2018 Nissan Altima
Common Problems
Ranked from 107 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
20 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
Automatic Braking System Issues
16complaintsMedium severityBrakesThe automatic braking system intermittently fails, causing false warnings or unexpected braking actions, especially when triggered by minor obstacles like leaves.
- 2
Front Radar Sensor Malfunction
16complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe front radar sensor frequently malfunctions, causing warnings such as 'Front Radar Unavailable Due to Obstruction' and disabling features like automatic emergency braking.
- 3
Airbag System Malfunction
13complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe airbag system malfunctions, with the airbag warning light frequently coming on and not deploying in accidents.
- 4
Headlight Malfunction
10complaintsMedium severityOtherHeadlights become dim and fail to function properly, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing the risk of accidents.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
CVT Transmission Failure
9complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe continuously variable transmission (CVT) frequently fails, leading to sudden drops in acceleration and jerky shifts.
$3,500–$6,500est. cvt replacement · 8–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Automatic Emergency Braking System Malfunctions
7complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system intermittently malfunctions, turning on and off randomly or failing to apply brakes in emergency situations.
- 7
Air bag warning light malfunction
6complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe air bag warning light illuminates without an accident, indicating a potential issue with the air bag system.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) system malfunction
6complaintsSafety riskOtherThe automatic emergency braking system stops working or malfunctions, leading to potential crashes.
- 9
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Issues
5complaintsMedium severityOtherThe electronic stability control system frequently malfunctions, causing random warnings and occasional unexpected braking actions.
- 10
Forward Collision Sensor Issues
4complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe forward collision sensor frequently reports false warnings or becomes unavailable, affecting the functionality of the AEB system.
- 11
Transmission Jerking and Stalling
4complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission intermittently jerks and stalls, causing sudden drops in speed and requiring immediate braking to avoid collisions.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Backup camera malfunction
3complaintsLow severityElectricalThe backup camera intermittently goes black or provides poor video quality, affecting visibility during reverse maneuvers.
$250–$800est. backup camera replacement · 1–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Brake Light Switch Issues
3complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe brake light switch repeatedly fails, causing the car to not start or the brake lights to not function properly.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Check Engine Light Issues
3complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe check engine light frequently comes on, indicating various issues ranging from catalytic converter failures to electrical system malfunctions.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 15
Hood Latch System Failure
3complaintsMedium severityOtherThe hood latch system fails, causing the hood to unexpectedly open or close, potentially leading to damage or injury.
- 16
Power Door Lock Actuator Failure
3complaintsLow severityElectricalThe power door lock actuators fail, preventing the doors from locking or unlocking, posing a safety risk.
$200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 17
Service brake issues
3complaintsMedium severityOtherIssues with the service brakes cause the brake pedal to feel hard or the car to not start properly.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 18
Suspension Component Failure
3complaintsMedium severitySuspensionSuspension components such as torque strut mounts and motor mounts fail, causing instability and potential loss of control.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 19
Engine Stall at Idle
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls at idle, often due to issues with the stop-start system, causing inconvenience and potential safety risks.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 20
Steering wheel vibration and shaking
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel vibrates and shakes while driving, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
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.