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 be an issue with the electrical components, but they have refused to do so, even while my vehicle was still under…
2016 Nissan Altima electrical problems
critical 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
1fire
1fatality
What stands out
Owners have filed 32 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Altima has serious chronic electrical issues including battery drain, sensor failures, acceleration hesitation, and fire risk from wiring defects. Buyers should budget for repeated repairs and be aware of documented failure modes involving airbags, doors, heater systems, and accelerometer sensors that dealers struggle to diagnose.
Owners report widespread electrical gremlins on 2016 Altimas. Battery goes dead repeatedly despite replacements—dealerships can't find the drain. Camshaft position sensors fail within two years of replacement, causing no-starts and stalling; recall doesn't cover this model year. Acceleration becomes erratic: cars hesitate or delay responding after idling, nearly causing traffic incidents. Dealerships update the computer but the problem returns.
Door and window assemblies malfunction electrically: rear doors lock permanently after window operation, won't unlock by any method; one door opened mid-highway merge despite being locked. Heated seats overheat and burn leather without shutoff. Fuel gauge reads full while driving but lies when stopped—owners run out of fuel on highways unaware.
Fire risk appears real. Multiple complaints describe burning smell from under the hood; one vehicle caught fire at a traffic light, completely destroying the engine. Engine won't shut off without disconnecting the battery and alternator.
Airbags fail to deploy in collisions. Cruise control switch dies suddenly, dropping power and acceleration to 5 mph at highway speed. Collision warning sensor triggers false alarms. One complaint describes a child's death from heat stroke when a heater-on vehicle exceeded 117 degrees with no cabin temperature warning. Several owners report odometer fraud or malfunctions showing inflated mileage.
Same Nissan Altima electrical reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Heated seat electrical fault causing burn damage
Heated seat element overheats and burns leather seat and discolors surrounding area without automatic shutoff or operator warning. Owner reports large burn marks and bluish discoloration appearing while seat heater was in use; passenger had requested heater be turned off minutes before damage was noticed.
When: Reported on 2016 model at 6 years old; exact mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Burn marks on leather seat; Bluish discoloration around burn area; No automatic temperature shutoff
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; owner left with damaged leather front passenger seat
Trunk latch and lock electrical failure, recurring
Trunk fails to stay open and fails to lock when closed. Despite multiple component replacements at dealership (immobilizer, battery, remote, AV master control unit, rearview camera, rearview camera assembly, door handles, trunk lid gate lock assembly, trunk lock), failure recurred.
When: Approximately 3,000 miles; failure recurred after repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk will not stay open; Trunk will not lock when closed
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple components replaced: immobilizer, battery, remote, AV master control unit, rearview camera, rearview camera assembly, driver-side door handles, trunk lid gate lock assembly, trunk lock
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; case number 26294642 opened; vehicle sent to Fontana Nissan for repairs
Rear door electrical locking failure
Rear driver-side door lock stuck and will not lock when doors locked manually. Also both rear windows would not go down completely. Dealership diagnosed electrical failure but could not determine root cause.
When: 50,635 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear driver-side door will not lock; Door lock stuck; Both rear windows will not lower completely
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired at Larry H Miller Nissan San Bernardino, but specific repairs not detailed
Rear door opens while vehicle in motion due to window regulator cable
Driver-side rear door unlatches and opens while vehicle is in motion on highway, even though doors are locked. Related to unrepaired recall (NHTSA 18V-915) where cable interferes with window regulator.
When: Incident occurred during highway merge; failure discovered at registration or purchase on another 2016 model
Symptoms owners cite: Rear door opens while driving; Door opens even when locked; Occurs with rear window down
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in reported case; one owner noted unrepaired recall upon purchase
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 18V-915 (Manufacturer Recall PC675): Cable may interfere with window regulator causing rear passenger door to unlatch and open
Rear window regulator electrical failure
Rear passenger window goes down less than halfway and illuminates RPM light. Not diagnosed or repaired. Separate complaint of rear window opening causing door to permanently lock.
When: 8,000 miles in one complaint; timing not stated in other
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window lowers less than halfway; RPM light illuminates; Rear door permanently locked after window operation
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in reported cases
Engine fire/electrical fire under hood
Rubber burning smell from under hood after driving a few miles, strong enough to be detected outside and inside vehicle. One case resulted in complete engine fire at traffic light with flames and total vehicle loss after recent oil change service.
When: After driving a few miles in one case; incident at traffic light in fatal case
Symptoms owners cite: Strong rubber burning smell from under hood; Burning smell in cabin when heating on; Smoke and flames from under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer claimed plastic sheet found under car (owner disputes); owner parked in driveway instead of garage due to fire risk. Fatal case: complete motor burned from engine back to dash.
Camshaft position sensor premature failure
Camshaft position sensor fails repeatedly in short intervals, requiring replacement within 2 years of prior replacement on same vehicle. Code P0340 triggered; may cause stalling while driving. Owner reports multiple forums discuss same issue across 2016 Altimas but recall only covers other model years.
When: Second sensor failure at 66,689 miles, less than 2 years after first replacement; one owner replaced same sensor 2 years prior
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light; Car will not start or hesitates to start; Car may stall while driving; Multiple sensor failures in short timeframe
Codes mentioned: P0340
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement required; repeated replacements on same vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists but not for 2016 model year; dealership unable to reproduce issue despite multiple shop visits
Delayed or hesitant acceleration after stopping or idling
Car experiences delayed acceleration after idling at traffic lights, drive-throughs, or when engine is warm. Acceleration delay causes car to slowly roll out into traffic rather than accelerating normally. Described as limp mode. Dealership computer updates attempted but issue persists. Sporadic and difficult to reproduce at dealer.
