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
225 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Oct 30, 2019
I PURCHASED A USED 2018 ALTIMA YESTERDAY. DURING THE TEST DRIVE AND DURING MY COMMUTE THIS MORNING, I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE "RADAR UNAVAILABLE FRONT OBSTRUCTION". UPON RESEARCH, THIS IS A PROBLEM KNOWN TO NISSAN WITH THE BOSCH SENSOR MOUNTED IN THE FRONT GRILL.
Air bags, Oct 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROSSROADS NISSAN WAKE FOREST (11120 CAPITAL BLVD, WAKE FOREST, NC 27587, (877) 331-9055) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT EITHER THE SPIRAL CORD INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.*DT
Electrical system, Service brakes, Oct 27, 2019
THE FRONT COLLISION RADAR SENSOR KEEPS GOING OFF AND ON. TOOK INTO DEALER AND SAID IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS NOT RECALLED YET. THE PART IS $1500 WHICH IS OVER 10% OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS ON OR OFF. THE THE SENSOR GOES OFF STAY FRONT SENSOR IS UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE. IT WILL TURN OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES IN A DRIVE.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 23, 2019
THE SECURITY FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE DISABLES THE CAR AT RANDOM.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 20, 2019
THE FRONT ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM FEB INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT SAYING "FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION" EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON IT WORKS NORMALLY BUT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITHIN AN HOUR OR SO EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Oct 17, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, NOTIFICATION OF "FEB: UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION" COMES ON AND STAYS ILLUMINATED FOR UPWARDS OF 5 TO 10 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OFF. THIS OCCURS WHEN THERE ARE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF MINE AND NO ROAD HAZARDS THAT WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED IT TO TURN ON. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED TO STOP WHEN IT DETECTS A HAZARD. THIS STARTED OUT RANDOMLY OVER THIS PAST SUMMER AND IN THE LAST WEEK, HAS BEEN A DAILY OCCURRENCE. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, THE SOONEST THEY HAD AN OPENING TO ADDRESS IT IS A MONTH AWAY. NO A HAPPY CAMPER, FEELS LIKE THEY ARE NOT AS CONCERNED AS I AM WITH THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. UNABLE TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL IN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE SWITCH TO RELEASE IS TO TAP ON IT WITH A HAMMER. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FAIRLY REGULARLY FOR THE PAST WEEK BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. (IS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED TOMORROW??) AT ONE POINT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ALTOGETHER. POPPED THE HOOD TO JUMP START IT, AND NOTICED BLACK POWDERY STUFF ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY AS THOUGH THE BATTER HAD GOTTEN TOO HOT AND BOILED OVER POSSIBLY. THE DEALERSHIP TEST THE BATTERY AND TOLD ME THAT MY BATTERY IS FINE AND FULLY CHARGED. THIS WAS AFTER I HAD IT ON THE CHARGER FOR SEVERAL HOURS YESTERDAY SO THAT IT WOULD START FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP.
Seat belts, Oct 17, 2019, crash
A TRUCK TURNED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF MY WIFE WHICH MADE HER HIT HIM IN THE SIDE OF HIS TRUCK WHILE SHE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55MPH. THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY AND SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON A FOGGY DAY.SHE HIT HER BRAKES SLID ABOUT 30 FT BEFORE STRIKING THE SIDE OF HIS F150 TEARING HIS REAR AXLES OUT AND DAMAGING HER 2018 ALTIMA IN THE FRONT END BADLY. THE PROBLEM IS NONE OF THE IMPACT DEVICES DEPLOYED: AIR BAGS NOR SEAT BELTS OR ANYTHING DEPLOYED. SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST AND KNEES WENT INTO DASH AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAS RIB, BACK, AND NECK PAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I THINK WE MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE CAR AND HAVE CONTACTED NISSANS CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE PICTURE IS FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE, YOU CAN SEE BOTH VEHICLES.*DT*JB
Other or unspecified, Oct 14, 2019
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE A NOTIFICATION OF 'FEB: UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION' IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON LCD SCREEN ON DASHBOARD WHILE A CHECK LIGHT OF 2 VEHICLES IN HEAD ON COLLISION CONSTANTLY SHOWS UP AND LEAVES THE DASHBOARD.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 12, 2019
FRONT SENSOR KEEPS GOING OFF AND ON EVEN WHEN NOT AROUND ANY CARS... BACKUP CAMERA CUTS OFF AND ON WHILE REVERSING
Electrical system, Oct 4, 2019
VEHICLE IN MOTION AND WARNING SIGNAL 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION'.
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
Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 21, 2019
2018 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE PUSH START AND BRAKING SYSTEM. UNABLE TO START CAR WITH PUSH START BECAUSE IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE STUCK. HAVE TO CONTINOUSLY PUMP THE BREAK IN A EFFORT TO GET THE BRAKE TO RELEASE IN ORDER TO START THE CAR.
