2018 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
225 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
36,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 110 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 60 of 225 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 59 | 26.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 10.2% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 4.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 60 |
| Service Brakes | 48 |
| Air Bags | 36 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Power Train | 21 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 11 |
Unknown Or Other: 60; Service Brakes: 48; Air Bags: 36; Electrical System: 36; Power Train: 21; Engine: 13; Steering: 12; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 43 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 115 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 57 |
| 2020 | 47 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2018: 6; 2019: 57; 2020: 47; 2021: 34; 2022: 18; 2023: 14; 2024: 19; 2025: 18; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 59 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11129430 · 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)
7000 MILES AND VEH INTELLIGENT KEY WILL NOT START CAR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144892 · 2018-11-02 (November 2, 2018)
BROUGHT VEHICLE TO PETERS NISSAN IN NASHUA N.H. ON OCTOBER 10TH WITH 7,000 MILES ON IT DUE TO HEARING A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TO HEAR THE SOUND IT WOULD BE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND ACCELERATING, GO OVER BUMPS PUTTING ANY KIND OF FLEX ON THAT RIGHT FRONT. TECH FOUND OUT AFTER CALLING TECH LINE THAT I HAVE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT TOWER AND HOOD HOLDER WHICH CAME FROM FACTORY LIKE THIS. STATED THAT THE BODY MOUNTS WHERE LETTING GO AND THE WELDS HAVE SEPARATED AND EXPLAINED THAT IF ONE MACHINE WAS NOT OR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11144892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11154867 · 2018-11-29 (November 29, 2018)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2018 NISSAN, THE FRONT END COLLISION SENSOR IS ALARMING AND HAS EVER SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY HAVE REFERRED ME TO NISSAN AND SAY THAT I SHOULD WAIT FOR THE RECALL. I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS MY CAR IS NOT SAFE WITH THE FRONT END COLLISION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. PLEASE HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM. AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE SENSOR ALARMS AND SAYS IT IS NOT WORKING WHEN THERE IS NOTHING IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD ONE DEALER TELL ME IT WAS PICKING UP THE SUN......PLEAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11157050 · 2018-12-08 (December 8, 2018)
PURCHASED NISSAN ALTIMA S 2018 , THE AEB "AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BREAKING " DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ANY TIME, THE COMPUTER WILL NOT ESTABLISH A CODE FOR IT NOT WORKING EITHER. IT'S EITHER A FAULTY COMPUTER NOT ESTABLISHING A CODE OR THE THE AEB IS FAULTY. WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP FOR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IN THE CROSS WALKS, WILL NOT APPLY MORE BREAKING PRESSURE IF I'M NOT APPLYING ENOUGH. HAVE TALKED DEALERSHIP IN SHELBY, NC. HAVE TALKED TO NISSAN CORPORATE , BOTH DENIE THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG,SIMPLY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WILL NOT THROW A CODE. THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11157050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11161087 · 2018-12-13 (December 13, 2018)
AEB WILL NOT APPLY BRAKE WHEN NARROWLY MISSING A CAR THAT RAN A STOP SIGN.THE AEB "AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING" DOES NOT WORK AT ANY TIME, OR ANY SITUATION. DEALERSHIP IN SHELBY,NC. NISSAN ,REFUSES TO FIX NOT EVEN JAD IT A MONTH YET. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11161087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11161700 · 2018-12-15 (December 15, 2018)
CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE AND HIT A POLE. THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE EMERGENCY BRAKES, BUT DID NOT WORK. OFTEN WOULD GET A MESSAGE ACROSS MY DASHBOARD SAYING IT WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11161700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164713 · 2019-01-03 (January 3, 2019)
THE FRONT RADAR AEB KEEPS GOING OUT, ALMOST THE REASON FOR MY VEHICLE TO NOT STOP IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THIS FEATURE WAS THE COMPLETE REASON I BOUGHT IT NOW I FEEL LIKE IT IS DANGEROUS. I AM CONSIDERING ASKING FOR COMPLETE BUY OUT OF MY LOAN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK 3 TIMES IN 3, NISSAN HAS NO ANSWERS OTHER THAN KEEP REPLACING FAULTY SENSOR WITH MORE FAULTY SENSOR.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164803 · 2019-01-07 (January 7, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SENSOR ACTIVATED AT RANDOM. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OAK RIDGE NISSAN (1549 OAK RIDGE TNPK, OAK RIDGE, TN 37830) ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 34098344. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164803 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V654000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2019-09-12 (September 12, 2019)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V315000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 2020-05-28 (May 28, 2020)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Consequence: Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
NHTSA campaign record ↗