NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Nissan Altima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, on other occasions while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond as needed with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure or retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 72,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated during acceleration while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
VEHICLE: 2016 Nissan Altima SL. I have a Nissan Altima, which is known to have CVT transmission issues. My issues started all of a sudden when my car immediately lost acceleration in the middle of moving traffic, resulting in my car almost being rear-ended on the highway. I had to quickly put the car in park, turn the car off and on and exit onto shoulder lane with a lot of shuddering and stalling coming from engine.I turned the car off again and waited for engine to cool down before attempting to drive again. I had to park my car somewhere overnight as the car was not making it home. The next day I took it to Nissan dealership (with much difficulty), almost resulting in another accident due to random and sporadic loss of acceleration. Nissan confirmed that it was transmission related (I have paperwork). Nissan has known CVT failures for 2013-2016 models and this should be covered under extended powertrain warranty. I am writing this because I have kept up with maintenance for my car and this issue had randomly appeared, often no tell signs until it happens, which Nissan then says is too late. The safety of myself and others is affected because this issue literally results in a loss of control over the car and in cities during traffic hours could be deadly. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
My air bag light is on and will not go out. I have not been in a accident and I am aware of the previous recall on the air bags back in 2016. I tried to have the Nissan dealership in Lithia Springs, GA check on the issue, but they stated they would have to keep the car for at least 3 days to be able to review the problem. I am unable to be without my vehicle for 3+ days for a known issue with the air bags on these cars. My current mileage is around 86,000. I estimate the airbag warning light came on around 75,000. I can't afford to correct this manufacturer defect that could possibly cost my life in an accident if Nissan doesn't fix this soon. I see so many reports of this problem on the nhtsa website, but still no recall has been issued since the original one in 2016. I guess I or my family will just have to sue Nissan if I end up in a accident and the airbags don't deploy. This is really scary how many people are having the same issue with these cars that were under the original recall. It is clear that this is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed ASAP.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while sitting in the driver's side front seat, the air bag light failed to detect occupancy and was not illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a faulty air bag sensor. The contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and instead decelerated. On another occasion while driving approximately 20-30 MPH, the vehicle was jerking with an abnormal ticking sound. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Hi , This is regarding recall of NHTSA ID: 22T007 On Highway my tire ( back driver side ) got flat . Paid $24.00 for Patch and paid $194.60 for replacement of tire at Discount Tire . requesting for REFUND for the amount $218.60 . Please send REFUND check to : [XXX] I am unable to load receipts /files in the format you required here is the copies : Apr 17, 2022$24.00 Additional Information Transaction Details Merchant CategoryMISC. PERSONAL SERVICES Transaction DateSUN, 04/17/2022 Purchase MethodMANUALLY KEYED Post DateSUN, 04/17/2022 Apr 20, 2022$194.60 Merchant Contact Information 20225 N SCOTTSDALE RD, GA 30004 Additional Information Transaction Details Buyer Name[XXX] Card Used Merchant CategoryAUTO TIRE STORES Transaction DateWED, 04/20/2022 Purchase MethodINTEGRATED CIRCUIT CARD READER Post DateWED, 04/20/2022 Sales Tax Amount$10.85 Apr 17, 2022$24.00 Additional Information Transaction Details Merchant CategoryMISC. PERSONAL SERVICES Transaction DateSUN, 04/17/2022 Purchase MethodMANUALLY KEYED Post DateSUN, 04/17/2022 Apr 20, 2022$194.60 Merchant Contact Information 20225 N SCOTTSDALE RD, GA 30004 Additional Information Transaction Details Buyer Name[XXX] Card Used Merchant CategoryAUTO TIRE STORES Transaction DateWED, 04/20/2022 Purchase MethodINTEGRATED CIRCUIT CARD READER Post DateWED, 04/20/2022 Sales Tax Amount$10.85 Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
My car only have 85000 mile on it and it jerks sometimes and was told it was a Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor/Switch A Circuit Range/Performance and after doing research a lot of people transmission are doing the same thing. Nissan should be made to fix the problem
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the hood unlatched, opened, and struck the windshield. The contact stated that the windshield was cracked and was partially broken with shattered pieces falling off. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. The contact stated upon attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact's friends arrived at the scene and assisted the contact in jumpstarting the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the hood was severely bent and would not properly close. The vehicle was then taken to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. A case was opened. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at his expense. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
I had just purchased this vehicle from Dans dealers auto sales about a week ago and was brought to my attention that the headlights are filled with condensation and a good amount of water that burnt out my left turn signal and could possibly end up burning out my other lights. This could cause an accident if I didn't find out sooner because I was unaware my left signal was out.
