2021 NISSAN ALTIMA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
95
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
15
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA
The 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA has received a total of 95 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. 15 technical service bulletins have been issued by Nissan North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (16 complaints), Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking (16 complaints), and Service Brakes (15 complaints).
Recalls for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA, potentially affecting up to 464,942 vehicles.
Recall 23V628000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
| 153,376 vehicles affected
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: 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 camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner...
View full details →Recall 23V628000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
| 153,376 vehicles affected
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: 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 camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner...
View full details →Recall 23V628000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
| 153,376 vehicles affected
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: 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 camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner...
View full details →Recall 21V138000 — STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
| 2,407 vehicles affected
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
Consequence: 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, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's...
View full details →Recall 21V138000 — STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
| 2,407 vehicles affected
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
Consequence: 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, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA
95 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention Warnings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systeminstrument Panelspeedometerodometer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
Passenger back locks stopped working first. Then driver side back locks. Now both driver and passenger front locks will not lock/unlock automatically. This is scary when not being able to get in/out of vehicle for an emergency. I have reviewed multiple complaints and it appears this is a very common Nissan problem that needs to be addressed before it becomes a bigger safety problem.
Passenger back locks stopped working first. Then driver side back locks. Now both driver and passenger front locks will not lock/unlock automatically. This is scary when not being able to get in/out of vehicle for an emergency. I have reviewed multiple complaints and it appears this is a very common Nissan problem that needs to be addressed before it becomes a bigger safety problem.
Back up camera display distorted
Vehicle Breaking on Its Own While Driving I am writing to file a formal safety complaint and to demand immediate corporate intervention regarding an extremely dangerous mechanical/ADAS defect. My Nissan Altima has serious, ongoing safety issues where the vehicle will unexpectedly and aggressively apply the brakes on its own while I am driving, including on highways and regular roads. This defect happens without my input, without warning, and creates a major risk of being rear-ended, losing control of the vehicle, or causing a serious accident. This issue is Not minor. It is a life-threatening malfunction that makes the vehicle unsafe to operate. I have taken the vehicle to authorized Nissan dealerships for diagnosis and repair on multiple occasions & originally they told me it should be under warranty & when they spoke to the dealership they said it did not qualify under the warranty nor the extra insurance purchased & i'd have to come out of pocket for repairs. A vehicle that breaks on its own, especially at highway speeds – is not safe, not reliable, and not roadworthy. This situation has gone on for years and the vehicle is now a clear danger to me and the public and my three minor children who ride in the car with me. I am requesting immediate action and a good-faith resolution.
Vehicle Breaking on Its Own While Driving I am writing to file a formal safety complaint and to demand immediate corporate intervention regarding an extremely dangerous mechanical/ADAS defect. My Nissan Altima has serious, ongoing safety issues where the vehicle will unexpectedly and aggressively apply the brakes on its own while I am driving, including on highways and regular roads. This defect happens without my input, without warning, and creates a major risk of being rear-ended, losing control of the vehicle, or causing a serious accident. This issue is Not minor. It is a life-threatening malfunction that makes the vehicle unsafe to operate. I have taken the vehicle to authorized Nissan dealerships for diagnosis and repair on multiple occasions & originally they told me it should be under warranty & when they spoke to the dealership they said it did not qualify under the warranty nor the extra insurance purchased & i'd have to come out of pocket for repairs. A vehicle that breaks on its own, especially at highway speeds – is not safe, not reliable, and not roadworthy. This situation has gone on for years and the vehicle is now a clear danger to me and the public and my three minor children who ride in the car with me. I am requesting immediate action and a good-faith resolution.
Safety Rating for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA
The 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA
Nissan North America, Inc. has issued 15 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
NTB17-003F — POWER TRAIN
FLUID LEAK CAUSED BY TRANSFER ASSEMBLY RIGHT SIDE DRIVE SHAFT OIL SEAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB22-051B — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HORN INOPERATIVE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB22-038B — BACK OVER PREVENTION
RAB WARNING LIGHT ON IN INSTRUMENT PANEL AND/OR DTC B2724-23 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB22-073A — BACK OVER PREVENTION
REAR AUTOMATIC BRAKING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND/OR DTC C1B56-04 AND/OR C1B56-97 STORED IN THE ADAS CONTROL UNIT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB22-073A — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REAR AUTOMATIC BRAKING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND/OR DTC C1B56-04 AND/OR C1B56-97 STORED IN THE ADAS CONTROL UNIT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB15-049Y — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB22-073 — BACK OVER PREVENTION
REAR AUTOMATIC BRAKING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND/OR DTC C1B56-04 OR C1B56-97 STORED IN THE ICC/ADAS2 CONTROL MODULE SERVICE INFORMATION If the customer states the rear automatic braking (RAB) warning light was illuminated and âMalfunction See Ownerâs Manualâ appears in the message center (Figure 1), AND / OR DTC C1B56-04 and/or...
NTB22-020 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE INFORMATION FOR BRAKE SWITCH ADJUSTMENT FOR DTC C1142 AND/OR C1116 STORED SERVICE INFORMATION DTC C1142 (PRESS SEN CIRCUIT) and/or C1116 (STOP LAMP SW) may be stored if the Stop Lamp Switch and/or the Brake Pedal Position Switch are out of adjustment. Before replacing any components for DTCs C1142 (PRESS...
NTB13-097J — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB20-076A — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NO ENGINE COVER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY below. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing 10 of 15 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the NISSAN ALTIMA
- 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA — 773 complaints
- 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA — 497 complaints
- 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA — 314 complaints
- 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA — 323 complaints
- 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA — 263 complaints
- 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA (current)
- 2022 NISSAN ALTIMA — 50 complaints
- 2023 NISSAN ALTIMA — 33 complaints
- 2024 NISSAN ALTIMA — 50 complaints
- 2025 NISSAN ALTIMA — 6 complaints
- 2026 NISSAN ALTIMA — 0 complaints
Other NISSAN Models
- NISSAN PATHFINDER — 10,111 total complaints
- NISSAN ROGUE — 9,608 total complaints
- NISSAN MAXIMA — 8,834 total complaints
- NISSAN SENTRA — 8,129 total complaints
- NISSAN MURANO — 7,410 total complaints
- NISSAN VERSA — 4,436 total complaints
- NISSAN FRONTIER — 4,425 total complaints
- NISSAN TITAN — 4,412 total complaints