Is the 2020 Nissan ALTIMA reliable?

The 2020 Nissan ALTIMA has 277 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.8x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS problems.

What are common problems with the 2020 Nissan ALTIMA?

Top problems: DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS (44 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (41 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (38 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2020 Nissan ALTIMA?

Yes, there are 6 recall(s): STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TIRES, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, TIRES, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Nissan ALTIMA?

The 2020 Nissan ALTIMA gets 32 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1500. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2020 Nissan ALTIMA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2020 Nissan ALTIMA is approximately $1,737/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.

2020 Nissan ALTIMA

Q: Is the 2020 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

Average

Quick Summary

The 2020 Nissan ALTIMA has 277 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 344. The most common issue is driver assist/cameras problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: my backup camera seems to be displaying the same issues that ended up in the 2019 nissan altima being recalled. it was working correctly. now, whenever i shift into reverse, it shows a blank screen only for the backup camera. all my other cameras are operating fine. the rear sonar still works, but t. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 16 crash reports 8 injuries

277

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

44 complaints

16%

• MY BACKUP CAMERA SEEMS TO BE DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUES THAT ENDED UP IN THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA BEING RECALLED. IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. NOW, WHENEVER I SHIFT INTO REVERSE, IT SHOWS A BLANK SCREEN ONLY FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA. ALL MY OTHER CAMERAS ARE OPERATING FINE. THE REAR SONAR STILL WORKS, BUT T
• MY BACKUP CAMERA SEEMS TO BE DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUES THAT ENDED UP IN THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA BEING RECALLED. IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. NOW, WHENEVER I SHIFT INTO REVERSE, IT SHOWS A BLANK SCREEN ONLY FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA. ALL MY OTHER CAMERAS ARE OPERATING FINE. THE REAR SONAR STILL WORKS, BUT T
• THE COLLISION LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO NISSAN NOW ABOUR 4/5 TIMES AND HAVE TO TAKE IT AGAIN AS THE PROBLEM IS NEVER RESOLVED. I WROTE TO CORPORATE AND WAS BRUSHED OFF. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE NOW BECAUSE IF IM DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT CAN ABRUPTLY STOP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I FEAR DR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“MY BACKUP CAMERA SEEMS TO BE DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUES THAT ENDED UP IN THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA BEING RECALLED. IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. NOW, WHENEVER I SHIFT INTO REVERSE, IT SHOWS A BLANK SCREEN ONLY FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA. ALL MY OTHER CAMERAS ARE OPERATING FINE. THE REAR SONAR STILL WORKS, BUT T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2020 Nissan ALTIMA

Based on 44 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 15K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 21K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 11K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

In line with typicalmedian 60K mi · 5 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 (6)

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY04/03/2021

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.

Risk: A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

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 2020 Nissan ALTIMA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,500

Per month

$125

Per mile

12.5¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,715/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 2020 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

$1,737

Full coverage / month

$145

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

+4%

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 age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1737

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 2020 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

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 277 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: MY BACKUP CAMERA SEEMS TO BE DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUES THAT ENDED UP IN THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA BEING RECALLED. IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. NOW, WHENEVER I SHIFT INTO REVERSE, IT SHOWS A BLANK SCREEN ONLY FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA. ALL MY OTHER CAMERAS ARE OPERATING FINE. THE REAR SONAR STILL WORKS, BUT T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC BRAKING ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH NO OBJECTS WERE PRESENT BEHIND THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE SWITCHING TO THE REVERSE THE MESSAGE INDICATING AN OBJECT WAS BEHIND THE VEHICLE WAS DISPLAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON. HAVE HAD THE SOLENOID VALVE TIMING CONTROL REPLACES TWICE AND ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FREQUENTLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I JUST PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE THROUGH NISSAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT ONLY HAS 2000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I HAD THE CAR MY CAR MAKES LIKE A CLICKING POPPING NOISE WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL WHILE HITTING BUMPS. SO I LOOKED AT REVIEWS AND PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT WITH THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THERE HAPPE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)