The headlights are really dim .. can barely see when driving at night .. I took it to the dealership and it says it failed inspection but im out of warranty extension .. there was a class action lawsuit for this problem and nissan replaced the headlamps for free instead of a 1,200 $ fix .. but I literally bought the car March 23rd of this year , not even a month ago and had no idea about any of this until it was too late to get it fixed with financial help .. since I just bought the car is there any way to get any help with this or maybe I can get lead in the right direction because I do not have $1,200 for the headlights but they are bad .. I even got pulled over the other night because I had to ride with my high beams on and got a ticket ! please help just bought car and it is very scary to ride at night .. and due too I work in a restaurant and I am a closer I have to .. please help as to safety is a big factor here and i currently dont have that $ due to i just bought this car but need it fixed asap as to need to be safe .. http://www.altimaheadlightsettlement.com/ I fall into one time replacement for out of warranty (4)
2016 Nissan Altima 29,000 MILES! FAULTY TRANSMISSION! Why hasn’t a RECALL been issued? Nissan dealership informed me that I will have to replace the transmission! This will cost me $4,500.00
The transmission has went out twice on this car within 2 1/2 years. I don’t drive it excessively. It is dangerous and a major safety issue for me to drive my car especially with children in it. I can be at a red light and on the highway etc. it’s very slow to accelerate that can cause an accident and other things, at the red light it takes a long time to start moving, it’s very sluggish. It drives very slowly on highways like 20 mph and on the road. It will start off slow and then accelerate and go super fast, that really scares me. It jerks really bad and everything that causes me to have anxiety attacks, IBS etc. Its getting worst everyday. It’s a major safety hazard on the road especially for my children. My son is scared, panics and cry’s as well in the car because how it’s driving. I have a baby and an 8 year old. I’m disabled as well as my son. Can you please help I’m so scared it’s very unsafe. I have to drive to get myself to work, doctors appointments, my children to school and daycare. I hope you understand. Please investigate this. I don’t want nothing happening to me or my children or anyone else. Thank you for your time. Have a wonderful day and please be safe.
The transmission has went out twice on this car, this will be the second time. It is dangerous and a major safety issue for me to drive my car especially with children in it. I can be at a red light and on the highway etc. it’s very slow to accelerate that can cause an accident and other things. It drives very slowly on highways and on the road. It jerks and everything that causes me to have anxiety attacks etc. 3 months after I brought the car the transmission went out and 2 1/2 years later it’s going out again. I need my car to run properly and to be safe for me and my children.
While trying to pull out of a intersection, car will not move or will move very slowly. I have almost been t-boned twice with my family in the car. This happens intermittently, 4 times in the past year. After car is turned off and restarted the issue seems to go away until the next time. The needs to be a safety recall before someone gets seriously hurt.
The head lights are very dim and are melting so they can’t be just replaced. I can not hardly see at night because of this but I don’t hardly drive at night but if I have an emergency I need to be able to see at night. I have two children a baby and a 8 year old. Thank you for your time. Have a wonderful day and please be safe.
The car stalls out when driving. Gas is engaged but car will not move. Jerks, bumps. Within a few seconds, car resumes movements but jerks.
