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
553 reports, newest first.
Power train, Aug 16, 2021
This vehicle's 1st transmission was changed at a Nissan dealership around 44,000 miles. At 120,000 it started having issues again which effect safety: vehicle would not respond to acceleration, causing the vehicle to be stuck in dangerous situation such as merging or even in the middle of intersections. Nissan is refusing to take responsibility.
Air bags, Aug 10, 2021
Passenger airbag light is always on. Nissan dealership said it is something with the sensor. Not covered under warranty. This should be recalled! I didn't do anything to make this mechanism screw up...
Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 6, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Power train, Aug 5, 2021
CVT Transmission overheats then fails until it cools down.
Power train, Jul 29, 2021
Transmission is not right
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2021
The RPMS are jumping while driving ,, car shut off while driving , car is sputtering and jerking and changing gears are not smooth.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 21, 2021
Car loses power while driving on highways or roads and had nearly cost me my life on occasion where the vehicle cannot complete a turn from loss of power and I cannot proceed and obstruct oncoming vehicle paths. It has also revved up out of the blue to 6000-7000 RPMs despite a holding steady pace on the gas pedal. The speed jolts and has nearly caused me to rear end unsuspecting vehicles. Sometimes the vehicle cannot accelerate and has NO POWER after coming to a full stop at a red light or stop sign. I have been unable to receive help for any of these issues despite many diagnoses and lots of money spent. And it was not made aware to me, an owner of a Nissan Altima vehicle that there is a known probability of failure with CVTs in use in Altima’s of my hear. That lack of effort and total disregard for the lives of customers in similar Nissan vehicles is absolutely disgraceful and unacceptable! Furthermore, they try to deny it and try to take zero fault. Nissan is denying fault for faulty CVT in my vehicle and made NO ATTEMPT to notify owners of affected NISSAN vehicles and is NOT rectifying the issue or admitting their lack of effort on making owners of affected Nissan vehicles aware of issues and threatening consumer wellbeing
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jul 11, 2021
After driving for a period of time (not too far, but more than just around the block) when I come to a stop at a stoplight or stop sign and try to accelerate again, there is a long delay of around 3-5 seconds and then my car will “launch”. I can push the pedal all the way to the floor and nothing happens. Then it will suddenly take off. This is a hazard while trying to turn out into traffic, if I would have to accelerate out of the way of a vehicle approaching me from any angle while at a stoplight or stop sign. Trying to cross intersections that only have 2 way stops, and for many other reasons that are pretty self explanatory. This sits very uneasy with me especially when my wife and child are riding with me. I brought this up to the dealer and they found no codes and could not recreate it, but did reprogram my ecm to most current programming per NTB13-054D. That cost $140 and did not fix my issue. It seems like to recreate the issue the car has to be driven for a little while (at lease 20-30 mins on the highway) before it begins acting up. It also seems like hot weather contributes to the issue as well.I drive an hour each way to work, so it pretty much acts up for me 2x a day since it has gotten warm out.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 9, 2021
Stopped propelling the car. Might be a transmission problem.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2021
The CVT transmission in my 2016 Nissan Altima causes my vehicle to experience sudden shaking or jerking and to occasionally stall after a traffic stop while driving. I have been in near accidents based on this CVT issue as there is no way to anticipate when my vehicle will experience the aforementioned problems. I have taken my vehicle to an independent service center where technicians confirmed that the issue lies with my transmission. My vehicle was also inspected by my municipal vehicle inspection service which also flagged the problem. I have tried to contact Nissan USA to assist in the resolution of this issue but it has not been helpful in resolving the issue as I am outside the arbitrarily-set extended warranty period due to the vehicle's mileage. The Nissan Altima CVT transmission is a public safety emergency that needs to be fixed and I hope Nissan USA adequately and equitably addresses this problem. As a consumer who has previously only owned and operated Nissan Altimas, I am saddened by the company's inability to fully help consumers who are endangered by its faulty transmission and who may be a danger to others on the road due to this known issue.
Air bags, Jun 20, 2021
Airbag light is on and Nissan dealership says they may have to replace up to 3 components to find the problem, not covered in warranty
Air bags, Jun 18, 2021
Air bag lights stays on and has been sense the car had 60,000 miles i spoke to the dealer and would not take care of it back then saying the warranty was out and im at 70,000 light still on dash and ive seen multiple recalls on the lass air bad module. I believe my call is a recall for that as well air bag light stays off when front passenger are in the car or out the car
Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 14, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 13, 2021
On june 10,2021 i had to put my car in the shop bc the engine was running poorly. My car stalled on me at intersection and didnt want to pull. I was in panic thinking a car was going to hit me. Luckly i was able to get it to pull to the nearest vacant lot. I immediately stopped and let all moving traffic clear the way. Then i got my car to go and i had to gain enough speed to make it over the overpass without stalling again. When i finally got tje car home my husband had it put in shop tw next day. Mechanic hooked it up to a machine and the codes for transmission popped up. My life was at risk as i had no oter choice but to play rush and roulette. Li
Power train, Jun 11, 2021
2016 Nissan Altima, driving down highway and car would not accelerate, then jerked forward quite intensely. I felt like I did not have control of the car and feared I was going to hit someone or be hit by someone. I was finally able to get the car pulled over to the shoulder and turned it off. I thought it was a bad tank of gas. Let it sit for a bit, restarted, and made it home. We ran it this way for a couple of days so we could run the 'bad' gas out. Filled back up and added additive. Nope, same issue as soon as the car gets warmed up after about 8-10 miles. Took it to my local mechanic to make sure it was not the Mass Air Flow Sensor that I had to pay him to replace a few months back which cost me $600. That came back fine, but he informed me it was the transmission, and is a known issue with Nissans. I began researching, and boy is it ever a known issue all the way back to 2013. What baffles me is they are still using this same transmission, and one day, this will cause someone to get killed because they are allowed to continue doing this. I took it to Nissan Dealership, and opened a case with Nissan HQ Consumer Affairs. They confirmed CVT Transmission. I am at 88,500 miles, warranty out at 84,000. They offered to pay 80% for repair. Not acceptable when this should be a recall. Please have this recalled for goodness sake before someone is hurt. I did not have any warning light at all come on.
