NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Nissan Altima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving on four occasions, the front driver's side seat belt unintendedly unbuckled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was determined that there was debris in the engine oil pan. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and debris was found in the engine oil pan. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHSTA Campaign: 26V080000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Back up camera display distorted
The system malfunctioning is the front sensor braking. My safety and others were put at risk with this because multiple times my car has braked me and or completely stopped me because it’s malfunctioning , it happens while I am on a busy street and someone even almost rear ended me because my car braked out of nowhere. It’s called “Phantom Braking”. No, the problem has not been confirmed by dealer became they stopped answering. I took it to the manufacture but they want to charge me too much. Yes and it first appeared Feb 2nd , a day after I bought the car. So at first it will aggressively brake me and I can tell when it’s going to start braking me because this loud scratching/grinding noise appear .. the noise sounds like it’s coming from the bottom and I can feel it vibrating my car when I relax my feet on the brakes or the floor. But as soon as that noise comes on then the car starts braking me and sometimes it will cause the engine to stall and then the car will stop driving completely while im on the middle of traffic.
Passenger back locks stopped working first. Then driver side back locks. Now both driver and passenger front locks will not lock/unlock automatically. This is scary when not being able to get in/out of vehicle for an emergency. I have reviewed multiple complaints and it appears this is a very common Nissan problem that needs to be addressed before it becomes a bigger safety problem.
Hi this is in reference to my 2021 Nissan altima. The fob key entry and electrical door control doesn't work. The automator for my doors have had to be replaced. First the rear passenger and five days later the rear passenger door on drivers side and now the drivers door. As a single female this is a safety issue. If I can't access my vehicle in an emergency it turns into a life or death situation. I've researched this and many owners of like vehicle have had this complaint and reported it, but appears that Nissan has ignored it. When my repairs are done it isn't inexpensive. Please please please!!! Look into this. Please and thank you. Tempe dodge chrysler and jeep Tempe Az is where the repairs are done. Jon (833) 552-1518 service department
The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in my 2021 Nissan Altima SR frequently malfunctions. The forward radar sensor, located behind the front grille, becomes easily obstructed by normal road dirt or weather conditions. When this happens, the system falsely detects obstacles and engages braking or gives collision warnings even when the road ahead is clear. This places my safety and the safety of others at risk because the vehicle can suddenly slow or stop without cause, increasing the chance of a rear-end collision. To avoid false activations, I must disable the AEB system every time I drive, which defeats the purpose of having this federally mandated safety feature. The problem is ongoing and repeatable. Warning lights and collision alerts appear when the sensor is dirty or misreading conditions. Nissan dealerships have acknowledged this issue through Technical Service Bulletins, but there is no permanent fix and no recall. The malfunction has not been resolved by the manufacturer and continues to pose a safety hazard.
Steering wheel module buttons are not working . / needs a sensor replaced - recalibration.
Rear Crash warning comes on when stopped at light , or when car is put in reverse and nothings there . also wiper refill warning. stays on even when full. Has been reported to dealership more than once also hear clicking at speeds over 50 mph.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud clicking sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fractured front driver's and passenger's side axles. The contact was informed that the driver's and passenger's side axles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,500.
About a month ago I noticed my backup camera had gotten dark. I didn’t worry much about it until it started glitching a couple days ago. I gave it a couple of days thinking it would go away but it hasn’t. It either glitches with lines through it, it freezes, or goes black altogether. I then did some research on it finding that there have been recalls on the 2021 nissan altima model cameras, just not mine specifically. I’m not sure why that is but it’s an issue I’m not willing to pay out of my pocket knowing that it’s been a year to model issue in the past. I would like this recall to be put in place and me be able to get it repaired free of charge seeing that it’s an obvious danger while backing up and the fact I did not personally damage it.
Stating that something is malfunctioning and see owners manual
The backseat driver seatbelt does not click locked. The driver seat squeaks and moves. The driver door locks while trying to open.
I was driving with my child in the car and the volume on the radio spiked to an extremely high level. This has happened multiple times and the volume control knob is defective so I cannot turn down the volume or the radio off. I brought the vehicle into the Nissan dealer and they diagnosed an internal failure to the A/V control unit and recommended replacing this. When the volume spikes to full blast, I cannot turn the radio off. They are charging $2000 to have this repaired even though it's a safety hazard and I am distracted while driving to keep trying to turn the volume off or the radio off. The controls do not work and they independently turn the volume on full blast.
