2016 Nissan ALTIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Nissan ALTIMA has 781 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 9.8x the segment average of 80. 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 . ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 28 crash reports 32 injuries

781

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

9.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

ENGINE

86 complaints

11%

• 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
• I HAVE BEEN HAVING CHRONIC ISSUES WITH ENGINE ON MY 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. INITIALLY (11/2016), THE CAR WOULD "JUMP/SKIP" WHEN I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATOR AND EVEN FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF ON ME. WHEN I CALLED I WAS INFORMED IT WAS DUE TO DEFECT AND IT WAS ON RECALL. THE ISSUES APPEARED TO R
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND FAILED TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OLYMPIA NISSAN (2220 CARRIAGE ST SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED,

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

81 complaints

10%

• 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
• WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET & APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, I HEARD A LOUD POP AS IF IT WAS A GUN SHOT!! I PULLED OVER & NOTICED THAT MY WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK IN IT.
• AS WE WERE PULLING UP TO STOP LIGHT CAR DIED, WOULD NOT START BACK UP. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY FLAMES. TOTAL LOSS OF CAR BURNED THE COMPLETE MOTOR ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DASH. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET INTERSECTION. WE HAD JUST BEEN TO NISSAN HAVING CAR SERVICED,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

68 complaints

• 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
• AIRBAG SENSOR IS ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN DEALER ONLY ACTIVATING THE AIRBAG IF THE PASSENGER IS OVER 120LBS. MY WIFE IS UNDER THIS WEIGHT AND THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS ON EVERY TIME WE DRIVE SOMEWHERE. NISSAN HAS TRIED TO PLAY IT OFF SAYING IT'S ACTUALLY SAFER FOR AN ADULT UNDER 120LBS TO HAVE THE AIRB
• RECALL 16V244000 AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WITH MY WIFE IN PASS SEAT ~ 50% OF TIME. BROUGHT TO DEALER THREE TIMES BUT NOT FIXED. NISSAN CS NO ASSISTANCE TO FIX. WORKS OK IN OTHER VEHICLES WHEN SHE IS IN PASS SEAT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 11 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

66 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR DECELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL OR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE T
• 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA ,CRUISE CONTROL ON, SPEED SET AT 65 TO 69 WHILE CRUISING WITH CRASH AVOIDANCE SET TO ONE BAR SPEED WILL SUDDENLY DROP TO 62 TO 65 . NO CARS NO WHERE NEAR FRONT OF VEHICLE OR ON ROAD WAY IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, ROAD WAY EMPTY WITH NO VEHICLES INSIGHT. HAVE TO STEP ON ACCELERATOR TO B
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR DECELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL OR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)