The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes is the largest identified problem area: 54 of 226 complaints (24%) mention it. 60 complaints mention a component NHTSA leaves uncategorised.
Complaints filed fell from 394 in 2017 to 226 in 2018.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 226
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,000–$2,400
- Combined MPG
- 26–31
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,000–2,400 | 2,000–2,400 | 2,000–2,400 | 1,950–2,150 | 1,950–2,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–31 | 26–31 | 26–31 | 29–32 | 29–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–27 / 31–39 | 22–27 / 32–39 | 22–27 / 32–38 | 25–28 / 34–39 | 25–28 / 34–39 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 287–352 | 287–347 | 287–347 | 278–311 | 278–311 | |
| Complaints filed | 555 | 394 | 226 | 234 | 183 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 28 | 24 | 11 | 22 | 16 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 7 | |
| Injuries reported | 32 | 23 | 6 | 13 | 15 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Altima have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Nissan Altima get?
EPA rates it 26–31 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Nissan Altima?
EPA estimates $2,000–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 26 mpg | 37 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 296 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | $2,000 (low) | 287 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 32 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 347 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 54 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 37 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 60 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
- Defect
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
- Consequence
- Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Defect
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.