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: electrical system
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Feb 26, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WILL CONTINUOUSLY SHAKE, SURGE, VIBRATE, AND FAIL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED WITH MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE, IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I LOST COMPLETE POWER INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS, POWER STEERING, AND MOBILITY OF THE CAR. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED, THE ISSUE CONTINUES, HOWEVER I AM JUST OUTSIDE OF 60,100 MILES. YES 60K MILE WARRANTY AND KNOWN CVT ISSUES. MY REAR DOOR ALSO OPENS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD IF THE WINDOW SWITCH IS TOUCHED.
Electrical system, Nov 29, 2019
UNREPAIRED RECALL, DEC 19, 2018, MANUFACTURER RECALL# PC675, NHTSA RECALL# 18V-915, CABLE MAY INTERFERE WITH THE WINDOW REGULATOR CAUSING THE REAR PASSENGER D99R TO UNLATCH AND OPEN. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND SAW THIS UNREPAIRED RECALL
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Sep 23, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT 30 MILES AN HOUR, WHEN I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION TO TAKE A TIGHT HAND TURN I WAS YIELDING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMPLETELY STOPPED . WHEN I WENT TO SLIGHTLY MOVE FORWARD TO SEE IF I HAD THE RIGHT AWAY MY CAR JOLTED FORWARD. JUST SPED UP AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO DE ACCELERATION. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO CHILDREN CROSSING A SIDE WALK. THE ACCELERATION WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OTHER TIMES JUST NOT AS SIGNIFICANT. I DID NOTICE IT'S HAPPENING WHOLE MY AC IS ON.
Power train, Electrical system, Air bags, Tires, Engine, Sep 13, 2019
2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND DEFECTIVE KEYLESS PUSH BUTTON. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED OTHER FAILURES INCLUDED REAR DOORS OPENING INDEPENDENTLY, ENGINE WAS LOUD, TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS WERE INOPERABLE, AND THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY LIT. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE REPAIRS WERE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNSURE THAT THE DEALER ACTUALLY COMPLETED THE RECALLS AS IT ONLY TOOK AN HOUR TO BE COMPLETED. *JS
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 1, 2019
TAKATA RECALL I'VE GOT 80000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR WENT OUT. SO WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC MY CAR STALLED FROM GOING AND IT COULD'VE CAUSED A ACCIDENT OR MY LIFE THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS CHECKED THANKS.
Power train, Electrical system, Feb 7, 2019
ON WEDNESDAY 1/30/2019 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING NORTH ON I-17 ENTERING FLAGSTAFF WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. THE ENGINE WAS REVING TO ABOUT 6000 RPM BUT THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 5 MPH. SHE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT AND CALL ME FOR HELP. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION COOLED DOWN AND WORKED NORMALLY. I HAD HER TAKE THE CAR TO A LOCAL SHOP AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY GOT A CODE P0776. THEY CONTACTED NISSAN AND FOUND THE CAR TO BE UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED UNTIL 100,000 MILES. MY DAUGHTER DROVE HOME THE NEXT DAY AND WE TOOK IT INTO PINNACLE NISSAN WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY COULD NOT GET THE CODE TO COME UP SO ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ABOUT THE TENTH TIME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED, THIS BEING THE MOST SEVERE. PINNACLE NISSAN AND NISSAN USA ARE TELLING ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THEN BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I TOLD THEM BOTH THAT THE WARNING LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, SO COULD THERE BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CARS COMPUTER ALSO WHICH IS WHY THEY CAN NOT GET A CODE TO COME UP? THEY SAID NO, THAT IS NOT HAPPENING?
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 28, 2019
ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. MUST DISCONNECT BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR STATIONARY
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 3, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN LOCKING THE DOORS MANUALLY, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LOCK WAS STUCK. IN ADDITION, BOTH REAR WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY H MILLER NISSAN SAN BERNARDINO (735 WEST SHOWCASE DRIVE S, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408,(877) 941-3647) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,635.
Electrical system, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 16, 2018
DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR OPENED WHEN REAR WINDOW WAS DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION ON ROUTE 80 IN PENNSYLVANIA AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE MILESBURG ON RAMP. DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THIS STILL HAPPENED. MY DOG WAS LAYING DOWN IN THE BACK SEAT. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. *DT *TR
Electrical system, Jul 16, 2018
2016 NISSAN ALTIMA I WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY & OPENED THE REAR WINDOW & NOW THE REAR DOOR IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED. I'VE TRIED 3 DIFFERENT WAYS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR & NONE OF THEM WORKED.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 23, 2018
AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING, SENSOR TRIGGERS FRONT END COLLISION DASH LIGHT AND NOTIFICATION ALARM. WEATHER AND SPEED HAS NOT BEEN A FACTOR IN CAUSING THIS, IT HAS BEEN SUNNY OUT AND DRIVING AT 30 MPH WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED.
Electrical system, Jan 24, 2018
AFTER DRIVING FOR FEW MILES, A RUBBER BURNING SMELL STARTS TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY FOUND A PLASTIC SHEET UNDER THE CAR BUT I DRIVE IN CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM AS I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE CAR A DAY EARLIER TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANYTHING BUT FOUND NOTHING. THE RUBBER BURNING SMELL IS STRONG AND CAN BE FELT JUST STANDING BY THE CAR AND IN THE CABIN WHEN HEATING IS TURNED ON. I PARK THIS CAR IN DRIVEWAY NOW INSTEAD IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE I SUSPECT MY CAR CAN START A FIRE FROM WHATEVER IS BURNING SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 4, 2017
ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE BATTERY IS DEAD. CAR WAS JUMP STARTED BY AAA ONE OCCASION THE DEALER SENT A TRUCK TO TOW IT TO THEIR SHOP. SERVICE DEPT. CAN NOT FIND ANY REASON THE BATTERY IS BEING DRAINED. EACH TIME THIS CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Nov 15, 2017
TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG DID NOTDEFLATE WHEN I HIT A HI CURCE OF ICE AND DAMAGE MY BUMPER THE BAG DID NOT COME OUT ALSO MY HOOD LATCH IS DEFECTIVE MY HOOD FLEW UP ON ME WHEN IS WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED DOWN IT DAMAGE SOME PARTS AROUND MY HOOD AND WINDSHELD ALSO A ELETRIC PROBLEM WITH MY RIGHT BOTTOM PARK LIGHT IT WILL NOT COME ON!
Electrical system, Structure, Aug 21, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN OPENING THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRUNK FAILED TO STAY UP AND FAILED TO LOCK WHEN CLOSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO EMPIRE NISSAN LOCATED IN ONTARIO, CA WHO WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT THE CONTACT TO FONTANA NISSAN LOCATED IN FONTANA, CA WHERE THE IMMOBILIZER, BATTERY, REMOTE, AV MASTER CONTROL UNIT, REARVIEW CAMERA, REARVIEW CAMERA ASSEMBLY, DOOR HANDLES ON THE DRIVER SIDE, TRUNK LID GATE LOCK ASSEMBLY, AND THE TRUNK LOCK WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 26294642. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2017, fire
AS WE WERE PULLING UP TO STOP LIGHT CAR DIED, WOULD NOT START BACK UP. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY FLAMES. TOTAL LOSS OF CAR BURNED THE COMPLETE MOTOR ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DASH. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET INTERSECTION. WE HAD JUST BEEN TO NISSAN HAVING CAR SERVICED, OIL CHANGE.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Jun 20, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, IT WENT DOWN LESS THAN HALF WAY AND AN RPM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.