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2021 Nissan Altima engine problems

moderate Owners of the 2021 Nissan Altima have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the engine 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 →

Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
engine complaints on the Nissan Altima, by model year
Model yearengine complaints
2017 Altima 18
2018 Altima 5
2019 Altima 29
2020 Altima 19
2021 Altima (this page) 5
2023 Altima 4

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 Bulletin NTB22-097 Nov 2022

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 ↗
Service Bulletin NTB22-026 Apr 2022

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 “Fuel Level Sensor Unit, Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump Assembly” (fuel pump assembly). The fuel level sensor can be replaced separately.  P0460 (FUEL LEV SEN SLOSH)  P0461 (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR)  P0462 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC)  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 ↗
Service Bulletin NTB15-049X Mar 2022

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 ↗
Service Bulletin NTB13-027C Feb 2022

CAN COMMUNICATION – 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 ↗
Service Bulletin NTB13-097J Feb 2022

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.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had engine trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Nissan Altima?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 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?

Based on the 5 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 84,500 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 $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/2021/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.
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