DTC P0404 STORED IN THE ECM AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 32°F IF YOU CONFIRM DTC P0404 (EGR A CONTROL) is stored in the ECM at temperatures below 32°F. ACTION 1. Confirm the current ECM part number. 2. Reprogram the ECM, if applicable.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Nissan Altima engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Nissan Altima have filed 29 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 96,000 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
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Altima | 21 |
| 2016 Altima | 19 |
| 2017 Altima | 18 |
| 2018 Altima | 5 |
| 2019 Altima (this page) | 29 |
| 2020 Altima | 19 |
| 2021 Altima | 5 |
| 2023 Altima | 4 |
When does it fail?
Of the 29 engine complaints filed for the 2019 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Owners have filed 29 engine 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.
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.
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 ↗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 ↗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 ↗EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Nissan Altimas are reporting multiple unrelated engine failures across mileage ranges from 12,000 to 175,000 miles. Stalling without warning—sometimes during operation, sometimes at stop lights—is the most common complaint. Several vehicles fail to restart after stalling; dealers have identified grill shutter valve failure, faulty air intake sensors, and metal shavings in the oil pan, though many failures go undiagnosed. Engine overheating is also widespread, traced to thermostat failure, coolant leaks with no visible source, coolant intrusion onto spark plugs, and low coolant levels. Replacement thermostats have failed repeatedly in at least one case. Check-engine lights with "Engine Malfunction, Power Reduced" messages force vehicles into limp mode, crippling acceleration and highway capability—some clear after warm-up and engine restart, others persist. Owners identify coolant system failure, ECM malfunction, throttle chamber buildup, EGR valve ice deposits in cold weather, and fuel system pressure faults as root causes. Multiple owners cite NHTSA Campaign 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) but report their VINs are excluded from recall coverage despite matching the described symptoms. One owner's recall inspection found metal in the oil pan, prompting scheduled engine replacement, but the manufacturer denied the recall claim two days later with conflicting inspection reports. Manufacturer response to out-of-scope complaints has been denial or no assistance offered.
Same Nissan Altima engine reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling and failure to restart
Vehicles stall without warning during operation or when at traffic lights/parked. Multiple attempts to restart fail initially; some require towing. Dealers have found grill shutter valve failure, failed air intake sensors, and undiagnosed causes.
When: 12,000 to 108,000 miles; some undisclosed
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; Failure to restart; RPM fluctuation before stall; Inability to restart after stalling at traffic lights; Sudden loss of power while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Air intake sensor replaced (failure persisted); grill shutter valve replacement advised but not completed; engine replacement recommended at 30,000 miles; metal shavings found in oil pan in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) cited; multiple owners report VINs not included in recall despite matching symptoms; one owner denied recall coverage due to 2.5L engine vs. 2.0L VC-Turbo scope
Engine overheating with coolant system failure
Engine overheats during normal driving; temperature gauge rises to 'High'; hot air enters cabin. Root causes vary: low coolant, thermostat failure, coolant leaks from unidentified source, and complete coolant loss without visible leaks.
When: 30,000 to 175,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating; Temperature gauge reading 'High'; Hot air from vents; Intermittent overheating then cooling down; Empty coolant reservoir with no visible leak; Engine stall due to overheating
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant reservoir refilled (temporary fix); radiator thermostat replaced twice in one case with recurring failure; one owner reported engine replacement recommended; complete system diagnosis inconclusive at independent shop
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner found NHTSA Campaigns 19V316000 and 18V922000 (Fuel System) but VIN not included; another owner confirmed VIN not under recall despite symptoms
Check engine light with power reduction and malfunction mode
Check engine light illuminates with 'Engine Malfunction, Power Reduced' or 'Engine Malfunction, Reduce Power, Service Now' messages. Vehicle enters limp mode, severely limiting acceleration and highway speed capability. Jerking and hesitation during acceleration. Some warnings clear after engine restart or warm-up; others persist.
When: Mileage ranging 52,000 to 175,000; some undisclosed
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; 'Engine Malfunction, Power Reduced' message; Vehicle jerks or hesitates; Limp mode with reduced power output; Cannot maintain highway speeds; Safety features (traction control, crash detection) illuminate alongside check engine light; Braking without warning when in malfunction state
Codes mentioned: P0101, P0404, P0087
Repairs/costs cited: Excessive throttle chamber buildup identified (DTC P0101); sensor codes replaced but malfunction persists; ECM diagnosed as root cause in one case; one owner reports malfunctions clear after warm engine restart
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple owners report VINs excluded from recall 25V437000 despite identical symptoms to those described; owner with 2.5L engine excluded from 2.0L VC-Turbo recall scope; one owner awaiting upcoming recall at end of August 2025
Metal debris in engine oil
Metal shavings or lead particles discovered in oil pan during dealer inspection. Indicates internal engine wear or damage. At least one case involved a recall eligibility inspection where metal was found, but recall repair was then denied by manufacturer with conflicting inspection reports.
When: 30,000 and 96,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Metal shavings visible in oil pan; Lead particles in oil pan
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports recall inspection identified metal, engine replacement scheduled, then recall denied two days later with original report stating no metal found, then report changed again to show metal was found; another case metal found but no repair completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V437000 states metal in oil requires engine repair or replacement; one owner reports Nissan denied recall repair despite metal evidence and changing inspection reports
Coolant system leak and intrusion onto electrical components
Coolant leaks from unidentified source or leaks into engine electrical systems. One case documented electrical shock to spark plugs due to coolant intrusion. Owners discover empty coolant reservoirs with no visible leak source.
When: Undisclosed mileage; one case at 170,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Empty coolant reservoir; Coolant leak with no visible source; White smoke from vehicle at startup; Engine jerking with coolant system involved; Electrical shock to spark plugs from coolant intrusion
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant added by independent mechanic with recommendation to monitor level; one case engine replacement required due to coolant intrusion onto spark plugs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case; repair not covered under recall because VIN not included
EGR valve ice deposits in cold weather
Ice deposits form in EGR valve when vehicle is parked outdoors in temperatures below 0°F, preventing proper EGR valve function. Vehicle enters limp-mode with severely reduced power output until engine is warmed and restarted.
When: Cold weather condition below 0°F
Symptoms owners cite: Limp-home mode activation; Severely reduced engine power output; Unable to reach highway speeds; Ice deposits physically verified in EGR valve by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Issue resolves by warming engine completely and restarting to clear ECM error
Grill shutter valve failure
Active grille air shutter component fails, preventing normal engine cooling function. One vehicle stalled at 43,000 miles with grill shutter valve identified as root cause.
When: 43,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalling; Multiple warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Grill shutter valve replacement required; repair not completed; vehicle remained at dealer
Fuel system pressure too low (P0087)
Engine stalls or malfunctions with fuel rail/system pressure diagnostically low. One owner cites existing recall that does not include their VIN despite identical symptoms.
When: Undisclosed
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stall; Check engine light with P0087 code
Codes mentioned: P0087
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists but does not cover all 2019 Nissan Altima models
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that lead was found in the oil pan. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact was informed that the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and declined…
Ice deposits forming in the engine EGR valve preventing the EGR valve from properly functioning. This results in a "limp home mode" where the engine power output is severely reduced. Ice deposits physically verified by dealer. this condition routinely happens when parked outdoors in temps below 0F. When effected the car cannot reach highway speeds. Problem resolved by completely warming up the…
I've been having engine & engine cooling problems also fuel system how many car starting up etc.I've been having this problem around July
Had engine trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 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 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 43,000 and 150,000 miles, with the median around 96,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,000; a quarter make it past 150,000. 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/2019/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.