Nissan Altima reliability by year
33 recalls and 12,066 owner complaints across 21 model years. Best year to buy: 2022. Year to avoid: 2013.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
Years to avoid — and why 12 flagged on the NHTSA record
Cleaner on the data: 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 . Still verify the specific vehicle.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 21 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the Altima aggregated across 21 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Nissan Altima?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2022 Nissan Altima scores 8.6/10 — the strongest in the 2005–2025 range. 20 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Nissan Altima year should I avoid?
The 2013 Nissan Altima scores 5.6/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 2,302 owner complaints with NHTSA, 4 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2013 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Nissan Altima should I avoid?
On the NHTSA complaint and recall record, the model years to be most careful with are 2020 (avoid — the electrical system — 6 fire-related complaints on the electrical system); 2017 (avoid — the powertrain — powertrain: 129 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 50,000–88,000 mi); 2016 (avoid — the electrical system — 1 fatality report and 1 fire-related complaint on the electrical system); 2015 (avoid — the powertrain — powertrain: 156 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 32,594–90,000 mi); 2009 (avoid — the cruise-control — 1 fatality report and 9 crash-related complaints on the cruise-control); 2008 (avoid — the powertrain — 6 fire-related complaints on the engine). The cleaner years on the data are 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018. This is our read of the federal data, not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection of the specific vehicle.
How many years of the Nissan Altima are tracked?
21 model years (2005 through 2025) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 33 recalls and 12,066 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Nissan Altima?
powertrain is the most-reported category — 1,905 complaints across 17 model years. Average shop repair runs about $2,500.