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2016 Nissan Altima Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 554 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
36/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Nissan Altima

The 2016 Nissan Altima shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
554
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
28
Crash Reports
3 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Nissan Altima (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Nissan dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Structure: Emergency: Escape/Egress/Exit
If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners…
NHTSA #18V915000
🔧 Latches/Locks/Linkages: Doors: Latch
If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service…
NHTSA #17V040000
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU)…
NHTSA #16V244000
🔧 Latches/Locks/Linkages: Hood: Latch
Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly…
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owner’s Manual addendum…
NHTSA #20V315000
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Nissan Altima

Based on 554 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
231
Air Bags
63
Unknown Or Other
49
Exterior Lighting
38
Electrical System
32
Vehicle Speed Control
28
Structure
22
Engine
19
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Nissan Altima — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

2010 381 complaints 2011 241 complaints 2012 426 complaints 2013 2,313 complaints 2014 1,113 complaints 2015 955 complaints 2016 554 complaints 2017 392 complaints 2018 226 complaints 2019 233 complaints 2020 180 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2013 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2011, 2018, 2019 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Nissan Altima

Is the 2016 Nissan Altima reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Nissan Altima has 4 recall campaigns and 554 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Altima have?
The 2016 Nissan Altima has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Nissan Altima?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Nissan Altima are: Power Train, Air Bags, Unknown Or Other, Exterior Lighting. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Nissan Altima safe to buy?
The 2016 Nissan Altima has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Nissan Altima should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Nissan Altima are: 2011, 2018, 2019. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2013.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.