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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 trimsAll Nissan cars

The verdict

Best year: 2023. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 55; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 2012. complaints: 423, about 2.6x this model's typical 164; recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Nissan Altima
YearTrimsMPGHPFuel costRecallsComplaintsInvestigationsTSBsTop complaintsVerdict
19982Gas23.5no data$2,650no datano data0no datano data
19992Gas23.5no data$2,650no datano data0no datano data
20002Gas22.5no data$2,775no datano data0no datano data
20012Gas22no data$2,825no datano data0no datano data
20024Gas22no data$2,825no datano data0no datano data
20034Gas22no data$2,825no datano data0no datano data
20044Gas22no data$2,825no datano data0no datano data
20055Gas21no data$2,950no datano data0no datano data
20065Gas21no data$2,950no datano data0no datano data
20075Gas, Hybrid26no data$2,400no datano data0no datano data
20089Gas, Hybrid26no data$2,400no datano data0no datano data
20099Gas, Hybrid26no data$2,400no datano data0no datano data
20108Gas, Hybrid24.5no data$2,55033801135ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, POWER TRAIN 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
20117Gas, Hybrid26no data$2,40012411130POWER TRAIN 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, ENGINE 11%
20126Gas24.5no data$2,55044231117POWER TRAIN 26%, ENGINE 12%, AIR BAGS 10%
20133Gas26no data$2,400122,3025 (1 open)356AIR BAGS 17%, POWER TRAIN 17%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15%
20142Gas28no data$2,250005 (1 open)303no data
20152Gas28.5no data$2,200109403 (1 open)317EXTERIOR LIGHTING 22%, AIR BAGS 14%, POWER TRAIN 13%
20162Gas28.5no data$2,200003 (1 open)309no data
20172Gas28.5no data$2,200003 (1 open)238no data
20182Gas28.5179$2,20022214 (2 open)186UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, SERVICE BRAKES 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
20193Gas30no data$2,10072202 (1 open)187ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 13%
20203Gas30no data$2,10061712 (1 open)147ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, ENGINE 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
20213Gas29182$2,1502612 (1 open)108FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%, SERVICE BRAKES 16%
20223Gas30182$2,100001 (1 open)84no data
20232Gas30182$2,07500058no data
20242Gas30no data$2,075139016UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 9%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 9%
20252Gas29.5no data$2,0501602AIR BAGS 10%, BACK OVER PREVENTION 10%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
20262Gas29no data$2,075no datano data0no datano data

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1998: 23.5 to 2026: 29
Owner complaints2010: 380 to 2025: 6
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.