My 2016 Altima is experiencing a sporadic delay when accelerating from a stop. It won’t rev or do anything for a couple of seconds no matter how far down the pedal is. Then all of a sudden it’ll go. There is no check engine light and no codes. If I turn the car off, it’s like it resets and has more power afterwards.
My door locks all failed and do not lock when I get to speed or at all. My previous Nissan Altima was a 2011 Model and I had the same issues with multiple actuators replaced that failed to solve the problem. This is an obvious defect that was not fixed in at least Models 2011-2016. I feel this is a safety risk when doors will not lock when driving and also a safety risk when someone jumps in your car when you thought doors were locked. I actually had people jump in my car trying to get money multiple times that put me at risk and this is a problem that should be fixed by Nissan at no charge for all consumers between these year models for failing to fix obvious defective locks.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The check engine and traction control warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery terminal connector was too small for the battery. A connector was added. The contact called another dealer, King Windward Nissan (45-568 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96544) and was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the failure was due to the transmission. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to several dealers and independent mechanics; however, no codes were retrieved while performing the diagnostic tests. The contact then took the vehicle to another independent mechanic where she was informed that there was a power train recall for similar vehicles. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where she was informed that the vehicle was under warranty however, the vehicle no longer qualified for the warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Acceleration from stand still occasionally does not occur. This causes us to press harder on the acceleration pedal and suddenly the car accelerates with high RPM. There is no check engine light. This is particularly at risky when left side turns at traffic signals are made. The problem has not been reproduced but has happened occasionally and usually turning off the engine completely and restarting the car results in the resolution of the issue temporarily. Car has not been inspected by anyone so far.
Evidently there have been numerous issues with 2016 Nissan Altima transmissions that Nissan has neglected to issue a recall for. Mine started several months ago, sometimes I'll be driving, stop at a light and the car will just not move. Additionally it will sometimes just start revving over 6K rpm while driving on the highway. I have to use my car for personal use every day, I drive my 7 year old to school/summer camp and myself to work daily and this is a serious danger for us. I have had the vehicle inspected and it has been confirmed that this is a transmission issue and that they have numerous people bringing their Altimas in for the same reason. My engine light never came on until these issues started to occur.
I just purchased this vehicle with 93,000 miles and good condition. A warning or indicator light never comes on but sporadically I will be driving around 40-50mph & if I let off of the gas something happens where no matter how hard or fast I press the accelerator the car looses power. I can press the accelerator all the way to the floor & still not speed up. The car will slowly decrease speed until about 30mph or either I have to take my foot off of the accelerator totally & press hard about 1/4 on the accelerator to regain power. It feels like the pressure behind the accelerator disappears when all of this happens. There is no dimming of lights or anything obvious. It happens when my Mom drives also. I have lost power trying to pass a car or turn with oncoming traffic ahead. It scares me.
#1. Both headlights are very dim on low beam, even after bulb replacements. High beam seems more dim than other autos I have driven in the past. I usually have to drive with my high beams on if possible #2. When in reverse, my screen to view the rear view camera doesn't show a clear picture like my previous Nissan. Sometimes when first shifting into reverse the video loses its complete picture for about 2-3 seconds. I have cleaned lens and tried to adjust screen to no avail.
I just purchased the car , they won’t service the car under there warranty so I decided to search the vin to find there is unresolved recall with the vehicle.
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SHINE TOO WEAK . i REPLACED BULBS AND NOTHING IMPROVED. i SPOKE WITH REPAIR FACILITY AND SAID HEADLAMPS MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO KNOWN ISSUE INVOLVING PROJECTOR IN HOUSING FAILING. ONLINE REASEARCH CONFIRMS KNOWN ISSUE. i ALMOST CRASHED INTO PEOPLE AND A CAR TONIGHT DUE TO ISSUE.
Airbag light came on dashboard all of a sudden there was recall before with airbag I called Nissan is doing nothing that issue thanks please help
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when the head lamps had failed. The contact stated they now had to drive with the high beams illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who were unable to identify a failure. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated that the way the head lamps were made the halogen head lamps lacked a sealant to protect the head lamps from the heat of the vehicle causing them to fade over time. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact back to the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.
