Is the 2016 Nissan ALTIMA reliable?

The 2016 Nissan ALTIMA has 781 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.3x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Nissan ALTIMA?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (233 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (86 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (81 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Nissan ALTIMA?

Yes, there are 4 recall(s): STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Nissan ALTIMA?

The 2016 Nissan ALTIMA gets 29 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1655. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Nissan ALTIMA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 Nissan ALTIMA is approximately $1,598/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2016 Nissan ALTIMA

Q: Is the 2016 Nissan ALTIMA often stolen?

The Nissan ALTIMA was the #4 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 15,200 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: high.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Nissan ALTIMA has 781 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 344. The most common issue is transmission problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: the front passenger air bag off light continues to come on with passengers in the seat at various speeds. nissan has attempted to correct this issue at least four times without success. there is also an noticeable vibration in or near the drive train when ever engine is operating at or near 1750 . There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 28 crash reports 32 injuries

781

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

233 complaints

30%

• THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WITH PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NISSAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE IS ALSO AN NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN OR NEAR THE DRIVE TRAIN WHEN EVER ENGINE IS OPERATING AT OR NEAR 1750
• I WAS DRIVING ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE SOUTH AND OUT OF NO WHERE I HEAR A BIG BOOM NOISE. MY CAR STARTED OVER HEATING AND I NOTICED MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ONTO THE DASHBOARD. ONCE I PULLED OVER ON SIDE OF TURNPIKE, I NOTICE STICKING OUT OF MY FRONT BUMPER A BIG PIECE OF METAL.
• MY TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY KICKING BACK AT ME, THIS MORNING 2017-09-27 MY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. REVING IS TO 5-6 RPM NOT BEING ABLE TO EXCEED 10 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG KEEPS TRIPPING MY AIRBAGS TO DEACTIVATE. HAVE TO HAD THE CODE RESET SEVERAL TIMES. THE BACK UP CAMERA L

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WITH PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NISSAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE IS ALSO AN NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN OR NEAR THE DRIVE TRAIN WHEN EVER ENGINE IS OPERATING AT OR NEAR 1750 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Nissan ALTIMA

Based on 411 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 58K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

130

60-100K

153

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Earlier than typicalmedian 34K mi · 23 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

Earlier than typicalmedian 19K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

Reported earliermedian 53K mi · 49 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Reported earliermedian 45K mi · 34 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

Reported earliermedian 31K mi · 20 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

Reported earliermedian 44K mi · 14 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (4)

STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT19/12/2018

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.

Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.

High theft risk

#4 most stolen in 2025

The Nissan ALTIMA was the #4 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 15,200 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Widely available, high resale demand

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2016 Nissan ALTIMA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,656

Per month

$138

Per mile

13.8¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,182/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,231/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Nissan ALTIMA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,598

Full coverage / month

$133

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-5%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.15x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1598

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan ALTIMA Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2016 ALTIMA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 781 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WITH PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. NISSAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE IS ALSO AN NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN OR NEAR THE DRIVE TRAIN WHEN EVER ENGINE IS OPERATING AT OR NEAR 1750
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING FIRST IN THE CITY AND IT CONTINUED TO WHEN I WENT ON THE HIGHWAY TO THE POINT I HAD NO POWER AND THE WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I HAD TO HAVE THE COMPUTER IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE CAR STILL IDLES AS IF IT WILL CUT OFF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: MY 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA SR STALLS/LOSES POWER WHILE ACCELERATING, LIKE INTO TRAFFIC, OR WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND THE ACCELERATING AGAIN. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE AND CAN'T DUPLICATE IT ON DEMAND. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS AND THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE SOFTWARE WOULD H
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)