Nissan

Altima

Midsize Cars · model years 1998 to 2026

Includes Altima, Altima AWD, Altima AWD SR/Platinum and 2 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 107 Altima trims All Nissan cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 1, below this model's typical 159; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2002. complaints: 1047, about 3.3x this model's typical 318; recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Nissan Altima
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1998	2Gas	23.5	no data	$2,650	0	123	0	no data	AIR BAGS 11%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10%
complaints: 123, below this model's typical 159 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	2Gas	23.5	no data	$2,650	0	87	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 13%, AIR BAGS 12%, TIRES 11%
complaints: 87, below this model's typical 159 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	2Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	1	160	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%
complaints: 160, above this model's typical 159 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	2Gas	22	no data	$2,825	1	159	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 30%, SUSPENSION 10%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 159, in line with this model's typical 159 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 32 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	5	1,047	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 48%, STRUCTURE 10%, ENGINE 7%
complaints: 1047, about 3.3x this model's typical 318 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 27 complaints reporting a fire: 28 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	4	883	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 42%, STRUCTURE 12%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 883, about 2.8x this model's typical 318 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 13 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	1	276	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 34%, STRUCTURE 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 276, below this model's typical 318 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	1	1,091	0	no data	STRUCTURE 26%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 19%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 1091, about 2.7x this model's typical 398 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 62 complaints reporting a fire: 18 Score: 21 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	3	824	0	no data	STRUCTURE 21%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, ENGINE 16%
complaints: 824, about 2.1x this model's typical 398 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 52 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 22 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	5Gas, Hybrid	26	no data	$2,400	3	498	0	no data	SUSPENSION 20%, AIR BAGS 11%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 498, above this model's typical 398 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 22 Score: 15 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	9Gas, Hybrid	26	no data	$2,400	4	1,046	0	no data	STRUCTURE 22%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 12%
complaints: 1046, above this model's typical 716 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 34 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 3 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	9Gas, Hybrid	26	no data	$2,400	4	1,601	0	no data	STEERING 40%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7%
complaints: 1601, about 2.2x this model's typical 716 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	8Gas, Hybrid	24.5	no data	$2,550	3	393	1	135	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, POWER TRAIN 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
complaints: 393, below this model's typical 636 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 37 complaints reporting a fire: 11 Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	7Gas, Hybrid	26	no data	$2,400	1	245	1	130	POWER TRAIN 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, ENGINE 12%
complaints: 245, below this model's typical 557 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	6Gas	24.5	no data	$2,550	4	426	1	117	POWER TRAIN 26%, ENGINE 12%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 426, below this model's typical 477 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 26 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	3Gas	26	no data	$2,400	12	2,312	5 (1 open)	356	AIR BAGS 17%, POWER TRAIN 17%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15%
complaints: 2312, about 9.7x this model's typical 239 recalls: 12, about 4x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 48 complaints reporting a fire: 9 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	2Gas	28	no data	$2,250	8	1,114	5 (1 open)	303	EXTERIOR LIGHTING 22%, POWER TRAIN 15%, AIR BAGS 15%
complaints: 1114, about 7x this model's typical 159 recalls: 8, about 2.7x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 60 complaints reporting a fire: 8 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.1 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	2Gas	28.5	no data	$2,200	10	954	3 (1 open)	317	EXTERIOR LIGHTING 22%, AIR BAGS 15%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 954, about 6x this model's typical 159 recalls: 10, about 3.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 27 complaints reporting a fire: 5 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Gas	28.5	no data	$2,200	4	553	3 (1 open)	309	POWER TRAIN 30%, ENGINE 11%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 553, about 3.5x this model's typical 159 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 32 complaints reporting a fire: 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Gas	28.5	no data	$2,200	3	391	3 (1 open)	238	POWER TRAIN 26%, AIR BAGS 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 391, about 2.5x this model's typical 159 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 7 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 7 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Gas	28.5	179	$2,200	2	226	4 (2 open)	186	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, SERVICE BRAKES 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 226, above this model's typical 159 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 open NHTSA investigations: 2 Score: 38 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	3Gas	30	no data	$2,100	7	232	2 (1 open)	187	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 14%
complaints: 232, below this model's typical 239 recalls: 7, about 2.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 5 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 20 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	3Gas	30	no data	$2,100	6	158	2 (1 open)	147	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 13%
complaints: 158, below this model's typical 239 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 5 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 17 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	3Gas	29	182	$2,150	2	70	2 (1 open)	108	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%, SERVICE BRAKES 15%
complaints: 70, below this model's typical 239 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	3Gas	30	182	$2,100	0	31	1 (1 open)	84	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 31, below this model's typical 239 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	2Gas	30	182	$2,075	0	29	0	58	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27%, ENGINE 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 29, below this model's typical 159 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	2Gas	30	no data	$2,075	1	41	0	16	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, ENGINE 8%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 8%
complaints: 41, below this model's typical 159 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	2Gas	29.5	no data	$2,275	2	7	0	2	AIR BAGS 8%, BACK OVER PREVENTION 8%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 7, below this model's typical 159 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	2Gas	29	no data	$2,325	0	1	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 50%, LANE DEPARTURE 50%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 159 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1998: 23.5 to 2026: 29

Owner complaints1998: 123 to 2026: 1

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Nissan Altima to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.