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: other or unspecified
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 24, 2019
ON ONE OCCASSION THE RADIO SYSTEM FROZE AND THE BACK UP CAMERA WASN'T WORKING BECAUSE THE SCREEN WENT BLACK. VOLUME ALSO COULD NOT BE TURNED DOWN
Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2019
2018 NISSAN ALTIMA - FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE. THIS VEHICLE WILL HAVE THE INTELLIGENT BRAKE ASSIST UNEXPECTEDLY BE DISENGAGED. A WARNING LIGHT AND SOUND WILL BE ACTIVATED INDICATING THAT THE THE BRAKE ASSIST HAS BEEN RENDERED USELESS AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION. THIS IS AN EVERY DRIVE OCCURRENCE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2019
FRONT CRASH CAMERA. IT GOES OFF FOR NO REASON. IF I'M DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY & IT JUST GOES OFF, IF I'M GOING ON A FLYOVER RAMP IT PICKS UP THE CTB (CONCRETE TRAFFIC BARRIER) & GOES OFF AGAIN. IT DON'T MATTER WHERE OR WHAT IT JUST GOES OFF.
Other or unspecified, Jun 21, 2019
VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE FLAW IS IN THE FRONT RADAR/DISTANCE SENSOR UNIT ALLOWS THE SENSOR TO FREQUENTLY DEACTIVATE ITSELF, DISABLING CRUISE CONTROL AND EMERGENCY BRAKING. WHEN THE SENSOR TURN ITSELF OFF, DRIVERS ARE SEEING A WARNING IN THE DASH THAT SAYS, 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION.'
Other or unspecified, Jun 20, 2019
THE 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA SV HAS THE ERROR "UNAVAILABLE: FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION." AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC THEY DETERMINE THE PART IS FAULTY AND NO SYSTEM ERRORS ARE PRESENT. (DOCUMENT CAN BE UPLOADED UPON REQUEST)
Other or unspecified, May 18, 2019
THE FRONT END OBSTRUCTION LIGHT AND WARNING SOUND COME ON EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE, THEN GO OFF AND COME BACK ON. I CAN BE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NOTHING AROUND ME. SOMETIMES IT CAUSES MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN.
Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2019
WAS TRAVELING OVER SNOWY MOUNTAIN PASS. MY MILEAGE WAS 65 WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE FORQARD CRASH WARNING SYSTEM FAILED AND SAID UNAVAILABLE THEN REPORTED I HAD BEEN IN A FRONT END COLLISION. WHICH WASNT TRUE AS I WAS STILL TRAVELING THEN THE CAR KEPT AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING BREAKS. THIS COULD OF CAUSED A SEVERE CRASH HAD THE ROADS BEEN ICY AS IT COULD OF PUT ME IN A SPIN CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH.
Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2019
THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING LIGHT ARBITRARILY COMES ON AND STAYS ON. I CAN BE AT A FULL STOP AND THE LIGHT COMES. SEE THE ATTACHED PICTURE. I CAN BE DRIVING AND THE LIGHT COMES AND STAYS ON. FOR THE MOST PART THIS HAPPENS IN JUST ABOUT ANY DRIVING CONDITIONS
Other or unspecified, Feb 20, 2019
SOME UNAUTHORIZED PERSON OPENED THE TRUNK BY A REMOTE DEVIC E. CAR WAS PARKED, ENGINE OFF.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 10, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DURING RAIN CONDITIONS, THE FORWARD RADAR REPEATEDLY DISABLES ITSELF WITH AN "OBSTRUCTION" WARNING, WHICH ALSO DISABLES THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING FUNCTION. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT PRESENT DURING DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE TRANSITING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTED IN OCTOBER 2018 WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, WITH 00004 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AT THE TIME OF FIRST POSSESSION IN MAY 2018. AS OF 1-10-2019, THE ODOMETER READS 14970.