SERVICE INFORMATION FOR FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE WITH DTCS STORED IN ECM SERVICE INFORMATION If a fuel level sensor has been diagnosed as sending an incorrect level signal, and one or more of the following DTCs are stored in the ECM, do not replace the entire âFuel Level Sensor Unit, Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump Assemblyâ (fuel pump assembly). The fuel level sensor can be replaced separately. ï· P0460 (FUEL LEV SEN SLOSH) ï· P0461 (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR) ï· P0462 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC) ï· P0463 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC) NOTE: Warranty claims referring to fuel level issues that result in the replacement of the entire fuel pump assembly will be charged back.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Nissan Altima engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Nissan Altima have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 57,786 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Altima | 31 |
| 2013 Altima | 51 |
| 2014 Altima | 28 |
| 2015 Altima | 21 |
| 2016 Altima (this page) | 19 |
| 2017 Altima | 18 |
| 2018 Altima | 5 |
| 2019 Altima | 29 |
| 2020 Altima | 19 |
When does it fail?
Of the 19 engine complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013-2016 ALTIMA AND SENTRA; REAR OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE INSPECTION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013-2016 ALTIMA AND SENTRA; REAR OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE INSPECTION SERVICE INFORMATION Nissan is committed to providing the highest levels of product quality and customer satisfaction. Therefore, Nissan is extending the emission warranty on the Rear Oxygen Sensor in the case of a short-to-ground condition to 20 Years or 200,000 miles, whichever occurs first. All other warranty terms, limitations, and conditions remain unchanged. During the warranty extension period, customers are eligible for annual Rear Oxygen Sensor voltage checks, upon request, to determine if a Rear Oxygen Sensor short-toground condition exists. If a Rear Oxygen Sensor short-to-ground condition does exist, Nissan will in
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Nissan Altimas describe five distinct engine problems, most triggered by warm weather or AC operation. The most common complaint is delayed acceleration after sitting or during traffic maneuvers—the engine hesitates 1–5 seconds or more when the pedal is pressed, forcing drivers to floor the throttle to move. Owners report near-misses and dangerous traffic situations because they couldn't proceed when lights turned green or merge properly.
Stalling is a second major issue. The engine cuts off without warning while driving or stopped, sometimes multiple times during a single trip, and requires restart. A third pattern involves erratic RPM surging—the engine revs and drops suddenly without driver input, especially on highways. Several owners describe rough idle with severe shaking after the engine heats up, plus one report of a constant high-pitched engine sound.
One owner also reports the engine becoming completely unresponsive to start attempts, unaffected by a battery jump.
A critical problem: dealers often cannot reproduce these failures during brief diagnostic drives, so they refuse repair. One owner mentioned a recall for the issue in 2016, but the problem recurred. Multiple owners report trying multiple repair shops with conflicting diagnoses (transmission, crank sensor, VTC solenoid, cam sensor, fuel pump). The intermittent nature and difficulty diagnosing have left owners frustrated and unsafe.
Same Nissan Altima engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Delayed Acceleration / Hesitation on Takeoff
Engine fails to respond immediately when accelerator is depressed, particularly after the vehicle has been sitting idle or running the air conditioner. Delay ranges from one to five seconds or more. Occurs at a complete stop and at various speeds. Owners report having to floor the pedal to achieve normal acceleration, creating dangerous traffic situations.
When: After sitting idle, especially with AC running; in hot weather; after long drives; frequently reported within first few years of ownership (narratives reference 2016-2019 timeframe)
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed response when depressing accelerator; Hesitation lasting 1-5+ seconds before vehicle moves; Has to floor pedal to achieve acceleration; Occurs intermittently, more frequent in warm weather; Dangerous in traffic situations (unable to proceed when lights turn green, unable to merge, near-miss accidents)
Codes mentioned: P0011 (Intake Valve Timing, Valve Control)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports transmission rebuild; another mentions possible camshaft sensor or VTC solenoid replacement; dealers often unable to reproduce issue during diagnostic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners mention this issue was identified as a defect and recall was issued (as of 11/2016), but issues recurred
Engine Stalling / Loss of Power
Engine cuts off completely without warning while driving or at a stop. Occurs intermittently and unpredictably. Vehicle loses all power including dash lights in some cases. Requires restart to resume operation. Can occur multiple times during a single drive.
When: After AC operation; in warm weather; while on highway at various speeds; while stopped at lights; some reports within first 3,000 miles of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown with no warning; Loss of power while driving at highway speeds; Dashboard lights go out when power is lost; Stalling at traffic lights during takeoff; Intermittent nature makes diagnosis difficult
Codes mentioned: Check engine light illuminated (specific codes not always identified), P0011 (referenced in one case), Multiple codes reported: EVAP, cam sensor, O2 sensor, throttle body, fuel pump, sensors
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report multiple repair attempts with varied diagnoses; some shops unable to identify root cause; one owner mentions crank sensor replacement
RPM Surging / Engine Revving Erratically
Engine RPMs rise and lower rapidly without driver input. Vehicle makes acceleration noises for no reason while driving. RPMs fluctuate while vehicle is stationary or being driven at constant speeds. Can occur on highway at 73-80 MPH.
When: While driving at highway speeds; while sitting with AC running; in warm weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: RPM rises and falls quickly without accelerator input; Engine makes unexpected acceleration noises; Erratic RPM behavior lasting beyond initial restart; Can occur while vehicle is idle or moving
Rough Idle / Engine Shaking
Engine idles roughly with severe shaking. Occurs after engine has fully heated up. Engine sounds like it is working overtime to perform and makes constant high-pitch sound. Rough idle can be severe enough to make the vehicle feel unsafe.
When: After engine fully heats up; in one case reported as getting progressively worse over time
Symptoms owners cite: Rough, erratic idle; Severe engine shaking while idling; High-pitched engine sound; Engine sounds stressed or working overtime; Difficulty with initial startup and rough operation
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports crank sensor replacement did not resolve the high-pitch sound; multiple visits to shop required
Engine Won't Start / Complete Electrical Failure
Vehicle becomes completely unresponsive when driver attempts to start it. No clicking or other signs of life. Battery jump does not resolve the issue. Vehicle may start again after being left to sit, but problem recurs shortly after.
When: Occurs unpredictably after vehicle sits for a period of time; one owner reports issue recurred immediately after dealership kept vehicle for a week
Symptoms owners cite: Complete lack of response when attempting to start; No clicking or any electrical sounds; Battery jump does not resolve the issue; Intermittent nature; vehicle may eventually start after waiting
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement performed in one case but did not resolve issue
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I have been having chronic issues with engine on my 2016 Nissan altima. Initially (11/2016), the car would "jump/skip" when I would try to accelerator and even feeling like it was going to cut off on me. When I called I was informed it was due to defect and it was on recall. The issues appeared to resolve until 11/2017 I started experiencing the same issue but worse and was not able to accelerate…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 45,000 and 84,000 miles, with the median around 57,786. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 84,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.