Nissan Altima problems
543 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced.
- 1 fatality report and 1 fire-related complaint on the electrical system
- Cruise-control: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 29,114–75,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
My airbag light is on. It just came on one day. (No accident or anything else to cause this to happen) I checked to see if a recall was on my vehicle but it was not. There are other Nissan Altima"s that have a recall for this reason.
Stating briefly auto not in motion turning the steering wheel side to side there is a clanking noise in the steering column ...while driving in motion making right / left turns steering column feels kind of slack. Occurrences city and h'way. This was reported to the dealership…
Headlight lowbeams are dim. Replaced with new bulbs, no improvement. Headlight lens are crystal clear from being clear vinyl wrapped when purchased new.
I have had this vehicle since December 28, 2017, and during that time, the battery has been replaced nearly five times at the dealership. The reason they provided is that the battery now lasts less than two years. I have repeatedly asked them to investigate whether there might…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2016 Nissan Altima reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 543 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Nissan Altima is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2016 Nissan Altima?
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 Nissan Altima is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 1 fire-related complaint on the electrical system; Cruise-control: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 29,114–75,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 228 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 67,899 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 48,824 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Nissan Altima has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Nissan Altima?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 543 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.