Converter in transmission gave out and shot metal shreds into transmission and I had to replace the transmission
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the seat belt warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed about the diagnostic fees. The contact stated there was an extended warranty related to the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 96,200.
I have had this 2016 Nissan Altima SR for the past 5 years (1st owner) and it just began giving me acceleration issues about 2 months ago. At random times, while at a stop, reversing, doing a u-turn or changing gears, I step on the accelerator and it will not move. I have pushed all the way down on the accelerator and it won't budge for about 10 seconds, until then, it will just throw itself at a really high speed. There is no warning or light on the dashboard stating something is wrong. It does it at random times. There have been numerous times were I have been put at risk of a car accident because of this issue. Once, I was at a green light waiting to make a left, and when I had a chance to turn before the oncoming cars, I went for it, only to have the accelerator not work and go REALLY slowly (as if it was on neutral). At that speed, I was midway and the oncoming car was honking at me as it was getting closer. I kept stepping on the accelerator and nothing would happen. Luckily, a few seconds later it threw itself to a really high speed and I was able to make it before the oncoming car hit me. I have taken it to the dealer, only to find out I would be charged $169 for a diagnostics test and even then they wouldn't guarantee anything because it doesn't have any kind of warning light on the dashboard. The dealer then stated it could possibly be the transmission or throttle body. How is it possible for me to waste so much money on something the dealer itself is so unsure of the results? How can they guarantee they can fix the issue without happening again and possibly getting into an accident? I have heard of other Altima owners who have been told it is the transmission and they change it, only to have the same problems all over again. This issue really needs to be looked at before it gets more serious and cause devastating accidents. Thankfully it has not done that to me on the fwy yet.
For the past two years I have been experiencing dim headlights. I have had them change twice and still cannot see 5 feet ahead of me. I was unaware that this could be a common problem with this model. Also, the passenger air light stays on even when no one is sitting in the seat. this problem started about six months ago. Now I think the transmission maybe starting to slip.
Low beams are extremely dim after bulb replacement. Dealership confirmed known issue. I hit debris in roadway due to low lighting causing damage to my undercarriage. No lamp warnings.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 73 MPH, the RPM began to raise and lower quickly. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the right side of the road and turned off the ignition. The contact stated he waited around 10 minutes before restarting the vehicle but continued to experience the failure while driving to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Transmission seems to get stuck and not want to move at times. Airbag light on dash and some times shows pass air bag light off when there is a passenger in the seat.
My problem: While i was leaving work returning to my apartment my car (2016 Nissan Altima S ~ 2.4L, 4 cylinder, 75k miles, Black) was operating fine nothing out of the ordinary. As I approached a stop sign and stop my car it was still acting normal. However, as i accelerated to take my turn i notice that my car wasn’t moving normal it didn’t accelerate pass 15 mph but the RPM was going up it went up to 5k RPM with no speed change it felt like i was on neutral. (No, I wasn’t in neutral) it was on D i even placed the car in Ds to see if the problem was only on drive but the same problem occurred on Ds. As soon as i noticed that the car wasn’t accelerating and after the person who was driving behind me got mad i moved my car to the break down lane. I powered cycled the car (turn it off and back on) and it was functioning correctly. My friend had the same problem occur to his car which is Answer to Question: 1)I don’t know which specific part is the problem. I do know this isn’t the first case the same problem occurred on a 2015 Nissan Altima S i have a 2016 Nissan Altima S. This happened to the other car a few months prior to the date of my incident which happened August 30, 2021 at approximately 5pm. Yes, it’s available for inspection upon request. 2)My safety was put at risk because I couldn’t accelerate properly to turn my car so I basically slowly cruised into traffic luckily i was able to steer to the side of the road. 3)No, it has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer. The problem is it happened suddenly with no warning of any problems. I only have 75k highway miles on the car with no lights, no accidents, only 5 years old and is in great shape. What makes it difficult to be reproduced is the fact that the problem randomly occurs and when the car goes through a power cycle the problem disappears and reoccurs randomly. 4)There were no warning lights and no problem prior to the car and it first occurred August 30, 2021 at approximately 5pm.
