2018 Nissan Altima cruise control problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Nissan Altima have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Altima | 17 |
| 2015 Altima | 14 |
| 2016 Altima | 28 |
| 2017 Altima | 20 |
| 2018 Altima (this page) | 10 |
| 2019 Altima | 8 |
| 2020 Altima | 5 |
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Altima's cruise-control cluster centers on two main problems that owners say affect drivability and safety.
First, the brake light switch (sensor above the brake pedal for push-to-start) fails repeatedly. One military-service owner reports the part going bad at 12K miles, then again at 21K, 62K, and 129K miles. When it fails, the vehicle won't start or starts randomly, the transmission locks in Park, and the integrated anti-collision braking system suddenly fires the brakes—even at highway speed (70 mph). One owner experienced the same repair four times; Nissan corporate told him nothing could be done.
Second, the automatic emergency braking and cruise-control system activates erratically. Owners report the dashboard flashing "radar obstructed" warnings when nothing is blocking the sensor. The system then locks up the brakes hard on open highways with no vehicle ahead. Nissan diagnostics found radar stain and blockage codes (C1A16, C1B55-97) but reprogramming didn't fix it; the shop quoted $1,637.86 for a replacement radar unit. Nissan's 1-800 line told owners the failure is not covered, despite complaints appearing across multiple model years.
Owners also mention acceleration hesitation from stops and occasional transmission shift-lock; check engine lights appeared but dealers couldn't reproduce the faults. No recalls have been issued.
Same Nissan Altima cruise control reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Brake Switch Failure
The brake light switch, which is a sensor above the brake pedal and required for push-to-start function, fails repeatedly. When it fails, the vehicle cannot start, or starts randomly. Owners report inability to shift out of Park or into Park, and cruise control issues. One owner experienced the same part failure multiple times (at 12K, 21K, 62K, and 129K miles).
When: 12,000 miles; repeated failures at 21,254 miles, 62,155 miles, 129,025 miles; also reported around 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start or starts randomly; Cannot shift out of Park or shift from Drive/Reverse; Cruise control stops working; Integrated anti-collision braking system activates unexpectedly during highway driving at 70 mph, causing sudden braking; Vehicle speed limited to 30 mph or less
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan repaired under warranty on some occasions; one owner reports undocumented swap of part from a new vehicle; TSB or recall status unclear
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan corporate declined to do anything after multiple failures; no recalls mentioned
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) / Collision Avoidance System Malfunction
The automatic emergency braking system activates and deactivates erratically, or disables entirely. Owners report dashboard warnings stating the front radar is obstructed or unavailable, even when it is not obstructed. The system causes unexpected hard braking during highway driving. Cruise control shuts off when the system malfunctions. Diagnostic codes indicate radar stain and radar blockage.
When: Early ownership (2,500 miles on), around 6,500 miles, repeatedly throughout ownership; also triggered after snowfall
Symptoms owners cite: AEB system turns on and off randomly throughout a drive; Dashboard displays 'system obstructed' or 'radar unavailable' message when no obstruction exists; Unexpected hard braking on highway at 70 mph with no vehicle ahead; Cruise control shuts off when system activates; Beeping/alert sounds accompanying activation/deactivation; System disables intermittently
Codes mentioned: C1A16 (Radar stain), C1B55-97 (Radar blockage)
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan service reprogrammed radar unit without success; replacement radar unit quoted at $1,637.86; one owner had system repaired after accident-related work but issue recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan 1-800 line advised the issue is not covered under warranty; no recalls issued despite reports of same issue across multiple Nissan models (Altima, Sentra)
Acceleration Hesitation / Engine Lag
Engine hesitates or fails to respond when the accelerator pedal is depressed from a stop. Some owners report jerking for several minutes during startup. One owner describes a 'slight clunk' before acceleration begins and turning off overdrive alleviates the symptom.
When: Mileage approximately 60,000 on one report; others unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed engine response when pressing accelerator from a stop; Engine jerking for several minutes when starting; Slight clunk felt before vehicle moves; Hesitation that feels severe enough to cause concern about component damage
Repairs/costs cited: Check engine light illuminated in one case but not reproduced at dealer; issue could not be duplicated by service; no repairs completed
Transmission Shift Lock (Gear Stuck in Park)
Owners report the gear shift sticks or locks in Park, or the vehicle refuses to shift from Park even with the brake pedal depressed. This issue occurs intermittently and is sometimes related to brake switch failure.
When: Various mileage reports; one incident after snowfall
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift locked in Park and will not move; Vehicle will not shift from Park even with foot on brake; Shift lock occurs intermittently
Cruise Control Disabled
Cruise control stops working or shuts off unexpectedly during operation. In most cases, owners report this occurs simultaneously with AEB or collision sensor malfunctions, suggesting a shared control or sensor architecture.
When: Various throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control stops working without user input; Cruise control deactivates when collision sensor triggers false warnings
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2018 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 38,356 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.