2016 Nissan Altima
Common Problems
Ranked from 251 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
13 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Hood latch failure causing hood to open while driving
76complaintsSafety riskOtherThe hood latch can fail, causing the hood to open unexpectedly and potentially damaging the windshield or other parts of the car.
- 2
Transmission failure leading to jerking and stalling
72complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe transmission fails to change gears smoothly, causing the car to jerk and stall, especially under acceleration.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Transmission issues leading to stalling and loss of power
66complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission may stall or lose power during acceleration, leading to potential loss of control and accidents.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Electrical system issues causing check engine light to illuminate
37complaintsHigh severityElectricalCheck engine lights may illuminate due to various electrical system failures, affecting the car's performance and safety.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Steering issues leading to difficulty in controlling the vehicle
32complaintsHigh severitySteeringSteering may become difficult or unresponsive, especially during parking or when accelerating, posing a risk to the driver.
- 6
Dim Headlights
24complaintsMedium severityOtherHeadlights become dim, reducing nighttime visibility significantly.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Stalling and Unpredictable Power Loss
9complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe vehicle frequently stalls and experiences unpredictable power loss, especially on highways.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
CVT Transmission Issues
5complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe continuously variable transmission (CVT) experiences shuddering, popping in and out of gear, and loss of power during acceleration.
$3,500–$6,500est. cvt replacement · 8–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Dim or failing exterior lighting
5complaintsMedium severityElectricalHeadlights and other exterior lights become dim or fail to function properly, reducing visibility at night.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Transmission Shifting Issues
4complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission fails to shift properly, causing the car to hesitate or stall during driving.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Faulty hood latch causing safety risks
3complaintsHigh severityOtherThe hood latch fails, potentially causing loss of visibility and safety hazards on the road.
- 12
Transmission Slipping and Jerking
3complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission may slip or fail to engage properly, causing the vehicle to jerk and lurch while driving.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Structural Issues
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThere are issues with the trunk mechanism, including failure to stay up and lock properly, and structural damage from overheating.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.