MODELYEARINDEX

Which Nissan Altima years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2013, 2014 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Nissan Altima Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2013 vs model median 5.4×
Model median3× median
Airbags & Restraints 346
Drivetrain 207
Body & Interior 129
Avoid

2013 · 2014

Best

2011 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.97× 176 C
2011
0.49× 84 A
2012
1.02× 196 C
2013
5.44× 1,172 F
2014
2.46× 503 F
2015
2.22× 489 F
2016
1.71× 379 D
2017
1.20× 241 C
2018
0.93× 230 C
2019
0.96× 188 C
2020
0.86× 169 C
2021
0.42× 86 B
2022 P
0.29× 55 A
2023 P
0.27× 39 A
2024 P
0.39× 61 A
2025 P
0.06× 10 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2013 F 1,172 reports · median 24,000 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 346

    Intermittently, "passenger airbag off" warning light remains on even though passenger (130 lbs) is in the front passenger (cloth) seat. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 207

    The problem began with the transmission locking up or shuddering going down hill, throwing the vehicle and me forward. Ever been on a golf cart going down a hill where the governor throws you forward? owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 129

    Female passenger, 5ft. 0in., weighing 100lbs causes front passenger airbag to be disabled (front passenger airbag status light on). Light would go away after a while. For a female passenger, 5ft. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

65 crash · 19 fire · 51 injuries

2014 F 503 reports · median 22,678 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 131

    The contact owns a 2014 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, another vehicle crash into the driver's side of the vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained a separated hip. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 102

    While attempting to make a turn at a stop light, vehicle began to shake and slow down. It felt as if it was going to lose power. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 45

    On the way to get a cup of coffee (less than one mile from my home) a car started coming into my lane. I swerved slightly to avoid a collision and my car went into the ditch and hit a telephone pole. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

43 crash · 4 fire · 60 injuries

The best year for the Altima

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2011 is the best-scoring Altima model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 85.2 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2021 at 0.42× this model’s median, against 0.49× for 2011.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2011 0.49× 84 A
2021 0.42× 86 B
2010 0.97× 176 C

Recalls

33 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V244000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2013–2016 3,296,947
20V315000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2013–2018 1,831,818
19V654000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2018, 2019 1,228,830
14V138000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2013, 2014 989,701
16V029000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2013–2015 846,000
15V116000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2013–2015 625,400
25V437000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL 2019, 2020 443,899
17V040000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2015–2017 341,005
18V915000 STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT 2015–2017 341,003
14V565000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2013 220,423
23V628000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2019–2021 153,376
13V158000 TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE 2013 123,308

+ 21 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2013 were reported at a median of 24,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Nissan Altima years should you avoid?
2013, 2014, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Nissan Altima model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Nissan Altima?
2011 is the best-scoring Nissan Altima model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 85.2 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Nissan Altima have?
33 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Nissan Altima model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2013 Altima
Complaints in window
1,172
Severity-weighted
1,675.5
Model median (weighted)
308
vs model median
5.44×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
12
Open investigations
1
Score 6.7 F