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, Jun 17, 2020
DRIVING DOWN ROAD, CAR SHUDDERS AND THEN LOSS OF ALL POWER. TRANSAXLE HAS/HAD NO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS. NO WARNING OR DTC, JUST QUIT. DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET FORTUNATELY WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jun 13, 2020
WHEN VEHICLE IS IDLE OR AT LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, WHILE USING CELL PHONE USB CORD AND A/C ON, THE VEHICLE HAS A DELAYED RESPONSE TIME WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO REGISTER THAT I'M PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR BEFORE MOVING. *TR
Power train, Jun 9, 2020
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. PROBLEM STARTED ON OR AROUND 6/3/2020 WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. CAR HAS ABOUT 80,XXX MILES ON IT. TOOK TO AUTOZONE AND GOT AN ENGINE CODE READOUT. *TR
Power train, Other or unspecified, May 27, 2020
MY CAR AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP FROM A STOP IT WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED , EVEN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THEN WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN TAKE OFF EVEN PEEL OUT AND IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT WILL START REVVING THE RPMS BUT BARELY MOVE. ONE TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SHOWED THE SOLENOID #2 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF IT RESETS SOMEHOW AND WORKS FINE FOR A WHILE THEN DOES IT AGAIN. SO I WILL STOP AND RESTART THE CAR BEFORE I GET TO AN INTERSECTION SO I WON?T GET HIT BECAUSE MY CAR WON?T GO. IT WILL ALSO SHUDDER ON HILLS REGARDLESS OF BEING COLD OR HOT. DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD AND MY DAUGHTER WANTS MY CAR SO BRINGING IT IN TO GET THE SOLENOIDS REPLACED AND TRANSMISSION FLUSHED TO SEE IF THIS FIXES THE ISSUE. REAR PASSENGER WINDOW HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GO DOWN MUCH FROM DAY I BOUGHT IT, SO MAY BE RELATED TO DOOR OPENING RECALL , GUESS WE'LL SEE. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, May 26, 2020
WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP MY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GIVES OUT AND I HAVE TO CUT OFF MY CAR IN TRAFFIC TO RESTART THE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENS AS LONG AS I'M DRIVING MY CAR. I BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. JUST A DISGRACE. *TR
Power train, May 11, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER FOR 3-4 SECONDS AND AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Power train, May 2, 2020
IF I STAY IDLE TO LONG AND GO TO TAP THE GAS THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE IT SLOWLY GLIDES THEN IT TAKES OFF REALLY FAST! I NOTICED WHEN I'M DOING SHORT STOPS OR IDLING OR SITTING ON A HILL IT DOES THIS! IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT'S AIR IN THE TRANSMISSION THE WAY IT DOESN'T GO WHEN YOU TAP THE GAS! IT'S BEEN TIMES I'VE BEEN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE I WAS WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR STILL WOULDN'T MOVE! SO I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WAIT ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND TURN IT BACK ON.
Power train, Engine, Mar 17, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. NISSAN ORANGE PARK LOCATED AT (7447 BLINDING BLVD JACKSONVILLE FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.*DT*JB
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.
Power train, Feb 11, 2020
DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, AFTER DRIVING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, IT BUCKS WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS, MAKES CLICKING NOISES RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AFTER IDLING AFTER LONG PERIODS OF USAGE. (THE FUEL DELIVERY IS MESSED UP). THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. YOU CAN BE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND GO TO ACCELERATE BUT HAVE YOUR PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THEN AT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN BUCK WHEN YOU GO TO PASS SOME ONE.
Power train, Feb 10, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAITED FOR ABOUT 5 MIN TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PERFORM AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A SECOND OPINION AT ANOTHER DEALER HOWEVER, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 5, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AROUND SAME TIME CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ACCELERATION ISSUES, LIKE STALLING, SLIPPING INTO 2ND GEAR, AND ENGINE CUT OUT WHEN ACCELERATING DURING BOTH NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. SENSORS READ BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND DEALERSHIP INDICATED OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND THE O2 SENSOR. AFTER REPAIRS AND PART REPLACEMENTS, 2 WEEKS LATER ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN TO REOCCUR. SEVERAL MECHANIC RECOMMENDED GETTING RID OF THE CAR AS THEY CAN NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUES AND DON'T WANT TO WASTE MY TIME OR MONEY. CONTACT ART'S AUTOMOTIVE IN BERKELEY CALIFORNIA
Power train, Feb 4, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE THE RPM GAUGE FLUCTUATED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE SPEED WAS LIMITED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (AUFFENBERG NISSAN1690 NEW CAR DR, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 622-4521) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE CVT (TRANSMISSION) FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 2, 2020
SHAKING, AUTOMATIC SLOWING SPEED, PICK UP TAKES TIME, ENGINE LIGHT ON DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION ISSUE COST 4850 PLUS TAX. THIS IS NISSAN ALTIMA 2016 ONLY 71000. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY KILLING CONSUMER FINANCE. NEVER EVER NISSAN AGAIN.
