2021 Nissan Altima: Common Problems, Recalls and Vehicle Data

What the public data shows

The 2021 Nissan Altima's public record includes 69 complaints filed with NHTSA. Electrical issues form the largest single category, 18 of the 69. Other and brakes follow closely, with 17 and 15 complaints respectively, meaning no one category dominates the complaint record. Two recall campaigns are on file, and they sit in different systems rather than clustering in one. Campaign 21V138000 concerns steering, specifically a tie rod ball joint that can detach and cause a loss of steering control. Campaign 23V628000 concerns back-over prevention, covering a rearview camera that may not properly display an image. Because these two recalls touch separate systems, the record does not point to one component being worked on repeatedly. There is one open investigation, AQ22003, examining hood latches, locks and linkages. An open investigation means NHTSA is looking into reported patterns involving that component; it is a question being asked, not a confirmed defect or a finding of fault. A second investigation, PE23023, into engine and engine cooling hard parts, has been closed. Separately, service bulletins issued by Nissan show a concentration in the electrical system, 38 of 104 bulletins, well ahead of power train at 17. Bulletins are not recalls -- they are guidance dealers use to address reported symptoms -- but this volume indicates electrical-system symptoms were a recurring topic for technicians working on this model year. As with any complaint data, these counts reflect what owners chose to report, not a measured rate of failure across the vehicle population.

69 complaints on file with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, grouped into CarTold's broad component categories.

Most frequently reported, by the specific component NHTSA logged each complaint under (not CarTold's category groupings above):

• SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 10 complaints (14%)
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 9 complaints (13%)
• FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 5 complaints (7%)
• ENGINE — 4 complaints (6%)
• STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES — 3 complaints (4%)
• UNKNOWN OR OTHER — 3 complaints (4%)

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

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."

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

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.

Consequence: A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE

Opened 2023-12-13 · Closed 2025-07-18

On December 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-023 to investigate allegations of engine failures leading to loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Nissan Rogue; MY 2019-2021 Nissan Altima; and MY 2019-2021 Infiniti QX50 vehicles. At that time, ODI had received 6 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) and multiple early warning reports, with consumers reporting engine knocking noises accompanied by a loss of engine power while driving. The investigation identified bearing failures in certain vehicles equipped with the subject 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Opened 2022-12-16

NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates Hertz rented vehicles to customers without having performed required recall repairs. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning thi…

NHTSA crash-tests each body-style/drivetrain configuration separately, so ratings can differ by variant — shown as tested, not averaged. See how the 5-star ratings work, including why an overall score isn't the average of the three category scores.