What 544 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Altima

My daughter was driving down the road and came to a 2-wayy stop. Went to pull out and the car stalled and started shuddering. On down the road leaving a red light it did the same thing and not wanting to really go.

NHTSA ODI 11744511

Headlights on vehicle are very dim and often do not appear to be on causing bright lights to be used in replacement. Lights are not burnt out.

NHTSA ODI 11736926

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was difficult to control at higher speeds. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear passenger’s side wheel was misaligned, and the rear control arm was fractured and had detached. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and it was determined that the rear control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 211,000.

NHTSA ODI 11734766

My headlights are not putting out very well at all. I have to drive on high beams at night to be able to see which I’m sure is disrupting others driving but when I have my lights on low beams it’s almost like my lights are off or like fog lights. It’s super dangerous. This is been going on for months and I have to avoid driving at night all the time because it’s so bad.

NHTSA ODI 11724436

Drivers side window & door latch does not work. door latch has to be push in after it opens the door & window will not go now.

NHTSA ODI 11721268

Delayed gear change from 1st to 2nd/delayed acceleration 1-5 seconds mid-traffic because the car overheats soon after driving which causes the car to not properly accelerate causing more RPMs than necessary during longer drives with frequent stops (within urban/suburban areas).

NHTSA ODI 11720589

This vehicle has unusually dim lights that have gotten worse over time, the local dealership told me I missed the recall on the headlight assembly

NHTSA ODI 11715910

Subject Safety Defect Complaint Recall Repair Refusal and Manufacturer Delay Nissan Altima 2016 My 2016 Nissan Altima is subject to a safety recall related to the hood latch cover The hood latch cover on my vehicle is defective and stuck which caused the hood to become completely locked shut This defect creates a serious safety hazard because the hood could unexpectedly open while driving putting me my family and other road users at risk I contacted and visited two authorized Nissan dealers multiple times to have the recall repair performed Both dealers refused to repair the vehicle unless I personally opened the hood first I explained that the hood cannot be opened due to the recall related defect and that attempting to force it open is unsafe The dealers still refused to perform the recall repair I then contacted a third party service AAA but they refused to work on the vehicle stating that opening or driving the vehicle with a compromised hood is extremely dangerous and that this issue must be handled by the manufacturer and its authorized dealers I contacted Nissan North America directly to seek assistance Instead of resolving the issue Nissan has repeatedly delayed action stating that my case is still pending dealer approval I have been told many times that there would be updates but no solution has been provided I was informed multiple times that the case is delayed and that there is currently no resolution available As of today my vehicle has been undrivable for more than one and a half months due to this unresolved safety defect I am afraid to drive the vehicle because it poses a real danger to my safety and the safety of my family This situation has caused significant stress and hardship I am filing this complaint with NHTSA because an authorized dealer is refusing to perform a required safety recall repair

NHTSA ODI 11715159

Icc stopped working

NHTSA ODI 11707918

Headlight lowbeams are dim. Replaced with new bulbs, no improvement. Headlight lens are crystal clear from being clear vinyl wrapped when purchased new.

NHTSA ODI 11707933

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with curtain air bags failure. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair, and the contact was informed that the cost of the repair would not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 102,464.

NHTSA ODI 11706770

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond while the engine was running. The contact stated that the vehicle responded and returned to normal functionality after depressing the accelerator pedal several times. The contact stated that the failure was more evident while driving in cold weather. No warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ODI 11701186

While i was driving the transmission felt as if it was slipping and didn't want to switch gears. When i stopped at a red light it didn't want to kick into drive it took like 3 -4 minutes to kick in no warning lights came on it just started messing up when I took it to get it looked at the code p17f0 came up. Im still paying a 429 car note on this vehicle and can not drive it plus the Carmax Care coverage i had on the car, is unusable!! So now im stuck with a broken car that im still paying on.

NHTSA ODI 11701094

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the rear tire fell inside the wheel well. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over safely. Upon investigation, the contact was able to associate the failure with NHTSA Action Number: EA19002 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the lower control arm was rusted and had fractured. The contact called the local dealer, who mentioned the recall in Canada was due to the snowy weather. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11693566

The transmission started slipping at 70,000 miles on the Altima, even after getting a preventative transmission service at 30,000 miles. A mechanic revealed a judder code, which means the transmission will stop working within weeks. A repair would cost more than the car is worth. My wife could have been stranded in traffic. This is unacceptable. No warning lights appeared on the dash.

