Nissan Altima: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Altima problems by model year, from 7,130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (65%, 293 drivetrain complaints), 2012 (57%, 206 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (55%, 167 drivetrain complaints). 9 of the 13 Nissan Altima years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (14%), 2018 (21%) and 2023 (25%). 2023 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (55%) to 2018 (21%), down 34 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (640 of 2,204 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Altima year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Altima | elevated | 36% | 114 | 381 | 8/13 | 3 |
| 2011 Altima | high | 49% | 109 | 245 | 4/13 | 1 |
| 2012 Altima | high | 57% | 206 | 426 | 2/13 | 4 |
| 2013 Altima | high | 46% | 640 | 2,312 | 5/13 | 12 |
| 2014 Altima | high | 45% | 278 | 1,113 | 6/13 | 8 |
| 2015 Altima | high | 42% | 219 | 954 | 7/13 | 10 |
| 2016 Altima | very high | 65% | 293 | 553 | 1/13 | 4 |
| 2017 Altima | high | 55% | 167 | 391 | 3/13 | 3 |
| 2018 Altima | no elevated signal | 21% | 37 | 225 | 12/13 | 2 |
| 2019 Altima | no elevated signal | 32% | 69 | 232 | 10/13 | 7 |
| 2020 Altima | elevated | 33% | 56 | 179 | 9/13 | 6 |
| 2021 Altima | no elevated signal | 14% | 9 | 70 | 13/13 | 2 |
| 2022 Altima | too few to score | – | 7 | 20 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Altima | no elevated signal | 25% | 7 | 29 | 11/13 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Altima years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Altima engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Nissan Altima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 31 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2015 | 15V486000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2013–2015 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V922000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V316000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V437000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2019–2020 |
27 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2009 | 09V358000 | suspension | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10V193000 | structure | 2010 |
| Sep 2010 | 10V401000 | equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system) | 2010 |
| Jul 2011 | 11V371000 | suspension | 2011–2012 |
| Aug 2011 | 11V408000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2012 |
| Feb 2012 | 12V055000 | air bags: side/window | 2012 |
| Oct 2012 | 12V494000 | steering | 2012–2013 |
| Mar 2013 | 13V069000 | air bags | 2013 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V158000 | tires: temporary/emergency spare tire | 2013 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V138000 | electrical system: software | 2013–2014 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V565000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2013 |
| Feb 2015 | 15V116000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2013–2015 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V681000 | air bags: frontal | 2013–2015 |
| Nov 2015 | 15V733000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2015 |
| Jan 2016 | 16V029000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2013–2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V244000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2013–2016 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V911000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2013–2015 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V040000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2015–2017 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V915000 | structure: emergency: escape/egress/exit | 2015–2017 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V235000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
| May 2020 | 20V315000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2013–2018 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V570000 | visibility: glass, side/rear | 2020 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V685000 | tires | 2020 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V138000 | steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2020–2021 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V169000 | tires | 2019–2020 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V628000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019–2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Altima
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Altima
What are the worst years for the Nissan Altima?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Altima years are the 2016 (65% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2012 (57% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2017 (55% of relevant complaints, high). 9 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Altima?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Altima years are the 2021 (14%), the 2018 (21%) and the 2023 (25%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 2,204 of 4,856 relevant NHTSA complaints (45%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Is the Nissan Altima reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 9 of 13 Nissan Altima years we score have an elevated complaint share and 4 do not. Pooled across those years, 45% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Altima?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Nissan Altima years we track, out of 31 in total: 18V922000 (Dec 2018, 2019), 19V316000 (Apr 2019, 2019), 25V437000 (Jun 2025, 2019–2020), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.