Due to the Pasadena wildfires the car has been highly affected due to the extreme heat and the ashes
The contact rented a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that it felt like the brakes were inoperable. The vehicle was then taken back to the rental car agency. The vehicle was not diagnosed, and the contact was unsure if the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,794. The VIN was not available.
[XXX] slams on brakes going in reverse for no reason, I wish there was a way to disconnect this to me it's more of a safety issue. Problem is there trying to dumb [XXX] down for all the idiots out there that don't know how to drive.. I don't have that problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
TRANSMISSION HAD FRONT SEAL LEAKING.CAR HAS LESS THAN 51,OOO MILES.
The passenger side door won’t unlock at all. By remote nor manually.
Passenger door won’t unlock at all
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the brakes independently activated, and the rear of the vehicle fishtailed. The contact stated an unknown warning light showing an image of the rear of the vehicle was briefly illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the driver's side front seat frame was fractured, and the seat was loose. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the brake failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that the driver's side front seat rack was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to several dealers; however, the brake failure was not duplicated. The contact was afraid to continue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair for the driver's side front seat rack was not covered under warranty or any special programs. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
Vehicle Breaking on Its Own While Driving I am writing to file a formal safety complaint and to demand immediate corporate intervention regarding an extremely dangerous mechanical/ADAS defect. My Nissan Altima has serious, ongoing safety issues where the vehicle will unexpectedly and aggressively apply the brakes on its own while I am driving, including on highways and regular roads. This defect happens without my input, without warning, and creates a major risk of being rear-ended, losing control of the vehicle, or causing a serious accident. This issue is Not minor. It is a life-threatening malfunction that makes the vehicle unsafe to operate. I have taken the vehicle to authorized Nissan dealerships for diagnosis and repair on multiple occasions & originally they told me it should be under warranty & when they spoke to the dealership they said it did not qualify under the warranty nor the extra insurance purchased & i'd have to come out of pocket for repairs. A vehicle that breaks on its own, especially at highway speeds – is not safe, not reliable, and not roadworthy. This situation has gone on for years and the vehicle is now a clear danger to me and the public and my three minor children who ride in the car with me. I am requesting immediate action and a good-faith resolution.
Every time I drive under an over pass my vehicle will come to a stop. Placing me in DANGER with traffic.
I Serviced my vehicle with a Nissan Dealership, and was told brake pads were good. Within a couple of weeks there was a scratching sound like the brake warning indicator. I brought my car to a mechanic to be repaired but brake pads were confirmed to be fine. Further investigation indicates a bad brake caliper in the rear. Mechanic contacted Nissan to order a rear caliper and was told it’s a known issue with the rear calipers. With the caliper not functioning properly this is a direct safety violation and can cause my brakes to seize or not function hindering my/others ability to stop. I will have the repairs done with my mechanic and I have submitted a case file with Nissan. If Nissan is aware of the brake calipers having issues then this should be on the recall list and immediately fixed.
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a recurring transmission issue with my 2021 Nissan Altima. The car has been experiencing significant power loss while driving, which I am certain is linked to a malfunctioning CVT transmission system. Despite ensuring that the transmission fluid levels are correct, the problem persists. Recently, the car lost power while I was going at least 50 mph on a busy road, which is very dangerous. Additionally, I have come across numerous complaints from other owners of the same model experiencing similar transmission issues. This history of complaints indicates a widespread problem that poses a serious safety risk and warrants a recall. Although there is an extended warranty, I don’t think it is fair for others being out of warranty when this is a very known issue with all owners. A CVT should last way longer than 70,000 miles, and some owners even report issues as early as 25,000 miles. Some mechanics even tell all their Nissan customers about the cons of the CVT, so it is very well known to not be good. Nissan basically has a deadly issue on their hands. I kindly request a thorough investigation and appropriate action to resolve this matter. Thank you for your attention to this serious issue.