NHTSA ODI 11690642

I am experiencing an issue with the airbag light on my 2017 Nissan Altima S model, which is showing code B0020. This airbag code indicates a problem with the passenger side airbag system, typically caused by damaged wiring, a malfunctioning seat sensor, or a loose connector beneath the driver's seat. The repair quote from my local Nissan dealership ranges from $1728 to $3500, depending on the faulty components and the labor required for installation. This is a recognized problem for Nissan, and their failure to address it raises significant concerns regarding safety. Currently, I am uncertain about how to proceed with the repair due to the high costs involved.

NHTSA ODI 11689757

while driving 25mph-49mph, the hood unexpectedly opened and flew back into the windshield causing the windshield to crack/shatter. No warning lights had been illuminated. Driver pulled over safely got out of the car along with 2 passengers. Driver contacted the police and had the car towed to the nearest auto body shop. calling NISSAN on monday 9/22/25. seems like there was a MAJOR recall in 2020 (HOOD LATCH RECALL, that states the hood may open without warning while driving and could obscure the driver’s vision, increasing the risk of a crash.)that this vehicle was not part of but exact thing happend that was stated as reason for recall.

NHTSA ODI 11688611

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal a second time, the vehicle responded as intended; however, the failure recurred at the next stop. The contact stated that the gas cap warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspecting the gas cap, no issue was found. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where the failure was linked to the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11687251

-Nissan made their Altimas and other vehicles using a CVT transmission that was of poor design and quality. -Nissan has admitted to this in several class action lawsuits, [XXX] ) and has extended their powertrain warranty and time period as a result. -The extended powertrain warranty is to cover up until 84k miles, the mileage on the Nissan Altima in question is just over 82k, well under the mileage limit. -Nissan corporate has denied repairs for this particular Nissan Altima under both their financial assistance and goodwill programs, despite having done so for many other Altima, Murano, Maxima, etc... owners. -Nissan is denying assistance based on two points: First, they claim that the time has expired. My claim is that transmissions fail due to poor engineering and quality, as well as wear and tear - NOT due to an arbitrary point of time when the clock hand strikes 12 midnight. In other words, transmissions due not wear out based upon an arbitrary time schedule. Secondly, Nissan is denying assistance and suggested that the warranty is void due to a lack of dealer maintenance, in violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which protects consumers' rights to choose where they have their car serviced without voiding the warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11682063

Air bag indicator light turns on indicating a failure of the airbag system. I understand this disables this safety system putting all passengers at risk. The dealer advised the issue is caused by the driver seat side airbag wiring failure. From reading other users, this appears to be a common issue due to severe bends of the wiring from the connector to the airbag. To me this is a design failure which normally does not occur. The cost is ~3000 USD to replace the seat back.

NHTSA ODI 11681300

I am writing to formally request a recall for my 2016 Nissan Altima due to a known issue with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Recently, my vehicle has exhibited concerning symptoms, including an inability to exceed 20 mph while hitting 3 RPM, and significant hesitation when accelerating, followed by abrupt lunging. Notably, these issues occurred without any prior warning lamps or indicators until recently with the RPM issue. Despite taking my vehicle to Nissan for diagnostic scans, which cost approximately $600, no specific issues were identified. These problems have not been reproduced during dealer inspections or by law enforcement, yet they pose a significant safety risk to myself and others on the road. I would like to qualify for the free recall service to have this issue inspected and resolved by an authorized Nissan dealer. Please provide me with the necessary information to proceed with this request. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ODI 11678089

I have a 2016 Nissan Altima 3.5 Sr I brought into the Nissan dealership multiple times since 2022 now in 2025 at 100,000 miles to transmission is not working it's dying at intersections and oil is pouring out of the engine I was told that there was a recall that expired in April of 2023 however I was never notified about the recall despite taking my car to the Nissan dealership prior to that date no one ever said that there was a problem with the CVT I've stored my car multiple years because I'm a veteran and I had to deploy so it wasn't driven as much and now that's crossed 100,000 miles it's on its last leg this isn't fair the 2019 models are getting recalled they should fix mine I've taken care of this car and now they're trying to deny me my mobility I'm a retiree I don't have that much money the last time I took it to the dealership they said I needed a new engine never once mentioning that there were previous recalls on this vehicle. I need help.

NHTSA ODI 11675466

My 96 year old mom purchased 2016 Alltima 8 years ago. It now has 59,000 0riginal miles on it and the CVT transmission is failing we were told at the nissan service center where the car was purchased. Nissan has refused to help pay for any repairs. So 96 year old woman living on fixed income has to pay. Go back to Japan NISSAN

NHTSA ODI 11674069

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate, and the vehicle was jerking and lurching while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11671952

Water leak...from trunk and sunroof....electrical problems airbag light on and off.....sensor issues i paid out of pocket.

NHTSA ODI 11672125