Power train, Jan 25, 2020
VEHICLE HESITATES TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN STEPPING ON GAS. SEEMS LIKE IT SLIPS AT HIGHWAY SPEED
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 21, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TWICE WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF USING THIS CAR. AND IT WAS ONE OF THE SEVERE TYPES OF ILLNESS THE CAR HAS, IF NOT FIXED I COULD'VE BEEN STUCK ON A REMOTE AREA WITH NO PHONE RECEPTION, WHICH WHERE I LIVE BY THE WAY. THE CAR HAD A SLOW ACCELERATION, WHEN I STOPPED ON A STOP LIGHT/SIGN. HAD THAT FIXED ON DECEMBER RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS WEEK, BUT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER 2 WEEKS OF DRIVING IT, CAR WON'T SHIFT GEARS AGAIN, SLOW ACCELERATION, PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ITS TRANSMISSION ETC.
Power train, Jan 20, 2020
STOPPED AND WHEN PULLING OUT LOST POWER AND WHILE DRIVING LOST POWER AND RPM WENT REALLY HIGH IT WAS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT TURNED VEHICLE OFF THEN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN A WEEK
Power train, Jan 9, 2020
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST ACCELERATES ALL ON ITS OWN. WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. I TRY TO DRIVE OFF AND THE CAR DOES NOT GO. IT MOVES VERY SLOWLY AND TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS TO GO. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I REALLY WISH THIS WOULD GET INVESTIGATED.
Power train, Dec 30, 2019
THE CAR HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS, ACCLERATES ON ITS OWN, OR TURNS OFF COMPLETELY WHEN IT WARMS, IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY OR DRIVE IN WARM WEATHER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN IT HEATS UP. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF NISSANS CVT TRANSMISSIONS THAT THEY ARE NOT FIXING.
Power train, Dec 17, 2019
CAR HAS THE SAME JUDDER CODE IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT SPECIFIED AS AFFECTED. CAR JUDDERS IN SLOW AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND IN PARKING LOTS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME A PROBLEM WITH THE SOFTWARE PACKAGE FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND HAS AFFECTED MORE CARS THAN THE VIN NUMBERS THAT THE RECALL IS OUT FOR.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 12, 2019
I HAVE A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 85,000 MILES THAT IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES. I'VE FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE ONLINE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE AT TIMES WHEN PUSHING DOWN THE ACCELERATOR WILL NOT RESPOND THEN SUDDENLY TAKE OFF LIKE IT'S IN 3RD GEAR. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TOO GET STUCK IN INTERSECTIONS WITH NO POWER AND NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. NISSAN IS SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY RECALL?
Steering, Power train, Dec 7, 2019
2016 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS DELAYED ACCELERATION. ALSO, CAN HEAR A SIZZLE NOISE WHEN DRIVING MAKING A TURN, AS IF WIRE IS SHORTING BUT NO SMELL OF BURNING WIRES; AT THIS TIME. THIS IS WHILE DRIVING, IDLING, STREET DRIVING, AND ON HIGHWAY; WE ARE VERY CONCERNED.
Power train, Nov 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REGAIN ACCELERATION IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC IF THE ENGINE INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 1, 2019
STARTED VEHICLE THIS MORNING AND PUT IN REVERSE AND PRESSED THE PEDAL TO BACK OUT AND HAD A DELAYED REACTION AND THE RPM'S JUST INCREASED. THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO FIVE SECONDS AND FINALLY BACKED OUT. PLACED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND DROVE TOWARD A STOP SIGN APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AWAY AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND AGAIN THE RPM'S INCREASED BUT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. DROVE VEHICLE BACK HOME AND WITH SAME ISSUES AND PARKED FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES. TRIED TO DUPLICATE BUT DROVE JUST FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE AT A RED LIGHT ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. TRIED ACCELERATING AND WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE LIKE IT HAD NO POWER. PLACED IN PARK, CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND IT DARTED OFF. LUCKILY, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BUT HAVE CONCERNS IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE ON A HIGHWAY. THIS ALTIMA ON HAS OVER 53K MILES AND HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT HAVE READ SEVERAL STATEMENTS ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. NOT SURE WHY NISSAN HAS NOT PLACED A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT IS VERY UNSAFE.
Power train, Oct 30, 2019
WHEN DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH A LOT OF STOPPING AND STARTING, THE CAR HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS AFTER A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY YET BUT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE!