2018 Nissan Altima Complaints

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/05/2026

The passenger‑side airbag warning light first appeared within the first year of ownership. During that visit, the dealership did not repair the defect. They only reset the warning light and told me it was not a problem. No diagnostic documentation or repair explanation was provided, and the underlying issue was not addressed. The warning light returned in April 2026, showing the same unresolved defect. The dealership stated the repair would cost approximately $2,000 and said neither the Certified Pre‑Owned warranty nor the extended warranty would cover the airbag system. This contradicts the nature of the failure and the prior visit, where the defect was dismissed instead of repaired. This is a repeat failure involving a federally regulated safety component. The airbag system may not deploy properly, and the vehicle has been operating with an unresolved safety defect since the initial visit. The problem has been confirmed by the dealership, and the warning lamp continues to illuminate. The defect has not been corrected by the manufacturer, despite multiple attempts to seek assistance.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 08/16/2026

While driving at regular road speeds, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic safety component failure. The primary hood latch disengaged, and the secondary safety backup latch failed to catch or secure the hood. This caused the hood to violently slam completely open against the front windshield without warning, instantly and totally obscuring forward vision while the vehicle was in motion. This failure created an immediate, extreme crash risk for the vehicle occupants and other drivers on the road. Prior to the incident, there were absolutely no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or audible symptoms indicating a problem with either latch mechanism. The failed latch mechanism and the damaged vehicle have been safely preserved and are fully available for a complete inspection upon request. At this time, the vehicle has not yet been inspected or reproduced by a dealer, independent service center, the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, as the failure just occurred. This vehicle model and year are direct subjects of NHTSA Recall Campaign Number 20V-315 for this exact dangerous secondary latch defect, and the vehicle suffered the precise catastrophic safety failure detailed in that federal manufacturer safety bulletin. ]

POWER TRAIN — Filed 06/30/2026

I am currently experiencing CVT failure as of I have filed a case with the nissan consumer affairs unit, case number 56846043. I was advised that even though there was a class action suit in 2022 for CVT issues, my CVT Warranty Extension expired on 12/09/2024 for this class action suit. I purchased the car in May of 2025. The dealership failed to mention the class action suit or there were problems with the transmission. Since this is a well known issues, I am requesting help with the cost of repairs.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 06/06/2026

So I have the 2.5L QR25DE engine with the exact exhaust failure from campaign PC717, and I need Goodwill Assistance because the part failed identically.

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/27/2026

Transmission stopped working on me in the highway cvt code that comes up is P17f0 was in the highway going 45 mph then dropped 5 mph very dangerous. Almost crashed

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/25/2025

The warning light on the dash is indicating that there is a problem with the airbag. I took it to a Nissan Dealership and was told that the side airbag needed to be replaced. I was quoted $3,241.41labor only. I was told there was no recall. I certainly don't want there to be a collision and it doesn't deploy as it should. So I would like to report this issue in the event this has happened to others.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 06/11/2025

The problem is I have that transmission in my car that nissan was sued for . Yes I received a extended warranty 85 months or 85,000 miles . My transmission started going out as soon I rolled over 85,000. Dealer told me the warranty was no good. Now it's sitting in the yard. All I can do is make the payment. Not only am I making payments but I have to keep insurance and tags for a car I can't drive!!!! I sent nissan an email but I get no response! I desperately need help! My fiancee dream car turned into a nightmare. Thanks! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/30/2026

In 2022, there was a recall on the hood latch system. At that time the dealership was able to spray a substance on the latch and close out the recall instead of replacing the latch. Now my car is having issues with the latch that should’ve been replaced from the start. Therefore, the solution during the recall only prolonged the issue and did not fix the issue. There hasn’t been an accident, as of now. However, this could cause an extreme situation and put everyone’s safety at risk.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/01/2026

