DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Nissan Altima steering problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 16 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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 steering 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 steering 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.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014-2018 ALTIMA; HYDRAULIC ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES section has been revised. No other changes have been made. Please discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014-2017 ALTIMA; HYDRAULIC ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES section has been revised and information on page 10 has been added. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION If the configuration of the Audio/Navigation unit has not been completed correctly, some of the symptoms that may occur are: * Intermittent or no back up camera operation * No steering wheel switch response to audio inputs * No volume response from volume knob * Volume very loud or very quiet and adjustment is overly sensitive * Equalizer is adjusted so that Bass control is at maximum all the time * DTC U1000 for AVM C/U could be present If the above symptoms occur: * Confirm the configuration of the Audio/Navigation unit is correct. NOTE: Correct configuration of the appropriate control unit will restore correct operation. Audio/Navigation unit configuration is outlined
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Sixteen complaints center on steering failures that range from alarming to persistent nuisances. The most serious is intermittent power steering loss during highway driving and traffic stops, sometimes paired with acceleration failure—one owner lost steering while stranded in oncoming traffic at a red light, another felt steering nearly freeze mid-turn on a freeway with a truck behind her. Dealers respond inconsistently: some replace the steering pump out of warranty after reproducing the problem, then document they could not recreate it; others claim the behavior is normal for Nissan.
Stiff or frozen steering at low speeds (15–20 mph) during lane changes happened to multiple owners without warning. One nearly collided when her steering became unresponsive.
Several owners describe excessive play and clunking in the front end steering—one reports this began within minutes of her first drive and persists after wheel bearing and ball joint replacement; she suspects the car had prior frame or sway bar damage not disclosed before sale.
Rear suspension clunking during turns was reported, as was a steering column that clanks when the wheel is turned side to side and feels slack during motion. One owner has a power steering leak pooling under the parked car. Wheel alignment corrections help but do not fully resolve drifting and lane-wandering behavior in some cases.
Same Nissan Altima steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent power steering failure
Power steering disengages or becomes unresponsive during driving, sometimes coinciding with acceleration loss and transmission issues. Occurs unpredictably and creates immediate safety hazards on highways and in traffic. One owner reports steering nearly freezing mid-turn for 1–2 seconds; another lost steering while stranded in oncoming traffic at a traffic light.
When: Intermittent; reported between 14,000 and 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering completely disengaged while accelerating; Steering wheel becomes very stiff or frozen mid-turn; Loss of steering responsiveness for 1–2 seconds during lane changes; Steering difficulty during parallel parking with simultaneous power loss; No warning lights or only generic check engine/traction control lights
Codes mentioned: P0101 (mass air flow sensor—unrelated but often companion code in early complaints)
Repairs/costs cited: Myatt Nissan (Salisbury, NC) replaced electrical steering pump at 14,000 miles over warranty without charging owner; dealer at Raleigh diagnosed but did not repair; other dealers unable to recreate issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealerships contradicted each other on whether problem exists; some claimed it was normal Nissan behavior; one dealer replaced pump out of warranty but documented inability to recreate problem
Steering wheel hard/stiff at low speed
Steering wheel becomes abnormally stiff or difficult to turn, especially during low-speed maneuvers (15–20 mph lane changes, turns). Intermittent and unpredictable, with no warning indicators. Owner nearly collided while attempting lane change.
When: Reported Sept/Oct 2017; intermittent across multiple owners at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stiff or almost frozen for 1–2 seconds during low-speed turns; Lack of steering wheel responsiveness during lane changes; Hard steering on freeway; Car dips and swerves with light touch on steering wheel, as if no wheel alignment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to find reason for stiffness
Steering column clunking and slack feel
Clanking noise from steering column when turning wheel side to side, stationary or in motion. Steering column feels slack or loose during turns. Reported to dealership during routine service.
When: Reported Sept 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Clanking noise in steering column when turning wheel side to side (stationary); Steering column feels slack during right/left turns in motion; Occurs both on city streets and highways
Excessive play and clunking in front-end steering
Significant play in left front wheel/steering components with loud clunking on turns, particularly when backing up or steering into parking. Occurs shortly after purchase; owner suspects undisclosed prior frame/suspension damage. Wheel bearing replaced, ball joints replaced on driver side, but clunking persists.
When: Within days of purchase (Feb 2017)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunking noise when turning wheel; Significant play/looseness in steering components; Clunking very apparent when backing up and steering into parking spots; Initial wheel bearing noise within two minutes of first drive
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel bearing replaced; driver-side ball joints replaced; clunking persists despite repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed clunking is normal for Nissan; owner suspects undisclosed prior accident/frame/sway bar repair
Clunking noise in rear suspension during turns
Clunking noise from rear suspension while driving and especially when turning right. Owner replaced left rear shock but noise continues, suggesting a separate or related steering/suspension component failure.
When: Early ownership; noted after wheel alignment work
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from rear while driving; Clunking noise when turning right; No noise when turning wheel left while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Left rear shock replaced; noise persists
Power steering fluid leak
Power steering system leaks fluid while vehicle is parked. Excessive fluid found on driveway after road trip.
When: Discovered during or after road trip; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Excess power steering fluid on ground where car was parked
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
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 during a service oil change in september 2017..
Car dangerous hard to steer on free way very dangerous when between 2 car you in the middle, car dip and swerve with light touch of steer wheel, it act as if is have no wheel alignment, and the car front end drag the groung when turning into a drive way very noisy. Wipers at night in a heavy rain you have to stop can not see the road at all .lucky…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 21,000 and 81,200 miles, with the median around 47,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,000; a quarter make it past 81,200. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.