2016 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
553 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 295 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 232 of 553 complaints (42.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 202 | 36.5% |
| Engine operation | 54 | 9.8% |
| Braking behavior | 24 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 232 |
| Engine | 86 |
| Unknown Or Other | 81 |
| Air Bags | 69 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 64 |
| Exterior Lighting | 38 |
| Electrical System | 37 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 27 |
Power Train: 232; Engine: 86; Unknown Or Other: 81; Air Bags: 69; Vehicle Speed Control: 64; Exterior Lighting: 38; Electrical System: 37; Fuel/Propulsion System: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 48 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 69 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 87 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 54 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 48; 25,000 to 49,999: 69; 50,000 to 74,999: 87; 75,000 to 99,999: 54; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 258 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 55 |
| 2019 | 115 |
| 2020 | 80 |
| 2021 | 57 |
| 2022 | 67 |
| 2023 | 53 |
| 2024 | 34 |
| 2025 | 36 |
| 2026 | 17 |
2016: 14; 2017: 25; 2018: 55; 2019: 115; 2020: 80; 2021: 57; 2022: 67; 2023: 53; 2024: 34; 2025: 36; 2026: 17
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 202 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 54 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11030098 · 2017-09-27 (September 27, 2017)
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 LOOKS LIKE IT IS LOOSING SIGNAL EVEN THOUGH IT IS HARD WIRED, THE LANE SENSOR WARNINGS FAIL, FAILING TO INFORM OF A VEHICLE IN YOUR BLIND SPOT. THE KEY FOB CONTINUOUSLY SAYS KEY INVAILED DASHBOARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,076 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11044324 · 2017-11-07 (November 7, 2017)
VEHICLE WILL NOT ACELARATE OR WILL ACELARATE ON IS OWN ON 2 OCATIONS IT HAPPEN AT THE INNER SECTION OF APLM BEACH BLVD AND VERONICA SHOE MAKER AS I WAA READY TO TUR TO MY LEFT SIDE THE CAR WILL NOT ACELARATE LEAVING ME AND A COWORKER SCREAMING DUE THAT A CAR WAA COMING OUR WAY ON ANOTHER OCATION IT HAPPEN WHILE AT THE INTERSECTION OF WINKLER AVE AND FORDS ST IN FORT MYERS FL AGAIN ME AND MY KIDS GOT READY FOR A XIRECT HIT FROM ANOTHER VEHICHLE AS MY KIDS ARE SCREAMING I PRESS THE ACELARATOR TO THE FLOOR AND IT YOOK OFF ON A NOTHER OCASSIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11044324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893672 · 2016-08-06 (August 6, 2016)
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 ON FEB 29, 2016 THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A NEW PART PERTAINING TO THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSE IT TO NOT ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE IS APPLIED BUT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED SINCE THAT WAS INSTALLED. THE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAPPEN AFTER THE CAR HAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11061215 · 2018-01-08 (January 8, 2018)
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, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE RPMS ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10924584 · 2016-11-07 (November 7, 2016)
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 TO CRASH INTO A TRUCK. DURING THE CRASH, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK, NECK AND FACIAL INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10924584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11018705 · 2017-08-21 (August 21, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN OPENING THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRUNK FAILED TO STAY UP AND FAILED TO LOCK WHEN CLOSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO EMPIRE NISSAN LOCATED IN ONTARIO, CA WHO WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT THE CONTACT TO FONTANA NISSAN LOCATED IN FONTANA, CA WHERE THE IMMOBILIZER, BATTERY, REMOTE, AV MASTER CONTROL UNIT, REARVIEW CAMERA, REARVIEW CAMERA ASSEMBLY, DOOR HANDLES ON THE DRIVER SIDE, TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11018705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11048026 · 2017-11-22 (November 22, 2017)
THE STEERING WHEEL COMES CLOSE TO A FROZEN STATE, HALF WAY WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN A MONTH OR TWO(SEPT/OCT-2017). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MYATT NISSAN IN SALISBURY, NC. IT TOOK THEM 3 WEEKS TO REPAIR IT DURING WHICH I HEARD CONTRADICTING STATEMENTS FROM THEM. AFTER A WEEK IN THEIR SHOP I WAS TOLD BY ONE PERSON(WEST) THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM(WHEN ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS DROVE IT). THE SERVICE MANAGER(ROGER) DENIED IT NEVER HAPPENED, BUT THEY CHANGED THE ELECTRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11048026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11042675 · 2017-11-02 (November 2, 2017)
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. NEITHER STEERING WHEEL NOR SIDE AIRBAGS. DRIVER, MYSELF, WAS GOING WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC (40-44 MPH) ON CITY STREET ON THE 2ND LANE AT 5:30 PM AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. DRIVER HAS SUSTAINED INJURIES DUE TO NO PROTECTION TO NECK, BACK, SHOULDER, ARM, WRIST, AND ANKLE. NO OTHER PARTIES WERE IN VEHICLE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11042675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11489904 · 2022-10-19 (October 19, 2022)
The fuel tank was supposedly punctured and had a fuel leak. This according to the mechanics, never happens and sounds oddly like the recall this vehicle had in 2015/2016. I’ve checked my vin and says no recalls, but my entire fuel tank needs replacing now.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11489904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11494625 · 2022-11-22 (November 22, 2022)
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that after retrieving the vehicle following an engine repair, the fuel gauge was inoperable. The contact refueled the vehicle however, a week later the fuel gauge had not moved. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that fuel sensing unit located in the gas tank had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage …
Owner-reported narrative. 33,701 miles reported. Look up ODI 11494625 at NHTSA ↗