- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 2
- on record
- MPG
- 32
- combined
Open recalls on record
2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2021 Nissan Altima
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- Owner complaints
- 69
- Complaints citing a crash
- 6
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
2 Recalls on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 21V138000high
Steering issue
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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 number for this recall is PC795.
- 23V628000high
Rear-visibility system issue
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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 notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2021 Nissan Altima.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 4 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 4 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 9.2%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2021 Nissan Altima 5 out of 5 stars overall, level with the 5-star median for the 16 comparable 2021 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 9.2% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2021 Nissan Altima, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
28
City
39
Hwy
32
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $1,900
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 281 g/mi
How this compares
At 32 MPG combined, the 2021 Nissan Altima ranks 3rd of 18 midsize cars EPA rated for 2021 — 3.5 MPG better than the 28.5 MPG median for that group.
That places it in the upper third of its class. Fuel cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor against its direct rivals.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $1,900, $175 less than the $2,075 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $9,500, a $875 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 281 grams per mile — about 4.2 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
69 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 69
- Total
- 6
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
Most reported components
- BRAKES20
- ELECTRICAL16
- OTHER11
- ENGINE9
- SEAT BELTS3
Notable Issues
69 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 4 reports involve injuries. 6 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2021 Nissan Altima, newest first.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE23023
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation PE23023
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure
- Recall
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation AQ22003
Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls
- Recall
A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Sedan
- Drive type
- FWD
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Seats
- 5
Fuel economy
28
City
39
Hwy
32
Comb
- Annual cost
- $1,900
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Systems recalled
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation PE23023
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation PE23023
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure
- Recall
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation AQ22003
Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls
- Recall
A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.