The car rear impact warning comes on when driving this has happened at least 5 times Also the windshield washer fluid light comes on even though the reservoir is full
Purchased the car in June of 2024 with around 33,000 miles. I thought the doors were locked and someone was able to just open my back door when my car was unattended in a store parking lot; the car was supposed to be locked. Lights and horn started going off. Being a female with a child this is a very scary issue. The idea that anyone can get in when you think the doors are locked or vice versa, in the event of an emergency no one can get in because the doors dont unlock. It started with the passenger side rear door lock not working with fob or button. The lock needs to be done manually. The dealership looked at it and said they could not replicate the problem and everything was working. Now both rear door locks dont work with the buttons or the key fob. The rear doors have to be locked and unlocked manually all the time. Car is currently at the dealership and they confirmed the issue and are telling me that the BCM (i believe is what they said) needs to be replaced and reprogrammed. The car only has approx. 42,500 miles. The other issue with the car is the automatic emergency braking system light comes on and flashes on the dash. It is very random and sometimes it doesnt do it at all. There can be nothing in front of me on the road when it starts flashing. It also does it in all weather conditions, and even when its dry. There have been multiple issues with this car since the day I purchased it.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 35,189 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 65,543.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, there were abnormal sounds coming from the engine compartment. The contact inspected the vehicle and sent off an oil sample. The contact stated that a metal fragment was found in the engine oil. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
Windshield Repair Issue I have a cracked windshield that I attempted to have repaired through my insurance company. The repair company I was sent to was unable to remove the windshield, so they referred me to Nissan, as they are the manufacturer of my vehicle. However, when I went to Nissan, I was informed that they could not remove the necessary bolts to replace my windshield without breaking my windshield wiper motor. This situation poses significant safety risks. A cracked windshield compromises the structural integrity of the vehicle, reducing its ability to protect occupants in the event of an accident.
Based on comments from various post online, it is a common issue that the doors’ lock on altimas with no warning or reasoning just stop working. Whatever position the lock is in, is the one that the lock will stay on even if a safety feature that’s advertised and you expect is for the Altima to automatically lock up when you begin to drive. At this point my personal Altima has not been inspected or fixed by anyone, just a day to day experience of having to check my backseat before getting in to make sure no one is in the back of my car because the doors do not lock. It’s been since about February that the car doors locking mechanism will not engage on two of my car doors, even if you press the lock/unlock switch inside of the door, the lock/unlock button on the key fob, nor the button on the outside of the door handle.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera malfunctioned and images were displayed distorted at times or black and blue, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V628000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall The failure mileage was 49,000.
When it rains I cannot see using the backup camera at all. Car also gives false alerts when backing up when raining or after rain.
3out of 4 door lock actuators went out .three of the doors can’t be locked from driver side and don’t automatically lock when the car is being driven.problem has been confirmed by an independent center.there were no prior warnings.
On 10/26/23 at 5:00 pm I was involved in an accident I was hit on the front passenger side and none of the airbags deployed I do remember that right on impact immediately my chest started hurting I also hit my head on the driver side window now i dont know how fast i should be going or how hard do i need to be hit for the airbags to deploy but they never did. When I first purchased the vehicle back in May of 2021 I had set up my nissan connect services which i was paying $14.99 a month and in those l services I had an option that if I were to ever be in an accident that it would contact my family and during the time of the incident they were never contacted. Ive contacted nissan of the situation and all they have done was reimburseme me 1 month which I feel isn't right I've even gone down to the dealership and told them my concerns and they didn't nothing about it
My car has a detached tie rod ball joint and is causing a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash. My children are in danger yet your site says my vin has no safety recall after I reviewed the safety recall for my vehicle and noticed a connection. I can’t afford any repairs and I shouldn’t have to risk my life over a recalled problem with my make model and year vehicle.
When traveling in a rental from SFO to Concord CA, on the Bay Bridge at 9 am on the 26 of September 2023, just as I entered the underpass section near Treasure Island, the front sensor malfunctioned and auto braked from 47 mph to 28, generated audible, tactile, and visual alarms, even though the car in front was not decelerating (auto lights, tail lights in from of me as the car went into a dark section of road may have been misinterpreted). I was almost crashed into. Scariest experience in 37 years of driving. No over ride.
1. The automatic emergency braking activated while approaching a railway crossing. And yes, it is available for inspection. 2. If anyone had been behind me, it very likely would have resulted in a collision. 3. Not yet confirmed by the dealer, but has happened to me three times. 4. No. 5. No warning before the malfunction.
On two separate occasions, during intermittent weather changes, my vehicle has giving me notice of forward warning collision being disabled or has flashed on my dashboard. Same goes with my rear collision warnings. My car has also force-brake while driving under 30 mph. I don't know if there is a safety issue with the alignment of the radars in the newer models but its caused a fear of driving my family in that car.
