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: power train
235 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, May 25, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR SLOWED TO APPROX. 40 MPH, WHILE RPM'S REMAINED HIGH. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED. SEEMS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. PULL OVER SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND PROBLEM GOES AWAY. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING. HAD IT TO SHOP EACH TIME AND DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. THIS WILL BE THIRD TIME IN SHOP FOR SAME ISSUE
Power train, Apr 26, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL SEIDLE'S NISSAN (10500 NW 12TH ST, MIAMI, FL 33172) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,750.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 20, 2018
WHILE ALREADY IN MOTION THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXTREMELY SLOWLY ONCE AGAIN AS I HAVE REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I WAS PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND WHEN THE RPM GOT TO 2000, IT STOPPED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING EXTREMELY SLOW. THERE WAS A 18 WHEEL TRUCK APPROACHING ME FAST FROM BEHIND, BUT I COULD NOT GET ANY SPEED. LUCKILY HE SWERVED ON TO THE NEXT LANE AND PASSED ME. THE RPM METER STOPPED AT 2000 AND IT TOOK 22 SECONDS TO GET FROM 60 MPH TO 75MPH AS THE VIDEO SHOWS. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES DURING THIS DRIVE AND I WAS ABLE TO RECORD EACH INSTANCE PANNING FROM THE GAUGE DISPLAY TO THE ACCELERATOR SHOWING I AM PRESSING IT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RESPOND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN AND WHEN I SHOWED THE VIDEO TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, HE IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO BLAME THE ISSUE ON MY FLOOR MATS. HE SAID THAT IT APPEARS THE FLOOR MATS WERE PREVENTING THE ACCELERATOR FROM GOING DOWN THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT GAIN SPEED. HOWEVER I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE AS THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE MY FOOT PRESSING IT DOWN ALL THE WAY WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE FROM THE MAT. IN ADDITION, IF THE FLOOR MAT WAS PREVENTING THE ACCELERATOR FROM BEING PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN AS HE CLAIMS, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO GAIN SPEED, ALL BE IT EXTREMELY SLOW? THAT RIGHT THERE PROVES HIS THEORY WRONG BECAUSE IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS INDEED STOPPED BY THE MAT, THEN THE MPH AS WELL AS THE RPM WOULD MAINTAIN AT THE SAME RATE. I ALSO REMINDED HIM THAT THIS HAPPENED ON A LOCAL STREET WHEN I WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WHERE NEAR THE FLOOR BOARD. NISSAN ADVISED ME THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND ARE CONTACTING NISSAN TECH SUPPORT FOR DIRECTION
Power train, Jan 31, 2018
FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, THIS TIME ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. I PRESSED IT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE RPM WOULD NOT GO UP AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. IT HAPPENED BEFORE ON A LOCAL STREET WITH THE SAME SCENARIO. ON THE FREEWAY I WAS AT 70 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED AND ON THE LOCAL STREET I WAS AT 35 MPH. IT STARTED ACCELERATING AFTER I HAD TO LET THE CAR CRUISE FOR ABOUT TEN SECONDS AS IT WAS LOSING SPEED. ALSO I AM NOW HAVING TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO SERVICE FOR THE 5TH TIME BECAUSE THE REVERSE BACK UP CAMERA WILL NOT WORK. THE CAMERA GOES BLACK AND NOTHING IS VISIBLE. NISSAN TRIED TO SAY IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY PHONE CONNECTED TO BLUETOOTH IN THE CAR AND TO TRY IT WITHOUT A PHONE CONNECTED. I DID AND IT STILL HAPPENED. I RECORDED A VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT AGAIN BUT IF I CAN'T HAVE A PHONE CONNECTED TO BLUE TOOTH TO BE HANDS FREE, THEN I AM VIOLATING THE LAW. I CAN'T SEE BEHIND ME WHICH IS VERY TROUBLESOME WHEN IT IS FOGGY OUTSIDE AND CAN'T SEE VERY WELL OUT THE WINDOWS. I HAVE PROVIDED TO IMAGES. ONE SHOWING NO BLUETOOTH DEVICE CONNECTED AND THE OTHER WITH THE BLACK REVERSE CAMERA. *BF *TR
Power train, Engine, Jan 8, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND FAILED TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OLYMPIA NISSAN (2220 CARRIAGE ST SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE RPMS ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SPEED INCREASED TO 40 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Power train, Air bags, Dec 20, 2017
PURCHASED 4/2017 BRAND NEW. JULY 1ST, NOTICE THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, TAKE IT IN; THEY REPLACE A SENSOR, DIDN'T FIX, REPLACE ANOTHER SENSOR, LIGHT GOES OFF. IN AUGUST, THE VEHICLE AGAIN HAS THE LIGHT ON, TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER; THEY REPLACE THE FIRST SENSOR (THE ONE THAT WAN'T BAD) AND THE LIGHT GOES OFF. HOWEVER I AM TOLD THAT THE TECH THOUGHT IT MAY BE A WIRING HARNESS ISSUE; "LETS SEE IF THIS CORRECTS IT"; SINCE THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY IF THE SENSOR IS BAD!! DECEMBER 19TH; DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM, THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. SINCE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE IT AS WITHOUT THE SENSOR; THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. SO HERE WE ARE THIRD TIME TO GO OUT; AND IT SEEMS LIKE WIRING SHOUDL HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT FIRST.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 8, 2017
MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING FIRST IN THE CITY AND IT CONTINUED TO WHEN I WENT ON THE HIGHWAY TO THE POINT I HAD NO POWER AND THE WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I HAD TO HAVE THE COMPUTER IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE CAR STILL IDLES AS IF IT WILL CUT OFF AT ANY MOMENT. THAT WAS AT 40K AND I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR AT 60K
Power train, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Sep 27, 2017
MY TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY KICKING BACK AT ME, THIS MORNING 2017-09-27 MY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. REVING IS TO 5-6 RPM NOT BEING ABLE TO EXCEED 10 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG KEEPS TRIPPING MY AIRBAGS TO DEACTIVATE. HAVE TO HAD THE CODE RESET SEVERAL TIMES. THE BACK UP CAMERA LOOKS LIKE IT IS LOOSING SIGNAL EVEN THOUGH IT IS HARD WIRED, THE LANE SENSOR WARNINGS FAIL, FAILING TO INFORM OF A VEHICLE IN YOUR BLIND SPOT. THE KEY FOB CONTINUOUSLY SAYS KEY INVAILED DASHBOARD.
Power train, Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 4, 2017
I WAS DRIVING ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE SOUTH AND OUT OF NO WHERE I HEAR A BIG BOOM NOISE. MY CAR STARTED OVER HEATING AND I NOTICED MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ONTO THE DASHBOARD. ONCE I PULLED OVER ON SIDE OF TURNPIKE, I NOTICE STICKING OUT OF MY FRONT BUMPER A BIG PIECE OF METAL.
Power train, Air bags, Jan 7, 2017
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WITH PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NISSAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE IS ALSO AN NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN OR NEAR THE DRIVE TRAIN WHEN EVER ENGINE IS OPERATING AT OR NEAR 1750 RPM THAT ALSO HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED.