MileageCurve
  1. Home
  2. Nissan
  3. Altima 2007–2012

Nissan Altima 2007–2012 problems by year and mileage

4th generation (L32)

NHTSA data through 24 September 20264,206 complaints, 3,144 with mileageMethod

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

The 2007 Nissan Altima

Close
Median failure report
60,000 mi
Complaints filed
498
Recalls naming this year
3

Most reported on the 2007

  1. Suspension127 reports · median 61,000 mi
  2. Airbag system71 reports · median 40,000 mi
  3. Transmission and driveline62 reports · median 103,000 mi

3 recall campaigns name the 2007: Electrical system — software; Electrical system — ignition; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2008 Nissan Altima

Close
Median failure report
70,000 mi
Complaints filed
1,044
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2008

  1. Body structure312 reports · median 65,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise199 reports · median 92,000 mi
  3. Visibility/wiper168 reports · median 73,000 mi

4 recall campaigns name the 2008: Equipment — electrical; Electrical system — software; Suspension. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2009 Nissan Altima

Close
Median failure report
79,000 mi
Complaints filed
1,601
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2009

  1. Steering885 reports · median 80,000 mi
  2. Electrical system487 reports · median 78,000 mi
  3. Problems owners could not categorise151 reports · median 94,000 mi

4 recall campaigns name the 2009: Equipment — electrical; Suspension; Structure — body. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2010 Nissan Altima

Close
Median failure report
54,000 mi
Complaints filed
392
Recalls naming this year
3

Most reported on the 2010

  1. Electrical system78 reports · median 48,000 mi
  2. Transmission and driveline75 reports · median 55,000 mi
  3. Problems owners could not categorise70 reports

3 recall campaigns name the 2010: Equipment — electrical; Structure; Suspension. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2011 Nissan Altima

Close
Median failure report
69,000 mi
Complaints filed
245
Recalls naming this year
1

Most reported on the 2011

  1. Transmission and driveline69 reports · median 100,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise40 reports
  3. Engine38 reports

1 recall campaign names the 2011: Suspension. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2012 Nissan Altima

Close
Median failure report
75,000 mi
Complaints filed
426
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2012

  1. Transmission and driveline149 reports · median 93,000 mi
  2. Engine68 reports · median 80,000 mi
  3. Airbag system57 reports · median 51,000 mi

4 recall campaigns name the 2012: Suspension; Air bags — side/window; Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2009 reports latest and the 2010 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2009 has had 1 more year on the road to accumulate mileage.

The short answer

“Is the 2007–2012 Nissan Altima reliable?”

Median of reported failures
72,000 mi
90% of reports came by
136,000 mi
Reports with mileage
3,144
Recalls
13

Most reported

  1. Steering23.5% of complaints · median 79,000 mi
  2. Electrical system18.5% of complaints · median 73,000 mi
  3. Problems owners could not categorise13.2% of complaints · median 86,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 4,206 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2012 Nissan Altima; the steering leads with 23.5% of them, and half of the 3,144 that record an odometer reading came by 72,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.

Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 42,000 and 103,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 2007–2012 Nissan Altima last?

Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2007–2012 Nissan Altima, half of the 3,144 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 72,000 miles and 90% by 136,000 miles.

196 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 29 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Altima reached that mileage, not that it failed there.

Figure 1 · Nissan Altima 2007–2012 · 3,144 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 191 complaints.

Mileage at failure, Nissan Altima 2007–2012Histogram of 3,144 owner-reported failures by mileage, in 5,000-mile bins from 0 to 200,000. The tallest bin is 0 to 5,000 miles with 191 complaints, 6.1 percent of the total. Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 42,000 and 103,000 miles. A further 29 complaints, 0.9 percent, were reported above 200,000 miles and are shown as a separate detached bar. Median mileage at failure is 72,000.
  • Rest of the range
  • Median
  • 200,000+ — 29 complaints (0.9%), plotted separately
10%
14,500
25%
42,000
Median
72,000
75%
103,000
90%
135,700

Tallest bin: 191 complaints between 0 and 5,000 miles. Based on 3,144 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 5,000 miles.

Show the numbers
Complaints by mileage bin
MileageComplaintsShare
0–5,0001916.1%
5,000–10,000642.0%
10,000–15,000642.0%
15,000–20,000611.9%
20,000–25,000652.1%
25,000–30,000762.4%
30,000–35,000973.1%
35,000–40,0001003.2%
40,000–45,0001294.1%
45,000–50,000983.1%
50,000–55,0001264.0%
55,000–60,0001284.1%
60,000–65,0001595.1%
65,000–70,0001274.0%
70,000–75,0001645.2%
75,000–80,0001193.8%
80,000–85,0001494.7%
85,000–90,000963.1%
90,000–95,0001364.3%
95,000–100,0001033.3%
100,000–105,0001264.0%
105,000–110,000581.8%
110,000–115,000902.9%
115,000–120,000622.0%
120,000–125,000912.9%
125,000–130,000692.2%
130,000–135,000652.1%
135,000–140,000461.5%
140,000–145,000401.3%
145,000–150,000491.6%
150,000–155,000411.3%
155,000–160,000160.5%
160,000–165,000210.7%
165,000–170,000120.4%
170,000–175,000230.7%
175,000–180,000200.6%
180,000–185,000120.4%
185,000–190,00070.2%
190,000–195,000120.4%
195,000–200,00030.1%
200,000+290.9%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.

What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.

Common Altima problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Nissan Altima 2007–2012

When each system fails

Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.

  1. Airbag system449 reports59,00019,000–101,000Airbag system: 449 reports, median 59,000 miles, middle half 19,000 to 101,000 miles.
  2. Body structure523 reports65,00040,000–89,000Body structure: 523 reports, median 65,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 89,000 miles.
  3. Electrical system778 reports73,00047,000–100,000Electrical system: 778 reports, median 73,000 miles, middle half 47,000 to 100,000 miles.
  4. Steering990 reports79,00059,000–105,000Steering: 990 reports, median 79,000 miles, middle half 59,000 to 105,000 miles.
  5. Engine364 reports82,00055,000–120,000Engine: 364 reports, median 82,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 120,000 miles.
  6. Problems owners could not categorise555 reports86,00060,000–117,000Problems owners could not categorise: 555 reports, median 86,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 117,000 miles.
  7. Transmission and driveline533 reports97,00057,000–127,000Transmission and driveline: 533 reports, median 97,000 miles, middle half 57,000 to 127,000 miles.
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

All systems in a table
Complaints by vehicle system
SystemComplaintsShareMedian25–75%
Steering99023.5%79,00059,000–105,000
Electrical system77818.5%73,00047,000–100,000
Problems owners could not categorise55513.2%86,00060,000–117,000
Transmission and driveline53312.7%97,00057,000–127,000
Body structure52312.4%65,00040,000–89,000
Airbag system44910.7%59,00019,000–101,000
Engine3648.7%82,00055,000–120,000
Visibility/wiper2576.1%70,00044,000–95,000
Suspension2395.7%66,00042,000–93,000
Throttle and speed control1884.5%71,00026,000–121,000
System by system, in words

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 72,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The steering accounts for 23.5% of complaints (990 reports, 811 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,000 and 105,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 18.5% of complaints (778 reports, 631 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 73,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,000 and 100,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 13.2% of complaints (555 reports, 284 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 117,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 12.7% of complaints (533 reports, 425 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 97,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 57,000 and 127,000 miles.

Body structure accounts for 12.4% of complaints (523 reports, 344 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 89,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 10.7% of complaints (449 reports, 321 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 59,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 101,000 miles.

Known problems with the 2007–2012 Altima

Transmission (cvt) 2007–2012

JATCO Xtronic CVT overheating and belt/pulley failure producing judder, delayed engagement and loss of drive. Nissan extended CVT coverage to 10 years / 120,000 miles on affected 2007-2010 CVT vehicles.

Electronic Steering Column Lock 2009–2012

ESCL module failure leaves the steering locked and the vehicle unable to start; addressed by recall and warranty extension.

Engine (2.5L) 2007–2012

Elevated oil consumption complaints continuing from the L31 QR25DE family.

Before you buy a 2007–2012 Altima: the 3-minute check

Generated from 3,144 mileage-tagged complaints, 13 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 13 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
  2. Check transmission (CVT) on 2007–2012 cars. JATCO Xtronic CVT overheating and belt/pulley failure producing judder, delayed engagement and loss of drive. Nissan extended CVT coverage to 10 years / 120,000 miles on affected 2007-2010 CVT vehicles.
  3. Check electronic steering column lock on 2009–2012 cars. ESCL module failure leaves the steering locked and the vehicle unable to start; addressed by recall and warranty extension.
  4. Check engine (2.5L) on 2007–2012 cars. Elevated oil consumption complaints continuing from the L31 QR25DE family.
  5. Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
  6. End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 42,000 and 103,000 miles, with a median of 72,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 73,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Altima problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.

earlier most reports on that system came below this mileage — ask for repair records. in window this mileage sits inside the middle half of its reports. later most reports came above it. That describes reports, not your odds.

Where each system’s reports sit against common odometer readings
SystemMiddle half of reports, miAt 60k mi38% belowAt 90k mi64% belowAt 120k mi82% belowAt 150k mi94% belowAt 200k mi99% below
Steering59,000–105,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Electrical system47,000–100,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Problems owners could not categorise60,000–117,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Transmission and driveline57,000–127,000in windowin windowin windowearlierearlier
Body structure40,000–89,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Airbag system19,000–101,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Engine55,000–120,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier

Figure 3 · Nissan Altima 2007–2012 · 3,144 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.

Cumulative share of reports by mileage, Nissan Altima 2007–2012Of 3,144 reports that record mileage, the share filed below each odometer reading, rising in steps at each 5,000-mile bin edge. 38 percent below 60,000 miles. 64 percent below 90,000 miles. 82 percent below 120,000 miles. 94 percent below 150,000 miles. 99 percent below 200,000 miles. Median 72,000 miles.
  • 60,000 mi — 38% of reports below
  • 90,000 mi — 64% of reports below
  • 120,000 mi — 82% of reports below
  • 150,000 mi — 94% of reports below
  • 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
  • Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it above

The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.9% of reports (29) came above 200,000 miles.

Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

2007–2012 Nissan Altima recalls (13)

NHTSA records 13 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the suspension (4), the airbag system (2), body structure (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer, for any owner. Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. Oct 2012 · 2012 · SuspensionThe affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper…

    What can happen. The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer…

    NHTSA campaign 12V-494 (2012-10-10).

  2. Feb 2012 · 2012 · Air BagsThe side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Altima and versa vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with side curtain air bags that contain an incorrect propellant mixture for the initiator component used, resulting in insufficient output of compressed gas.

    What can happen. The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bag modules, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 12, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan…

    NHTSA campaign 12V-055 (2012-02-14).

  3. Aug 2011 · 2012 · Air BagsThe affected acu will not operate as designed and this issue may cause the air bags not to inflate in a crash…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured from june 15, 2011, through june 21, 2011 and model year 2012 Nissan nv vehicles manufactured from june 23, 2011, through june 28, 2011 because the air bag control unit (acu) was…

    What can happen. The affected acu will not operate as designed and this issue may cause the air bags not to inflate in a crash when they are designed to inflate. This could increase the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Nissan will replace the air bag control unit free of charge. The safety recall began on august 22, 2011. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

    NHTSA campaign 11V-408 (2011-08-09).

  4. Jul 2011 · 2011–2012 · SuspensionIf the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Nissan Altima sedan vehicles manufactured from april 25, 2011, through june 10, 2011 at the canton, mississippi plant. The transverse link bolt may not have been torqued to the proper specification. This…

    What can happen. If the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will replace the transverse link bolts and nuts and tighten them to the proper torque specification free of charge. The safety recall began on august 8, 2011. Owners may contact Nissan at…

    NHTSA campaign 11V-371 (2011-07-19).

  5. Sep 2010 · 2008–2010 · EquipmentOverheated batteries could result in a fire.

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected gps units can overheat.

    What can happen. Overheated batteries could result in a fire.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on…

    NHTSA campaign 10V-401 (2010-09-10).

  6. May 2010 · 2010 · StructureIf several structural welds are out of specification on a single vehicle, it may have an effect on the…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 Altima vehicles manufactured from april 7, 2010 through april 13, 2010. Some of the front side member assembly components may not have been welded to specification due to a tool maintenance error.

    What can happen. If several structural welds are out of specification on a single vehicle, it may have an effect on the vehicle crash performance.

    The free fix. Dealers will inspect and if necessary repair free of charge. The safety recall began on may 13, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

    NHTSA campaign 10V-193 (2010-05-07).

  7. Sep 2009 · 2009–2010 · SuspensionIf the strut insulator is cracked, there is a potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 Altima and maxima passenger cars. The upper front strut insulators may have been manufactured out of specification resulting in a potential for the strut insulator to crack.

    What can happen. If the strut insulator is cracked, there is a potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting position, which could affect vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and dealers will replace both left and right side front strut insulators free of charge. The safety recall began october 2009. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-nissan1…

    NHTSA campaign 09V-358 (2009-09-16).