Upon arriving to my grandson's daycare, I applied by brake and put my car in park and suddenly my car accelerated at a fast speed. My car moved forward across an area that the children are usually playing in, but because it was raining they were inside. Thank God! I can't even imagine what would have happened. My car finally stopped because I was trying to avoid the daycare's shed, but hit the corner of the shed and this stopped the car. The air bag did not deploy as well. I am thankful to be alive and unharmed, but most thankful that no one else was harmed. My husband took photos of the brake marks on the pavement and grass and of the vehicle after collision with the shed and showing it was in park.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and deceleration. The contact had to place the key fob next to the push to start button to start the vehicle. Additionally, the contact had to use a screwdriver to shift the gear shifter from park to drive, or into reverse. The vehicle also stalled after stopping at a stop sign and then lunged forward to accelerate. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was over the mileage warranty coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
I was driving the car was driving fine. No indicator lights came on to warn me. I drove to my cousin house. And when I turned the car off my doors didn’t unlock like they usually do. I tried to turn the car back on I wouldn’t do anything. The whole time my windows was up. I was stuck in the car . I had to climb out through my trunk. That is dangerous.
My would stall at every stop I made. Would barely pick up speed. My first experience with it was on the highway and I had to put my hazard lights on and turn my car on and off to get it on the side of the road. I then called a Nissan dealership to see what’s wrong but they told me I needed a whole new transmission Was just recently informed that transmissions are prone to fail online. I purchased this car in April 2020 it’s only September 2021. But most definitely there needs to be a recall I could’ve been hit seriously.
This vehicle is a 2016 Nissan Altima with only has 36,000 miles. When driving this vehicle and stopping at a stop sign or traffic light the vehicle will not accelerate for a 10-30 seconds. No engine code or check engine light. This has happened two times when my wife drove the car and one time when I drove it. My wife will not drive this car anymore because she does not feel safe in it. She fears she will be rear ended or hit trying to make a turn. I talked to my local Nissan dealer today 8/19/2021 while having the hood latch recall done. The dealership didn't know anything about this problem with this or other Altimas but said it could be the valve body in the transmission ( without looking at the car, just my conversation) MMMMMMM. The dealership said they would charge me $130.00 to do a diagnostic check but without a check engine light it would not show anything and of course the car was doing fine when I went to there. This problem is sporadic and you don't know when it will occur again and can be very dangerous. I have looked at chat forums on google and see this is a big problem with Nissan Altimas of this model year generation. Thank you for your time.
CVT Transmission overheats then fails until it cools down.
This vehicle's 1st transmission was changed at a Nissan dealership around 44,000 miles. At 120,000 it started having issues again which effect safety: vehicle would not respond to acceleration, causing the vehicle to be stuck in dangerous situation such as merging or even in the middle of intersections. Nissan is refusing to take responsibility.
I was on the highway taking my newborn and my 2 year old home when the car was not going very fast when I went up a hill. I wasn’t sure what the issue was so I proceeded to drive my car the next day. I was driving at towards and intersection and my car did not stop at a red light, at a 4 way intersection. At this point my car did not signal a check engine light so I had no idea what the issue was. I put my car in park at the nearest parking lot and my check engine light came on. My check engine light is on at only 99,000 miles. I had my transmission fluid flushed and changed, the vehicle was running completely fine with no issues, 2 days later it was running as if the transmission had no fluid in it. The Nissan dealership said that the vehicle had internal damage to the transmission.
Transmission is not right
The RPMS are jumping while driving ,, car shut off while driving , car is sputtering and jerking and changing gears are not smooth.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Stopped propelling the car. Might be a transmission problem.
I have jerking in what I believe to be the transmission when accelerating.