When: Ongoing for years; occurs intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed acceleration after idling; Car slowly rolls instead of accelerating; Delayed gear shifting after complete stop; RPMs increase significantly before speed increases; Occurs on slow and fast roads; Hesitant to start moving after stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership updated computer system; no solution found despite multiple visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claims unable to reproduce failure
Battery drain and repeated battery failure
Battery dies repeatedly with no identifiable electrical drain. Multiple batteries replaced at dealership within 2-year intervals; dealer cannot find reason for drainage. New 7-year warranty battery fails to start car within one month of installation.
When: Nearly 5 replacements over vehicle ownership period; repeated incidents spaced months apart; one battery failed within 1 month of installation
Symptoms owners cite: Battery goes dead while parked; Battery will not start car despite recent replacement; Chronic battery drainage
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced multiple times at dealership; no electrical issue identified despite requests for investigation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership refused investigation into underlying electrical component issues even while under warranty
Transmission speed sensor failure causing stalling
Transmission speed sensor fails, causing car to stall while driving in traffic, creating serious accident risk. Owner notes CVT transmission should be checked.
When: 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission speed sensor failure; Vehicle stalls while driving in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement implied but not detailed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to Takata recall (reference unclear in complaint)
Airbag non-deployment on impact
Airbags fail to deploy on impact in two separate incidents. One incident involved head-on collision where both driver-side and passenger-side airbags did not deploy despite no warning lights. Another involved impact with ice-covered curb where airbag did not deploy.
When: Incident 1 occurred at unknown mileage on dealer-sale 2016 Altima with odometer fraud (mileage jumped from 120k to 300k); Incident 2 mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy on impact; No warning lights illuminate before collision; Airbag remains fully deflated
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; vehicles totaled
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall referenced; one complaint mentions TAKATA RECALL in context of airbag failure
Hood latch defect causing hood to fly open while driving
Hood flies open while driving on city street despite being locked. Hood damage and windshield damage result.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Hood opens while driving; Hood fails to stay latched; Hood flies up during city street driving
Repairs/costs cited: Damage to hood area and windshield
Right bottom park light non-functional
Right bottom parking light will not come on; electrical problem.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Right bottom park light does not illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified
Instrument cluster lights and electrical controls malfunction
Multiple simultaneous electrical failures including lights blinking on and off independently, car seat adjustment failure, key detection failure, and engine shutdown sounds. Vehicle makes shutdown sounds at times.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Car lights blink on and off independently; Car seats will not adjust properly; Car will not detect key; Car will not crank at times; Vehicle makes shutdown sound; Battery replaced frequently
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified
False collision warning sensor triggering
Front-end collision warning light and alarm trigger at random while driving despite clear weather and low speed. Sensor malfunction unrelated to actual collision risk.
When: Random times while driving at 30 mph in sunny conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Front-end collision dash light triggers; Collision warning alarm activates; False warnings at low speed in clear weather
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified
Cruise control (ASCD) switch failure causing loss of power and acceleration
ASCD (Adaptive Cruise Control) switch fails while driving at highway speed, causing car to lose acceleration and drop to approximately 5 mph. Power steering also lost during event.
When: While traveling greater than 60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: ASCD switch fails; Loss of acceleration; Acceleration drops to ~5 mph; Power steering lost; Critical safety hazard at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified
Fuel level sensor inaccuracy
Fuel level gauge displays full or near-full tank while driving on highway, but reads inaccurately when vehicle stops. Owner runs out of fuel without warning because gauge does not show actual level. Serious safety hazard on highway.
When: Ongoing while vehicle in motion
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge shows full or near-full while driving highway; Actual fuel level much lower than displayed; No warning before fuel runs out
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified
Engine will not shut off
Engine continues running and will not shut off; owner must disconnect battery and alternator while vehicle stationary to stop it.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine will not shut off; Requires battery and alternator disconnection to stop
Repairs/costs cited: Must disconnect battery and alternator
Water leak from trunk and sunroof
Water leaks from trunk and sunroof; owner paid out of pocket for repair. Associated with airbag light cycling on and off and sensor issues.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Water leak from trunk; Water leak from sunroof; Airbag light turns on and off
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid out of pocket for repairs
Unattended child death due to overheating vehicle and missing temperature warning
Vehicle left unattended with heater activated for over 3 hours with 2-year-old child in rear passenger seat. Interior temperature exceeded 117 degrees Fahrenheit. Child died of heat stroke. No warning light or safety mechanism existed to alert driver to dangerous interior temperatures.
When: Child left unattended for over 3 hours with heater on
Symptoms owners cite: No warning light for high interior temperature; No safety mechanism to prevent fatal heating; Vehicle interior exceeded 117 degrees Fahrenheit
Repairs/costs cited: Not applicable; fatality occurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not informed of incident
Odometer fraud/mileage discrepancy
Multiple complaints where actual vehicle mileage discovered to be significantly higher than odometer reading at time of purchase. Discovered during insurance claim investigation after accidents. Indicates possible odometer tampering or electrical odometer malfunction.
When: Discovered at accident time or during registration after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Odometer reading lower than actual mileage; Mileage jump discovered at insurance claim; Mileage jump discovered at registration
Repairs/costs cited: Not applicable; vehicle totaled in incident cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case; no response detailed
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Car will either not start or heists to start code with check engine light is P0340 for camshaft position sensor I have already replaced this once before 2yrs ago it should not need to be replaced again so soon. I have read online where others with same make and model cars having similar issues and their cars stalled while driving mine hasn't as of yet, but could when I take to mechanic shop. This…
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
It's a serious issue. 32 complaints have been filed, including 1 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 13,154 and 50,635 miles, with the median around 33,650. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,154; a quarter make it past 50,635. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.