2016 Nissan Altima Recalls and Problems

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 555 owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Altima. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.

Recalled components: latches, locks and linkages, body structure, and air bags. Most-described problem: hesitation or slow acceleration (88 complaints, 16%). Most-reported area: powertrain (235 complaints, 42%; median mileage when it happened: 64,700).

Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated Nov 11, 2026

Year to avoidBest year

4 safety recalls for the 2016 Nissan Altima

Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.

Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA investigations

NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2016 Nissan Altima; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.

A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.

What owners report

Owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Altima. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.

Problems owners describe

• Hesitation or slow acceleration88 · 16%
  Median 55,000 miles at failure, from 51 reports with mileage
• Transmission failure or replacement72 · 13%
  Median 63,000 miles at failure, from 42 reports with mileage
• Stalling or shutting off58 · 10%
  Median 59,400 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
• Check engine light56 · 10%
  Median 71,000 miles at failure, from 39 reports with mileage
• Jerking, lurching or harsh shifting50 · 9%
  Median 63,400 miles at failure, from 28 reports with mileage
• Loss of power or limp mode44 · 8%
  Median 58,000 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
• Airbag warning light or airbag fault37 · 7%
• Shaking, shuddering or vibration30 · 5%
  Median 78,200 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage

Counted from the complaint text: a complaint counts once for each problem it describes (how we match them). Some complaints describe none of these. Compare other models in the problem owners report most for every model year.

Areas named in complaints

• Powertrain235 · 42%
  Median 64,700 miles at failure, from 137 reports with mileage
• Engine86 · 15%
  Median 53,000 miles at failure, from 49 reports with mileage
• Air bags72 · 13%
  Median 52,000 miles at failure, from 32 reports with mileage
• Speed control65 · 12%
  Median 61,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
• Electrical system42 · 8%
  Most named: instrument panel, speedometer/odometer (3) · Median 33,600 miles at failure, from 23 reports with mileage
• Exterior lighting42 · 8%
  Most named: headlights (3)
• Body structure29 · 5%
  Most named: body (24) · Median 31,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
• Unknown or other81 · 15%
  Median 45,000 miles at failure, from 33 reports with mileage

A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.

Nissan Altima recalls and complaints by model year

The highlighted bars are the 2016 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2013 Altima drew the most (556) and the 2016 drew 94.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2016 Altima MPG

Questions