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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2020 Nissan Altima
Common Problems

Ranked from 62 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

7
High severity
3
Medium
1
Low

11 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.

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  1. 1

    Door Lock Malfunction

    14complaints
    High severityElectrical

    All four door locks fail intermittently, preventing locking or unlocking, posing a safety hazard.

    $200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  2. 2

    Electrical System Failure Causing Random Malfunctions

    13complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Random malfunctions in the electrical system, such as key system errors and forward collision avoidance system failures, occur without warning.

  3. 3

    Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction

    9complaints
    High severityOther

    The forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, leading to unexpected braking and potential crashes.

  4. 4

    Engine Malfunction and Overheating

    8complaints
    High severityEngine

    Engine malfunctions and overheats, leading to reduced power and potential engine failure.

    $150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recall: 25V437000

  5. 5

    Air Bag System Failure

    6complaints
    High severityElectrical

    Air bag systems fail to deploy during collisions, increasing the risk of injury.

  6. 6

    Odometer Fraud

    5complaints
    High severityOther

    Mileage discrepancies between purchase and actual odometer readings, indicating odometer fraud.

  7. 7

    Steering Wheel Seizure

    5complaints
    High severitySteering

    The steering wheel seizes during turns, requiring the vehicle to be restarted to resume normal operation.

    Related recall: 21V138000

  8. 8

    Vehicle Catching Fire

    5complaints
    High severityFuel system

    Multiple reports of the vehicle catching fire, often due to electrical system failures, posing a significant safety risk.

  9. 9

    Windshield Cracking

    3complaints
    Low severityOther

    Windshields are cracking without apparent cause or damage, even with minimal miles on the car.

  10. 10

    Vehicle Speed Control Issues

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The vehicle unexpectedly accelerates or decelerates without warning, posing a risk of accidents.

  11. 11

    Windshield Cracking Without Cause

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Windshields crack spontaneously, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents.

Other years & sources

2010 Nissan Altima2011 Nissan Altima2016 Nissan Altima2017 Nissan Altima2018 Nissan Altima2019 Nissan AltimaAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

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.