Power train, Jun 10, 2021
I was driving down the highway and my 2016 Nissan Altima began jerking and trying to stall, then jerking me forward again quite hard. I had to pull over in fear of hitting someone or my car becoming out of control. I have since discovered that it is the CVT transmission.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 11, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING HER VEHICLE TO #1 COCHRAN NISSAN CRANBERRY (22030 PERRY HWY, ZELIENOPLE, PA 16063) AS A TRADE-IN, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRADE WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED SINCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V315000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) WAS STILL UNREPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO MADE AWARE BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS STILL UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Apr 23, 2021
INSTALLED A BRAND NEW BATTERY WARRANTED FOR 7 YEARS OVER A MONTH AGO AND NOW THE BATTERY WILL NOT START THE CAR AT ALL. MOST DRIVINING IS WITHIN CITY LIMITS.
Exterior lighting, Apr 9, 2021
HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DIM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. THIS MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT DIFFICULT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MAGNIFIER AND THAT CHANGING THE BULB WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2021
I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY HEADED TO MISSISSIPPI WITH MY 2 BABIES IN THE CAR AND GOT READY TO GO UP A SMALL HILL AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WOULDN'T GAS UP THE HILL. SO I PUT MY HAZARDS ON, PUT MY CAR IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON, IT THEN PROCEEDED TO GO UP THE HILL WITH SOME HESITATION BUT IT MOVED. I THEN STOPPED AT AN AUTOMOTIVE STORE TO GET A READ OUT EVEN THOUGH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I GOT A P0776 CODE WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT ALL. THAT ALONE IS SCARY! SO I GOT MY TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD FIX IT BUT WEEKS LATER I'M HAVING EVEN MORE ISSUES. THE CAR QUIT MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF CITY TRAFFIC LUCKY ENOUGH NOBODY RAN OVER ME AND MY BABIES. SO I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON ENOUGH TO COAST TO THE GAS STATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND KEEPING IT SERVICED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 7, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V315000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GAINESVILLE NISSAN (3915 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF HIM OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Mar 25, 2021
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 16 ALTIMA THAT JUST CROSSED 50K MILES ON 3/20/21 WHEN SHE COULD NOT ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. SHE NOTICED THE RPMS WERE MOVING HIGHER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. AFTER RESTARTING SHE COULD NOT EXCEED 40MPH. WHILE DRIVING THE RMP BOUNCED BETWEEN 1000 AND 3000 AND THE CAR "JERKED" WHILE SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME. BY THE TIME SHE MADE IT HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I USED A CODE SCANNER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THE CAR RETURNED THE FOLLOWING CODES (P0776PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID B PERFORMANCE OR STUCK OFF; P0841 TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE SENSOR/SWITCH A CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY DID THEIR DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE, NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH ONLY 50K MILLS AND NOW NEEDS A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TECH FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS A COMMON THING WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS, ESPECIALLY ON NISSANS; WHICH IS WHY HE RECOMMENDS CUSTOMERS BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL OR REDESIGN TO FIX THE ISSUE? IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE YOUR VEHICLE ACCELERATE WHEN YOU NEED IT TO. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED OR LIVES LOST BY DEFECTIVE CVTS? IT IS A VERY SCARY THING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOME ABOUT THIS. WE DO NOT WHAT THIS TO TURN INTO A TAKATA AIRBAG SITUATION. AFTER BEING WARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU GOOGLE NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, YOU WILL FIND VIDEOS AND FORUMS WITH COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE FIXED. MY WIFE AND I BOTH HAVE VIDEOS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE.
Power train, Mar 25, 2021
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR FAIL TO ACCELERATE AND IT HESITATED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CODE SHOWING WAS THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE
Electrical system, Mar 22, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT WAS AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CHILD DEATH REVIEW FOR LA COUNTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OWNER OF A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA, EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED AND LEFT HER 2-YEAR-OLD CHILD IN A CAR SEAT LOCATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 HOURS UNATTENDED. THE CAR SEAT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CHILD WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED DUE TO A HEAT STROKE. THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 117 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT TO MAKE THE DRIVER AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE COULD REACH FATAL HEATER TEMPERATURES OR THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS REACHING HIGH LEVELS OF HEAT TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY MECHANISM TO AVOID THE VEHICLE REACHING INTERIOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE LEVELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT
Latches/locks/linkages, Mar 12, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V315000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE REMEDY TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.