problem was on the passenger side the last time. Ask me to replace the airbag module and seat back; the parts cost $3110, and the labor is $2600. It is ridiculous... The airbag is the car safety system; the parts have never been used before, so it should be okay if there is no accident.
Air bags, Aug 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the air bag warning illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the air bag sensor module in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Air bags, Aug 8, 2023
Air bag light is on. Was told at Nissan dealing I need to have a module replaced in the driver seat for $2,300.
Air bags, Jul 22, 2023
The airbag light will. Not go off
Air bags, Apr 3, 2023
My air bag light is on and will not go out. I have not been in a accident and I am aware of the previous recall on the air bags back in 2016. I tried to have the Nissan dealership in Lithia Springs, GA check on the issue, but they stated they would have to keep the car for at least 3 days to be able to review the problem. I am unable to be without my vehicle for 3+ days for a known issue with the air bags on these cars. My current mileage is around 86,000. I estimate the airbag warning light came on around 75,000. I can't afford to correct this manufacturer defect that could possibly cost my life in an accident if Nissan doesn't fix this soon. I see so many reports of this problem on the nhtsa website, but still no recall has been issued since the original one in 2016. I guess I or my family will just have to sue Nissan if I end up in a accident and the airbags don't deploy. This is really scary how many people are having the same issue with these cars that were under the original recall. It is clear that this is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed ASAP.
Air bags, Feb 22, 2023
Based on the air bag warning light showing on my 2016 Nissan Altima I had Lia Nissan of Glens Falls, NY conduct a diagnostic inspection to determine the cause the noted warning light problem on February 22,2023. The technician determined that the air bag system in the back of the passenger seat was not functioning properly with a related code B0020-13 side a/b ih (open). To correct this problem, module i/f seat back, part #87650-phs7a, needed to be replaced at a cost of $2128. The noted part is the entire back side of the passenger seat where the air bag is housed. They also informed me that unless the needed repair was done, the entire air bag system throughout the car would not function, thus creating a major safety hazard. Upon further investigation, I discovered there is a NHTSA recall, #16V244000 dated 2016-04-25, Air Bag: Sensor: Occupant Classification. This recall notice directly relates to problems with the functioning of the front passenger [OCS] air bag system. Noting the potential for non-deployment of the frontal air bag and risk of injury. Upon my contacting Nissan USA and the above noted dealer, they claim no recall exists. The above noted NHTSA recall noted does reflect a clear correlation between my existing air bag system malfunction and the recall mandate for Nissan to address. Instead, they simply claim there is no recall on this vehicle, of which, I strongly disagree. In the meantime, all passengers in my vehicle are at risk. Since there have been no accidents or issues that I have created, it appears very clear that this is a safety equipment problem which Nissan is responsible for and has already been directed to address based the NHSTA recall. It would be appreciated if this matter is addressed since no action by Nissan is forthcoming.
Air bags, Feb 21, 2023
The "Airbag off" light often illuminates when a 130lb adult is sitting in the passenger seat. I assume this means the airbag is disabled, a severe issue.
Air bags, Dec 31, 2022
My airbag light is on. It just came on one day. (No accident or anything else to cause this to happen) I checked to see if a recall was on my vehicle but it was not. There are other Nissan Altima"s that have a recall for this reason.
Air bags, Sep 17, 2022
The light for airbags stays on. It has been on for about two weeks. I see there is a recall call for this problem but it is not coming up with a recall for my vehicle.
Air bags, Aug 25, 2022
About a month ago my driver side airbag indicator light came on. I called the dealership and they said there were no recalls on my airbag nor had any airbag been repaired. I took my vehicle to an independent mechanic and he told me that the module was disconnected from the airbag and he reconnected it and reset the module and the light indicator went off. Yesterday, the airbag indicator light came on again. It came off and on several times yesterday and this morning. I was told by the private mechanic that when the airbag indicator light is on the airbag will not deploy. Is my vehicle under the Takata airbag recall even though my dealership says no?
Air bags, Aug 18, 2022, crash
car was in a accedent the air bags did not deploy
Air bags, Jun 23, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while sitting in the driver's side front seat, the air bag light failed to detect occupancy and was not illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a faulty air bag sensor. The contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.