2020 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 179 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 16 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 15 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, engine, hard parts internal/mechanicalJun 27, 2025
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
Campaign 25V437000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraSep 8, 2023
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
Campaign 23V628000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresMar 11, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.
Campaign 21V169000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, linkages, tie rod assemblyMar 4, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.
Campaign 21V138000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresNov 5, 2020
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima S grade vehicles equipped with Continental ProContact TX tires, size 215/60 R16 H, with TIN date code 3320 and Mold ID S-419149. The tires may have been over cured.
Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-8677669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC765.
Campaign 20V685000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, glass, side/rearSep 22, 2020
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
Campaign 20V570000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
179 reports, newest first.
Engine, Aug 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while in park(P). The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred while driving at an undisclosed speed. The contact was able to drive to her destination. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Structure, Aug 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 55 –60 MPH, with a kayak attached, the roof rack detached from the vehicle. The kayak struck the rear windshield and fell to the highway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a collision center. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. There were no reported injuries. The Police arrived on the scene and aided with the removal of the kayak and roof rail. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the driver that the kayak was not installed properly and sent the contact a manual but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. There was no cause for the failure found. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Steering, Wheels, Aug 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by a dealer with hub bearing and tie rod failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 16, 2023
I've taken my car for repair service 4 times due to a malfunction warning and front driving aids off warning. They replaced speed sensor as well as cv axle as well as a hub and bearing and it still is not driving right and has almost caused me accidents with my children in the car to where I pulled over and cried I was scared to continue driving. They cannot figure out the problem.
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 13, 2023
Transmissions seem to jerk a lot when slowing down and picking up speed again, also all 4 door locks have gave out being unable to lock or unlock the doors using the bottom or key, this is a hazard especially if you have children sitting in the back seats
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 10, 2023
Key system error Started a few months ago. It happens at random and when it does the car won't start. It on occasion will come on while driving which I read can cause loss of control and not being able to turn the vehicle off.
Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to open the driver’s door, the door was difficult to open. The contact stated that the door handle was operational however, the door lock failed to release as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first however, the door became inoperable and no longer was able to be opened. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,698.
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 26, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned and is available for inspection upon request? On June 6th, the vehicle started losing power when accelerating, happened at night when driving back home, and scared me because there were no lights indicating any issues. The following day, less than a mile from the dealership, all the dashboard lights turned on, the vehicle lost complete power, and then i turned vehicle off and try to turn it back on but it didn't started. I called a tow truck and left it at the dealer. They informed me that they would provide me with the reason for the failure by the end of the afternoon. I was later informed by the dealership that there was an electrical problem with the transmission system. The system failure was related to a power train not getting communication due to a broken/damage wire harness that was close to the left side powertrain/engine mount. The harness was damaged because of the engine mount bolts broke and metal part of the mount cut part of the harness, creating an electrical short to the powertrain system as seen in the attached photos. This kind of short can definitely create heat into the harness that could have gotten my car to catch fire. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the same dealer informed me about the damage, and they themselves were puzzled because they couldn't find an explanation for how this could happen, but they did not take any ownership by the fact that that defective engine mount could have had me into a major accident if I was driving in the highway. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? All the work was carried out at the dealership itself. And I don't think that the dealership send any notification to the manufacturer about the early failure of such an important component but going through different mechanics shops they all share the same opinion that the......
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 22, 2023
The forward collision warning light comes on saying their is a malfunction. It stays on for a couple of days, and then it goes away and comes back again a couple of days later. I had my sister husband hook up a diagnostic scanner on the car, and he said that it displayed no error codes for the problem. I believe this should be a safety recall because i noticed a lot of people driving the 2020 nissan altima have the same problem as me.
Air bags, Jun 19, 2023, crash
Vehicle was in two different front end collisions one of which the whole front end is destroyed including the windshield and the airbags DID NOT deploy.
Electrical system, Jun 17, 2023
All 4 door actuators have gone out. I cannot lock or unlock my car with the key fob or manually with the key from the outside. The driver side door is unable to be manually locked/unlocked causing me to get locked in and out of my car randomly. Within the last month, it has gotten more frequent with the driver said. The rear doors went bad months ago. The passenger door started approximately 2 months ago and the driver door within the last month. This was confirmed by Modern Nissan in Winston Salem, NC on 06/10/2023 and I got a second opinion on 06/16/2023 who also confirmed all 4 door actuators needed to be replaced. There were no warning lights or messages.