While driving my Nissan Altima 2018 on Sunday 2-1 the indicator light came on. I looked it up in the manual to the car and it stated it was something with the air bag. I took it to the Larry Miller Nissan Mesa AZ. Wednesday, 2-4. According to them I was told the light indicated the air bag would not deployed if I were in an accident. That is life threating. This is report I got from them: They checked for codes found code B0020-13 store din air bag followed the diagnosis procedure as per the ESM to inspect the air bag seta harness to be okay connected first step is to replace the LH side air bag module as per the DTC. They told me it would cost $3,247.44 to fix. I know there was a recall on the air bag for my make and model but unknown to me when it was posted. My car have always ran like a new vehicle to this day until this happen. It should be considered a manufacture issue and should be repaired by the manufacture.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 10/12/2025

Didn't know what the list this one but at a certain speed on the highway the hood latch comes loose unlocks, and my backup camera All of a sudden doesn't always work, sometimes the screen is completely black... Also the sensor that tells you that a car is too close to you keeps turning itself off and then when you check the radar sensor to make sure that it's clear of debris there's no debris but yet this thing just keeps turning itself off while you're on the highway or local road... I will list when the first problem started happening and then we know when the other ones start happening consecutively afterwards.. electrical issue front passenger door will not open automatically Putting my passenger at risk

SUSPENSION,ENGINE — Filed 01/01/2026

NISSAN ALTIMA TORQUE STRUT MOUNT AND PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE

AIR BAGS — Filed 08/29/2025

See attached document for complaint.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 12/30/2023

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the halogen headlights failed to function as intended and were dimmed, which reduced the visibility of the roadway. There was no warning light illuminated.  The vehicle was taken to a collision center, where the headlight assembly and bulbs were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact learned that the headlights on Nissan vehicles were experiencing failure due to a delaminating reflector defect. The contact learned that the heat from the halogen beams was causing heat damage to the reflective surface. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 04/23/2021

Brake light switch went out 3 months after getting car. Car would not start then after it started it would not go in gear nor would the brake lights turn on dealership repaired it. The Brake light switch went out again one year later while driving causing my brake lights not to turn on resulting in me getting rear ended after. After I replaced the switch for the second time. It lasted maybe a year and a half or so and went out again leaving me stranded having to get a tow truck to bring car home and had to replace it a third time. I’ve had this car less than 5 years and I really believe it needs further review of the switch due to the safety risk it causes

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 02/24/2022

I was rear-ended in my car while at a red light. The car hit me 35 mph plus., Pushing me into the Tahoe in front of me. My shoulder strap driver side DID NOT restrain me and NONE of the air bags deployed. I flew forward towards the steering wheel and dash. Do to me being very short I didn't get hurt, just stiff neck, shoulders. The collision company who did my work stated that the seatbelt should have restrained me and at least 1 airbag should have deployed. I contacted Nissan and I was told that the air bags and seatbelts are only suppose to work in a roll over to prevent from being thrown from the vehicle and that the airbags and seatbelts are working properly. Nissan never offered to check to make sure that the safety components are working properly. There were no warning lights on before or after the accident. Over $10,000 worth of damage was done.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/07/2022

On February 7, 2022, my daughter was driving her 2018 Nissan Altima and was involved in an accident. It was a head-on collision, but the airbags didn’t deploy and, as a result, she was thrown forward into the steering wheel which caused severe trauma to her head.