  8. Jan 2009 · 2009 · StructureThis does not meet the standard requirements.

    The defect. Nissan is recalling 225 my 2009 Altima vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 214, "Side impact protection." These vehicles may have been manufactured with an out-of-specification weld on the door…

    What can happen. This does not meet the standard requirements.

    The free fix. All the affected vehicles have been brought back from the dealerships and remedied at the factory. No vehicles had been retailed.

    NHTSA campaign 09V-006 (2009-01-09).

  9. Oct 2008 · 2007–2008 · Electrical SystemThis could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling 204,361 my 2007-2008 Altima, Altima hybrid, 350z, 350z roadster, my 2008 Altima coupe, rogue, my 2009 murano, and Infiniti my 2007-2008 G35 sedan, my 2008 G37 coupe and ex35 passenger vehicles equipped with continental automotive systems'…

    What can happen. This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.

    The free fix. Dealers will test the signal between the ocs and acu systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed. If necessary, the seat cushion (containing ocs hardware) will be…

    NHTSA campaign 08V-521 (2008-10-07).

  10. Sep 2008 · 2009 · WheelsIf the lug nuts become loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a crash without warning.

    The defect. Nissan is recalling 3,403 my 2009 Altima vehicles equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels. Some these wheels may not have been manufactured to specification. This could cause one or more of the five lug nuts attaching the wheel to the vehicle to become loose.

    What can happen. If the lug nuts become loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a crash without warning.

    The free fix. Dealers will inspect the vehicle to determine if it is equipped with one of the affected wheels. If it is, the wheels will be replaced with new ones that have been manufactured to the correct…

    NHTSA campaign 08V-464 (2008-09-15).

  11. Jul 2008 · 2008 · SuspensionIf the bolt were to come out, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling 1,018 my 2008 Altima vehicles. The left side front suspension transverse link bolt may not have been tightened to specification. This condition could cause the bolt to become loose while the vehicle is being driven.

    What can happen. If the bolt were to come out, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.

    The free fix. Dealers will tighten the transverse link bolt to specification free of charge. The recall began on august 11, 2008. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

    NHTSA campaign 08V-363 (2008-07-31).

  12. Dec 2007 · 2007–2008 · Electrical SystemDriving on under-inflated tires is unsafe and could result in a crash.

    The defect. On certain passenger vehicles that have had the body control module (bcm) replaced during service at a dealership, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may have been inadvertently deactivated due to an issue with the dealer service software. If the TPMS…

    What can happen. Driving on under-inflated tires is unsafe and could result in a crash.

    The free fix. Dealers will check the TPMS function and reactivate it if necessary. The recall began on january 18, 2008. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

    NHTSA campaign 07V-599 (2007-12-28).

  13. Jun 2007 · 2007 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the air filter material ignites, a fire may occur.

    The defect. On certain vehicles, if a sufficiently hot object enters the air filter housing through the engine fresh air intake system and contacts the engine air filter, the flammability characteristics of the air filter material are such that the filter may ignite.

    What can happen. If the air filter material ignites, a fire may occur.

    The free fix. Dealers will replace the air filter with a new one that has improved anti-flammability material characteristics. The recall began on july 3, 2007, and will continue through october 1, 2007. Owners…

    NHTSA campaign 07V-267 (2007-06-21).

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 4,206 complaints against this generation:

Crashes
186 (4.4%)
Fires
62
Injury reports
101
Fatality reports
6

These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.

Altima problems by model year

The 2009 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,601, most of them about the steering, and the 2011 the fewest, 245. A typical year drew about 462.

That makes the 2009 stand out at roughly 3.5 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.

Complaints by model year
YearComplaintsWith mileageMedian milesMost reportedRecalls
200749839460,000Suspension (127)3
20081,04469770,000Body structure (312)4
20091,6011,28879,000Steering (885)4
201039228254,000Electrical system (78)3
201124517669,000Transmission and driveline (69)1
201242630775,000Transmission and driveline (149)4

What Altima owners reported

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered severe corrosion on the rear cross-member. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive because the corrosion affected several parts of the vehicle. The mechanic informed the contact about NHTSA…

2010 · 95,000 miles · Suspension

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle using the key fob, the vehicle failed to start. The contact depressed the brake pedal and ignition button, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact was unable to depress the brake pedal to start the vehicle. The contact…

2009 · 80,000 miles · Electrical system

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA…

2009 · 166,000 miles · Airbag system

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle, followed by a dragging sound. The contact also stated that the vehicle began to shake abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over…

2012 · 236,000 miles · Suspension

Built from 3,144 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built

Other Altima generations

Other midsize cars from the same years