Electrical system, Jun 6, 2023, fire
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while the vehicle was at a standstill in a parking lot and using the seat heater for approximately 30 minutes, the front driverside seat heater caught fire. The contact extinguished the fire with bottles of water he had available. The contact sustained superficial burns on his lower back and continues to have trouble breathing but hasn't sought medical attention. The contact drove to the nearest fire department but was under construction and was unable to file any fire report. The contact also stated later on that day he drove to a police department and filed a police report. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was not available.
Forward collision avoidance, Jun 1, 2023
I just recently had my brakes done & the ABS light came on, along with the brake light, then the rear & front automatic emergency braking sensor lights came on as well. My independent repair shop did a diagnostic & said it was a Faulty ABS pump went out. They also told me to take to the dealership to get it looked at too.
Service brakes, Apr 29, 2023
Problemas en los frenos
Steering, Apr 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V138000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 17, 2023
Car continually goes into malfunction mode. It goes away when the car is turned off and re started. It throws a code for mass air flow sensor. Have replaced mass air flow sensor three times. No dealership or mechanic can find an issue. Sometimes, the collision warning goes off for no reason causing panic. This has been going on for a year. Began March 2022.
Steering, Service brakes, Mar 12, 2023, crash
When making a routine right-hand turn, the steering system failed. Driver had an unresponsive vehicle which crashed into a bridge rail. Driver was taken for medical attention. No warning lights prior to the crash. Vehicle has only been serviced by the dealer Nissan Peacock of Houston since purchased in December of 2019. A vehicle recall (NHTSA Campaign ID: 21V138000) was issued for this year, make, and model, but not for this particular VIN. This recall was for the tie rod ball joint fasteners.
Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 15, 2023, crash
During a Code scan on the vehicle, the Intelligent driver assistance system Showed to refer to OEM repair manual for code description repair. The next day the vehicle crashed at 15 mph due to loss of control. Tie rod broke causing vehicle to crash and tire was detached. Vehicle is available to inspect. No warning lamps or message other then scan results .
Visibility, Feb 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the sunroof inadvertently exploded without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Other or unspecified, Feb 5, 2023, fire
Caught on fire, burst into flames within minutes of seeing smoke. My son barely got out before it blew up. His dog in the backseat unfortunately didn’t make it out. Would like investigation on what could have caused this. Before someone else loses theryre life
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 28, 2023
I was driving the car at about 70 mph on the expressway and it just randomly de-accelerated dripping from 70-34 mph and would not allow me to accelerate and then proceeded to shut down stating engine stall I almost got hit from the back when the car de-accelerated and couldn’t do anything about it after about 10-15 seconds I pressed the gas again and it took off abruptly. I’m scared to drive my car anywhere that I’ll get hit if my car de-accelerates again. Nissan can’t replicate the issue to come up with a conclusion.
Tires, Jan 8, 2023
235/40R1992V
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 18, 2022
I have been noticing electrical issues with the vehicle that have been going unresolved. This is the third time I'm taking it to a dealership. On 15 Nov 2022 the vehicle gave a frontal collision warning with no other vehicles around it felt like the emergency braking system engaged because the brakes became solid as a rock. I had to put the car into park and restart the vehicle to begin driving again. Then on 16 Nov 2022 the car battery was dead around 4:48 pm and I had to get the taco shop's help, they gave me jumper cables and my wife's co-worker got the car started. Now, 18 Nov 2022 the vehicle is in another dealership waiting to see what they say and the car is staying the weekend to be evaluated.
Air bags, Seat belts, Nov 16, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while his wife was driving at 40-45 MPH with his daughter sitting in the front passenger seat, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle that failed to yield at the stop sign. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to engage. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's wife and daughter sustained back pain and headaches but did not seek medical assistance. A police report was filed. The contact met his wife at the scene and assisted her with driving the vehicle to his residence which was approximately 300-400 ft. away. The contact, a certified autobody technician, determined that the air bags and the restraint system failed to operate as needed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he would need to tow the vehicle at his own expense for diagnostic tests. The contact declined and the manufacturer informed the contact that they could not assist unless he complied with their request. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.