STEERING,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/13/2021

WHILE DRIVING HOME AND JUST ENTERING MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I NOTICED A LOW TIRE WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD. I LOOKED AT THE PRESSURE AND THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26 POUNDS STILL IN THE TIRE AND THE CLOSEST PLACE TO FILL UP WAS AT MY HOUSE. WHILE APPROACHING A RIGHT TURN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BECAUSE OF THE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS OF SNOW AND ICE ON THE ROAD, I SLOWED DOWN TO A CRAWL AND APPLIED MY BRAKE PRIOR TO AND WHILE TURNING. WHILE IN THE BEGINNING OF MY TURN, I INSTANTLY REALIZED THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF MY CAR AND I SLID INTO A SNOW BANK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT I WAS GOING TOO SLOW FOR MY CAR TO SLIDE. I WAS RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME SO I CONTINUED HOME THINKING I COULD NOT HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE; HOWEVER, AS I WAS DRIVING, MY RIDE DID NOT FEEL NORMAL EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW PACE. WHEN I GOT INTO MY GARAGE, I FOUND MY TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT AND THE DAMAGE WAS SIGNIFICANT TO MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE BUMPER. THE NEXT MORNING I REMOVED MY TIRE TO SEE WHERE THE PUNCTURE WAS AND IF IT WAS REPAIRABLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AND WHILE FILLING THE TIRE WITH AIR, I REALIZED THERE WAS NO HOLE IN THE TIRE BUT THERE WAS A FAST AIR LEAK AT THE RIM. ON MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15, 2021 I BROUGHT MY TIRE IN FOR REPAIR. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT A DEFECT EXIST IN MY TIRE AND WHEN I LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, I REALIZED THAT THE SAME TIRE I HAVE ON MY VEHICLE IS SHOWN ON THE RECALL LIST BUT IT IS FOR 2019 TIRES AND NOT 2018. PLEASE LOOK INTO MY COMPLAINT AND CONCERN. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR WENT OUT AT THE RIM. MY TIRE IS A CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT P215/60R16 94T ALL SEASON DOT 6YX8 3YD 2018. THE TIRE SAYS MADE IN SLOVAKIA. OTHER NUMBERS ON THE TIRE WERE 3-979 84579 230385 E4 0231843.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/21/2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE FEB AUTOMATIC COLLISION NOTIFICATION ILLUMINATED THEN UNILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AT 500 FEET, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD CAUSING THE DISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME ACROSS THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOR THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE POLICE OFFICE WAS TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MICHAEL JORDAN NISSAN, 3930 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL BLVD, DURHAM, NC 27707, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD KEEP THE VEHICLE A LITTLE LONGER TO INVESTIGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/23/2020

FRONT END T BONE COLLISION CAR IS TOTALED OUT.*DT*JB

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/01/2020

2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. *LD*JS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/01/2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHEN HE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FOR BACK PAINS AND FACIAL INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF INJURES TO THE OTHER VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HERITAGE NISSAN (1500 VETERANS MEMORIAL HWY NE, ROME, GA 30161 706-291-1981) AND THEY SAID THE DAMAGE WOULD COST OVER $10,000 TO FIX. THEY WELDED THE FRAME BACK TOGETHER EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULD HAVE TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITH USED PARTS AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SUBPAR WORK WHEN HE GOT HIS VEHICLE BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LEFT A MESSAGE TO CALLBACK THE CONTACT BUT NO RETURN CALL HAD OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE PERFORMS POORLY WITH THE REPAIRS BY THE DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THE CONTACT'S ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY THE REPAIR SHOP NOT THE DEALER. *TR

ENGINE — Filed 05/26/2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVAILING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY CEASED WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK BUT HE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE FLIP INDICATOR AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SOUTH AUSTIN NISSAN (4914 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A PISTON SENSOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD ALSO BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED THAT THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY CEASE. THEY REFERRED HIM BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DISPUTE THE CLAIM THAT WAS MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,171.

SEAT BELTS — Filed 10/14/2019

A TRUCK TURNED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF MY WIFE WHICH MADE HER HIT HIM IN THE SIDE OF HIS TRUCK WHILE SHE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55MPH. THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY AND SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON A FOGGY DAY.SHE HIT HER BRAKES SLID ABOUT 30 FT BEFORE STRIKING THE SIDE OF HIS F150 TEARING HIS REAR AXLES OUT AND DAMAGING HER 2018 ALTIMA IN THE FRONT END BADLY. THE PROBLEM IS NONE OF THE IMPACT DEVICES DEPLOYED: AIR BAGS NOR SEAT BELTS OR ANYTHING DEPLOYED. SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST AND KNEES WENT INTO DASH AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAS RIB, BACK, AND NECK PAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I THINK WE MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE CAR AND HAVE CONTACTED NISSANS CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE PICTURE IS FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE, YOU CAN SEE BOTH VEHICLES.*DT*JB

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 01/18/2019

AFTER HITTING BREAKS MANY TIMES AND SLAMMING THEM THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT STOP

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/15/2018

CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE AND HIT A POLE. THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE EMERGENCY BRAKES, BUT DID NOT WORK. OFTEN WOULD GET A MESSAGE ACROSS MY DASHBOARD SAYING IT WAS UNAVAILABLE.