2018 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 225 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 11 involved a crash. 6 people were injured.
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
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraSep 12, 2019
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Campaign 19V654000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: forward collision avoidance
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 12, 2026
Didn't know what the list this one but at a certain speed on the highway the hood latch comes loose unlocks, and my backup camera All of a sudden doesn't always work, sometimes the screen is completely black... Also the sensor that tells you that a car is too close to you keeps turning itself off and then when you check the radar sensor to make sure that it's clear of debris there's no debris but yet this thing just keeps turning itself off while you're on the highway or local road... I will list when the first problem started happening and then we know when the other ones start happening consecutively afterwards.. electrical issue front passenger door will not open automatically Putting my passenger at risk
Power train, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 4, 2023
I bought my car in February 2021 and me not knowing anything about vehicles I first heard the popping noise when I backed my car out of the driveway.I thought it was something to do with the steering wheel. I recently had someone to look at the car and they said it was my front axles going bad, this could be a safety issue. I have to work with mentally challenged people and I have to transport them back-and-forth to doctors appointments. Is there anyway that there could be a recall on those axles because I know someone else who has an Altima just like mine and hers does the same thing . It’s very embarrassing to hear that popping noise and I’m afraid that my car will break down because of it and my front crash light stays on constantly. Please help me resolve this issue. I’ve been dealing with it since I bought the car..
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 27, 2023
My airbag light recently came on after driving through some standing water and I have tried filing through my insurance company and they have stated that due to the fact that water wasnt submerged inside my car, it was due to the age of my vehicle (which is only 5 years old). I am concerned about this obviously as it is my driver side airbag. They are trying to tell me in insurance that it is a Nissan issue so I’m wondering if anything can be done so that I can feel safe to drive my vehicle.
Steering, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 8, 2023
While I was driving my power steering went out completely on the interstate right when I went to turn almost causing an accident where I could have been severely injured or injured others around me. Prior to the failure my front vehicle obstruction light has been coming on and off multiple times while driving but other than that no warning signs of power steering going out.
Air bags, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 19, 2022
i can be driving down the road and pass a guard rail or some other thing on the side of the road but usually a guard rail near my house and it knocks out the emergency braking system. sometimes, it may work my whole trip, other days, i may only go a mile or two before it goes out.
Forward collision avoidance, Jul 7, 2021
2018 Nissan Altima 24,864 miles. Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) system keeps turning on and off. Contacted dealership and they said it was a dirty bumper/sensor, clean sensor location and continue to use vehicle. If issue persisted set up appointment with dealership to have looked at. Cleaned front bumper and continued to operate. FEB lamp continued to indicate error and turn itself on and off. Set up appointment of have vehicle inspected. Dealership confirmed that sensor was bad and needed to be replaced. The FEB sensor was not covered as warranty expired 18 days before dealership diagnosed problem. Informed them that contacted the dealership prior to the warranty expiration and was told it was a dirty bumper and sensor. Contacted previous owner of vehicle and confirmed that they had reported issue and dealership and informed them to just clean bumper and sensor location. Nissan did not see the FEB sensor error as a concern but there were two other factory recalls (hood latch and back up camera) that were safety concerns and recalls for. With FEB being faulty, the safety feature is disabled and would not help prevent injury in an emergency braking situation!!!
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, May 10, 2021
THE FRONT END COLLISION WARNING GOES OFF LESS THAN A MILE AFTER I BEGIN DRIVING. IT WAS REPAIRED AFTER AN ACCIDENT (UNRELATED) & WAS FINE UNTIL MY STATE HAD SNOWFALL THAT COVERED THE ROAD, THAT'S WHEN IT BEGAN AGAIN! MY CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING & THE METAL PIECE THAT PROPS UP THE HOOD SNAPPED OFF WHEN CHECKING THE OIL, LUCKILY I SEEN IT SNAP AND WAS ABLE TO JUMP BACK! GEAR SHIFT STICKS IN PARK & SOMETIMES EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BAKE IT WONT START!
Forward collision avoidance, Apr 17, 2021
JUST PURCHASED USED FROM NISSAN AND WARNING FOR AFB FAILURE KEEPS COMING ON. AFTER A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.
Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 8, 2021
I WILL SEE A WARNING NOTICE IN MY DASHBOARD WHILE I'M DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY, DURING CLEAR WEATHER AND RAINY WEATHER THAT SAYS 'FRONT END COLLISION UNDETECTABLE' AND MY REAR COLLISION CAMERA WILL SOMETIME EITHER HAVE VERTICAL LINES OR GO COMPLETELY OUT. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED BY MUSICCITY AUTOPLEX IN NASHVILLE, TN IN LATE OCTOBER OF 2019.
Steering, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 15, 2021
SEVERAL TIMES WHILE NORMAL DRIVING AND NOTHING IN ROADWAY THE DISPLAY WILL SAY UNAUTHORIZED OBJECT IN VIEW AND THERE'S NOTHING THERE HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY SCARES ME AT FIRST CAUSE I THINK SOMETHING WRONG AND TAKES 10 MINUTES FOR DISPLAY WARNING LIGHT TO TURN OFF
Steering, Suspension, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 23, 2021
DISPLAY ON MY VEHICLE KEEPS SAYING FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION ALTHOUGH NOTHING IS EITHER ON THE ROAD NOR IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THIS DOES THIS WITHOUT WARNING AT LEAST 5-6 TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAY OR JUST TURNING. AT RANDOM THE WARNING WILL SHOW AND THE LIGHTS WILL COME UP ON MY DRIVER PANEL THEN A FEW MINS LATER IT GOES OFF.
Forward collision avoidance, Dec 30, 2020
EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING, THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AT AROUND 55MPH AND IT STAYS LIT CONSTANTLY. THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY BRAKES WHEN NOTHING IS IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSING THE PERSON BEHIND ME TO HIT ME. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO SET IT AFTER TURNING IT ON EITHER.
Forward collision avoidance, Jan 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SENSOR ACTIVATED AT RANDOM. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OAK RIDGE NISSAN (1549 OAK RIDGE TNPK, OAK RIDGE, TN 37830) ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 34098344. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500.
Forward collision avoidance, Dec 13, 2018
AEB WILL NOT APPLY BRAKE WHEN NARROWLY MISSING A CAR THAT RAN A STOP SIGN.THE AEB "AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING" DOES NOT WORK AT ANY TIME, OR ANY SITUATION. DEALERSHIP IN SHELBY,NC. NISSAN ,REFUSES TO FIX NOT EVEN JAD IT A MONTH YET. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Forward collision avoidance, Dec 8, 2018
PURCHASED NISSAN ALTIMA S 2018 , THE AEB "AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BREAKING " DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ANY TIME, THE COMPUTER WILL NOT ESTABLISH A CODE FOR IT NOT WORKING EITHER. IT'S EITHER A FAULTY COMPUTER NOT ESTABLISHING A CODE OR THE THE AEB IS FAULTY. WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP FOR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IN THE CROSS WALKS, WILL NOT APPLY MORE BREAKING PRESSURE IF I'M NOT APPLYING ENOUGH. HAVE TALKED DEALERSHIP IN SHELBY, NC. HAVE TALKED TO NISSAN CORPORATE , BOTH DENIE THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG,SIMPLY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WILL NOT THROW A CODE. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS "IT WILL NOT OPERATE" CODE OR NO CODE. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE I WANTED ,REASON FOR PICKING THE CAR OUT. HAS PEOPLE AGE THEIR REFLEXES GET SLOWER ON SOME INDIVIDUALS, AND SOME PEOPLE TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO SOME OTHER FEATURES AS MIRROR ADJ. CRUISE CONTROLS ETC. WILL NOT GIVE ME A CAR THAT THE FEARTURE WORKS ON. EXCHANGED CARS ON ME AFTER I TOOK A TEST DRIVE THAT THE FEATURE DID WORK . DEMANDED IT BE FIXED OR FIRST PAYMENT WILL NOT BE MADE ,TO COME AND GET IT IF NISSAN WILL NOT FIX CAR OR REPLACE CAR.