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2020 Nissan Altima Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 180 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
30/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2020 Nissan Altima

The 2020 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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6
NHTSA Recalls
6 recalls on record
180
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
16
Crash Reports
7 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Nissan Altima (6)

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

🔧 Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly
A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31,…
NHTSA #21V138000
🔧 Tires
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact…
NHTSA #21V169000
🔧 Visibility: Glass, Side/Rear
Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's…
NHTSA #20V570000
🔧 Tires
Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020….
NHTSA #20V685000
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview…
NHTSA #23V628000
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer…
NHTSA #25V437000
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Most Common Problems — 2020 Nissan Altima

Based on 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
40
Unknown Or Other
23
Steering
20
Engine
17
Power Train
16
Service Brakes
9
Air Bags
7
Visibility/wiper
6
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Nissan Altima — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.

2014 1,113 complaints 2015 955 complaints 2016 554 complaints 2017 392 complaints 2018 226 complaints 2019 233 complaints 2020 180 complaints 2021 70 complaints 2022 20 complaints 2023 30 complaints 2024 41 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2014, 2015 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2021, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Nissan Altima

Is the 2020 Nissan Altima reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Nissan Altima has 6 recall campaigns and 180 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 2020 Nissan Altima have?
The 2020 Nissan Altima has 6 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 2020 Nissan Altima?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Nissan Altima are: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Steering, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Nissan Altima safe to buy?
The 2020 Nissan Altima has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 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: 2021, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2014, 2015.
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.