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: other or unspecified
81 reports, newest first. Show all
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 7, 2017, crash
VEHICLE WILL NOT ACELARATE OR WILL ACELARATE ON IS OWN ON 2 OCATIONS IT HAPPEN AT THE INNER SECTION OF APLM BEACH BLVD AND VERONICA SHOE MAKER AS I WAA READY TO TUR TO MY LEFT SIDE THE CAR WILL NOT ACELARATE LEAVING ME AND A COWORKER SCREAMING DUE THAT A CAR WAA COMING OUR WAY ON ANOTHER OCATION IT HAPPEN WHILE AT THE INTERSECTION OF WINKLER AVE AND FORDS ST IN FORT MYERS FL AGAIN ME AND MY KIDS GOT READY FOR A XIRECT HIT FROM ANOTHER VEHICHLE AS MY KIDS ARE SCREAMING I PRESS THE ACELARATOR TO THE FLOOR AND IT YOOK OFF ON A NOTHER OCASSION MY DAUGTHER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE NISSAN WHERE SHE HAD PI K UP THE VEHI LE BECAUSE THEY SAY IT WAS DUE TO TRANSMISSION AND THEY REBUILD IT AS SHE IS READY GO TURN BECAUSE THE VEHICHLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING ANOTHER CAR SLAM INTO HER PUSHING HER IN TO THE LANE TO TURN SHE ALSO CLAIMS IF TGE VEHICHLE WOULD HAD RESPOND WHEN SHE ACELARATED SHE MIGHT HAD BEEN ABKE TO AVOID THE PAINFULL INJURIES. I HAVE CONTACT NISSAN NORT AMERICA ON 5 O ASION PRIOR TO THE LAST INCIDENT WITH REQUESTING MY MONEY BACK FOR THIS DEFFECTED CAR AND TO TAKE THIS CAR OUT OF THE ROAD AND THEY SAY NO REFUBD NO RETURN AND ALL THEY CAN OFFET IS KEEP FIXING AT THIS TIME I HAVE SPENT 13,000 FOR A CAR THAT I AM AFRAID AND I KNOW SHOULD NOT BE IN THE ROAD RECALL IT BACK AS DEFECTED I BELIEVE THIS CAR WILL CAUSE SOME ONES LIFE.
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.
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.
Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2016
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET & APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, I HEARD A LOUD POP AS IF IT WAS A GUN SHOT!! I PULLED OVER & NOTICED THAT MY WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK IN IT.
Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2016
MY 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA SR STALLS/LOSES POWER WHILE ACCELERATING, LIKE INTO TRAFFIC, OR WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND THE ACCELERATING AGAIN. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE AND CAN'T DUPLICATE IT ON DEMAND. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON FEB 29, 2016 THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A NEW PART PERTAINING TO THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSE IT TO NOT ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE IS APPLIED BUT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED SINCE THAT WAS INSTALLED. THE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAPPEN AFTER THE CAR HAS SET FOR AN EXTENDED TIME (WHILE I'M AT WORK, ETC) USUALLY AFTER IT HAPPENS IT WILL DRIVE AND FUNCTION AS NORMAL FOR SOME TIME. (PROBLEM WITH DUPLICATING IT BY THE DEALERSHIP) THE DEALERSHIP HAS MY CAR AT THE PRESENT TIME BUT PLANS TO RETURN IT TO ME WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE IF ITS NOT SOLVED.