NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The primary hood latch can accidentally release. When this happens, the secondary hood latch may corrode over time, potentially allowing the hood to open while driving.
This page covers 4 recalls, 543 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Nissan Altima.
26–31 mpg combined
7.6–9 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate the 2016 Altima's complaint profile, with transmission behavior being the most common theme owners describe. Many report the continuously variable transmission (CVT) hesitating, shuddering, or producing unusually high RPMs during acceleration, particularly in stop-and-go driving. Delayed engagement between low speeds is a recurring symptom, with some owners noting the vehicle bogs down or surges rather than accelerating smoothly. Airbag-related complaints make up the second-largest group, followed by vehicle speed control issues. Outside those top systems, a notable cluster of owners describes headlights as extremely dim on low beam, dim enough that many report defaulting to high beams routinely just to see the road. A smaller number of owners report rear suspension concerns, specifically describing control arm failures that affected vehicle handling and directional stability.
543
Total Complaints
27
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
16
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Nissan Altima has 4 recalls, the most serious being two related issues where a rear door can swing open while the vehicle is moving, putting rear passengers at risk of falling out or being struck by passing traffic.
The rear door problem stems from a latch and lock cable that may have been routed incorrectly inside the rear door assembly. In one version of this issue, simply lowering a rear window can cause that door to unlatch and open on its own. The other is a follow-on concern: a prior repair attempt for this same defect on some vehicles did not fully resolve the problem, as the cable may have been re-routed incorrectly during that earlier fix, leaving the door vulnerable to opening unexpectedly. There is also a hood latch concern, where the secondary hood latch can corrode and stick in the open position even when the hood appears closed. If the primary latch is then released, the hood can fly up while driving, blocking the driver's view entirely. Rounding out the list, the passenger seat sensor that determines whether the front airbag should deploy for an adult occupant can malfunction, causing the airbag to either not deploy or deploy incorrectly in a crash, leaving the front passenger without full protection.
At a glance
What can fail
The primary hood latch can accidentally release. When this happens, the secondary hood latch may corrode over time, potentially allowing the hood to open while driving.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, add a warning label near the secondary latch, and provide maintenance instructions to help prevent corrosion.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The door latch-lock cable in the rear door may be routed incorrectly, allowing it to interfere with the window regulator. This can cause the rear passenger door to unlatch and open unexpectedly when the window is lowered.
What the fix does
Dealers will reposition and secure the latch-lock cables in the correct location using an updated procedure at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear door latch/lock cable may be routed incorrectly. Lowering a rear window can unintentionally unlatch and open that door.
What the fix does
Dealers will reposition the rear door latch/lock cable to the correct routing at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant detection system may incorrectly identify an adult as a child or miss an occupied seat. This can cause the passenger airbag to stay off during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram or replace the occupant detection and airbag control units to ensure proper airbag operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.