2020 Nissan Altima
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 45 of 179 complaints (25%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 231 in 2019 to 179 in 2020.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,000–2,400 | 1,950–2,150 | 1,950–2,150 | 1,950–2,150 | 1,950–2,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–31 | 29–32 | 29–32 | 29–32 | 29–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–27 / 32–38 | 25–28 / 34–39 | 25–28 / 34–39 | 25–28 / 34–39 | 25–28 / 34–39 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 287–347 | 278–311 | 278–311 | 281–311 | 278–311 | |
| Complaints filed | 225 | 231 | 179 | 69 | 30 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 11 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 5 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
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 2020 Nissan Altima have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Nissan Altima?
Electrical: 45 of 179 NHTSA complaints (25%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Nissan Altima get?
EPA rates it 29–32 MPG combined across 5 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Nissan Altima?
EPA estimates $1,950–$2,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 28 mpg (high) | 39 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 278 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg | 37 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 288 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 26 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 300 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 26 mpg | 34 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | $2,150 (high) | 307 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (low) | 34 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | $2,150 (high) | 311 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 45 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 38 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 14 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 36 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 (6)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL · Campaign 25V437000 · Jun 27, 2025
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
Consequence: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 23V628000 · Sep 11, 2023
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 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.
TIRES:SIDEWALL; TIRES · Campaign 21V169000 · Mar 12, 2021
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY · Campaign 21V138000 · Mar 5, 2021
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 number for this recall is PC795.
TIRES · Campaign 20V685000 · Nov 6, 2020
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima S grade vehicles equipped with Continental ProContact TX tires, size 215/60 R16 H, with TIN date code 3320 and Mold ID S-419149. The tires may have been over cured.
Consequence: Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-8677669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC765.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR · Campaign 20V570000 · Sep 22, 2020
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
Consequence: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.