Service brakes, Sep 17, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON A CITY STREET. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED WHEN A GUST OF WIND BLEW LEAVES IN FRONT OF MY CAR. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE CLOSE BEHIND ME BECAUSE IT WAS AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. BEING TRIGGERED BY LEAVES SEEMS TOO SENSITIVE.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 13, 2019
2018 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE PUSH START AND BRAKING SYSTEM. UNABLE TO START CAR WITH PUSH START BECAUSE IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE STUCK. HAVE TO CONTINOUSLY PUMP THE BREAK IN A EFFORT TO GET THE BRAKE TO RELEASE IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE FRONT RADAR SENSORS. I WHILE IN MOTION I RANDOMLY RECEIVE AN AUDIBLE ALERT AND WARNING MESSAGE SAYING THAT THE FRONT RADAR IS UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION YET THERE WOULD NOTHING IN FRONT OF THE CAR.
Service brakes, Sep 8, 2019
MY 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA RANDOMLY THROWS OUT A MESSAGE TO THE DASH SAYING, "FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION" AND THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING BEEP, WHICH CAUSES A MOMENT OF PANIC. THIS OCCURS EVEN ON AN OPEN ROAD WITH NO OTHER CARS OR OBSTRUCTIONS PRESENT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS DISABLED WHEN THIS OCCURS. WE WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WANT $165 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND $1000 TO FIX IT BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. WE PURCHASED THE CAR SECOND HAND WITH 42K MILES. THEY TOLD US THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS THEY SEE THIS ALL THE TIME. WE OPENED A CASE WITH NISSAN (36978530) AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP US UNLESS WE SPENT THE MONEY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. SO, AT THIS POINT, NISSAN IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT AND ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WE BOUGHT THE CAR IS NOT WORKING. AND, NISSAN KNOWS IT!
Electrical system, Aug 28, 2019
2018 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE PUSH START AND BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CAR WILL NOT START WITH THE PUSH START AND BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS PARKED AND WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THE PUSH START WOULD NOT WORK.
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.
Service brakes, Aug 17, 2019
THE CAR WILL NOT START IF THE BREAK IS SOMEHOW "STUCK". YOU HAVE TO PUMP ON THE BREAKS TO RELEASE IT FOR THE CAR TO START. IF THE CAR DOES START, THE BREAKS MAY BE STUCK WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT WHICH TIME THE CAR CAN'T DRIVE FASTER THAN 5 MPH AND SOMETIMES THE CAR JUST STAYS IN ONE SPOT. I HAVE TWO OTHER NISSAN CARS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT NISSAN HAS ISSUES WITH THE BREAK SYSTEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT WANTING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THEIR COMPUTER GENERATES A CODE. ON MY OTHER TWO CARS, THE PROBLEM GOT REALLY BAD BEFORE THEIR SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE CAN BE STRANDED IF THEIR CAR DOESN'T START OR GET INTO AN ACCIDENT IF THE CAR CAN'T MOVE AFTER A COMPLETE STOP.
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.
Service brakes, Jul 27, 2019
I HAVE 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA SR SPECIAL EDITION WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE INDICATOR FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION HAS BEEN GOING OFF CONSTANTLY. LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE INDICATOR CAME UP AND SHORTLY AFTER THE BLINKING YELLOW INDICATOR OF A CAR CAME UP AND STARTED BREAKING BY ITSELF, TWICE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH AND THE DRIVERS ASSISTANT STARTED BREAKING. THERE WAS NOT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR AROUND ME AT ALL. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SAW NOTHING IN THE WAY OF THE SENSOR. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED PROBABLY ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. THEN, I TURNED OFF THE 'DRIVERS ASSISTANTS'. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT IF THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR AROUND ME AT THE TIME. I TOOK MY CAR IN THIS MORNING TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THE SERVICE GIRL WHO I DEAL WITH EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. GOT MY CAR RIGHT IN AND FOUND OUT THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND GOT ME INTO A LOANER VEHICLE BECAUSE I NEEDED TO GO TO WORK AND COULDN'T WAIT. I'LL BE PICKING UP MY CAR TOMORROW AND HOPING THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!! NISSAN YOU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE MATTER RIGHT AWAY. OBVIOUSLY BY READING OTHER CONSUMERS ISSUE THEY ARE THE SAME AS MINE AND THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS REVIEW!
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 25, 2019
THE FRONT SENSOR ON MY 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA MALFUNCTIONS, STATING THAT THERE'S A FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION AT TIMES. OTHER TIMES, IT FALSELY DETECTS A VEHICLE TOO CLOSE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THERE'S NOTHING ACTUALLY IN FRONT OF ME ON STREETS AND ON THE FREEWAY. IT RECENTLY ENGAGED THE BRAKES WHILE I WAS ON A STREET WHEN IT FALSELY DETECTED ANOTHER VEHICLE TOO CLOSE IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, NO ACCIDENT RESULTED.
Exterior lighting, Jul 9, 2019
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY AND INADEQUATELY LOW, NOT ALLOWING DRIVER TO SEE ROADWAY AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PROJECT ONLY APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET; THEREFORE, FOR ANY SPEED OVER 45 MILES PER HOUR IT IS I'M POSSIBLE TO SEE FAR ENOUGH IN FRONT OF VEHICLE.
Service brakes, Jun 23, 2019
I DRIVE A BLACK 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA SR SPECIAL EDITION. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO STOP ON ITS OWN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE ABS IS TO ASSIST DRIVERS IN SAFELY STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE TO CLOSE TO AN OBJECT AND/OR ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF THEM. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT IS NOW HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, ESPECIALLY WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME!!!
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)