On two separate occasions my vehicle stopped on its own. Once while doing roughly 35mph the brakes applied on their own and the car stopped immediately. The second time I was at a.traffic light that had just turned green as I began to accelerate the brakes locked up and the car stopped immediately. What are my options regarding this issue.that I am having?
I was driving on the interstate in a construction zone and begin reducing speed from about 62 mph after noticing brake lights from cars in the far distance. As the car start to reduce speed, I begin to apply the brakes as I'm approaching the stopped traffic and instead of stopping my car kept going. I pressed the brakes harder, and the car began to slide. After sliding about 9-10 car lengths, I was stopped by rear ending the vehicle in front of me. There was an error message on the dash "Chassis Control System Error See Owner's Manual" that appeared on the dash. I was struck in the back by a Toyota 4Runner resulting in my car being totaled.
Driving down the street a truck in front of the lady in front of me. It was a green light he decided to stop. She stopped I put I started to stop my brakes would not stop the car nor did the emergency front collision brakes work I could not stop the car.
While driving, most times at higher speeds, the light with the car and lines behind it (VDC light?) will turn on, and then a minute later the front and back AEB lights turn on and the dashboard says “malfunction: see owner’s manual.” This happens multiple times per week, sometimes multiple times a day. There have been other recalls for this issue with other Nissan Altima years with this system.
My car completely malfunctioned, the first time my car only had 2,000 miles on it. I was sitting at a red light on a busy Atlanta Rd. The vehicle went completely dead, I mean I could not even turn on the emergency flashers- " nothing worked" Dead car! I could not go anywhere for about 2 minutes. People honking and getting aggressive in traffic started up in about 2 minutes or so. I stopped in told the service people about it, at the dealership I purchased my car. The service men said it is nothing, it happened to me. They told It would be OK. Now, 2 years later. My car is still under full warranty it had 10,000 miles on it. The same exact thing happened again, in traffic. I told Nissan dealership when I got my oil changed. Told them what happened again. OH you would have a long wait, we are completely booked up in our Diagnostic Dept. They also quoted me a price that was a few hundred for the diagnostic test. I replied to them, My car is still under full warranty. They blew me off again. "saying the vehicle has to be having the problem, for diagnostic to pick up on it. lol Yes, I look like stupid blonde who knows nothing about cars. Thank you
The drive seat warmer heats up even when the warmer button is off. Also the driver seat seems to be not bolted down correctly you can feel the seat trying to come up when turning and braking
front impact radar malfunction. The light on the console would come on intermittently. I took the car to the dealer and they said the front radar was defective and they replaced the front radar. Not even two months have passed and the light is back on. This can cause your car to suddenly stop causing you to be rear ended because the car thinks you are in danger. It affects the automatic emergency braking system. This car is brand new and just went over 10,000 miles. It recently had it's first service and now I have to take it back and get it checked again.
I purchased my car from Sheehy Nissan of Waldorf on November 1, 2022. At the time of purchase the vehicle had 38,709 miles. It reportedly had one previous owner and was originally titled on 3/11/2021. From the day I purchased this vehicle I have had trouble with the automatic emergency braking system. I am experiencing sudden unintended brake activation in various situations. I have experienced the emergency braking system activating when I am driving at high speeds (60-70 mph) with nothing in front of me. I have had it automatically brake when I am in traffic maintaining safe distances and speeds. I have experienced it braking when I have been leaving a parking garage - again with nothing near or around my vehicle. When this occurs, it is when the warning lights turn off. So, it is completely random and unpredictable. The warning light turns on 100% of the time I drive the vehicle. I took my car to Sheehy Nissan of Waldorf for repair of this issue on 3/28/23, 6/13/23, and 8/3/23, but, to date, they have been unable to correct the problem. Most recently (8/25/23) I was given an estimate of an additional $1,977.43 for a 4th attempt to fix this problem. I met with the Service Manager, [XXX] , on 8/28/23 to discuss the matter. He said he would talk to the Nissan area rep and their warranty rep and get back to me. Two days later he responded that the area rep offered to cover 40% of the repair cost, making my cost $808.96 for the 4th repair attempt. As you are aware, this is a known issue with this vehicle and many other Nissan models. The NHTSA started an investigation into Nissan regarding this issue in September 2019. There have been multiple lawsuits and class action suits against Nissan for this same problem, yet they continue to sell these vehicles without fixing the problem or issuing a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH in a rainstorm, the automatic emergency braking system warning light illuminated, however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact continued to drive and noticed that once they cleared the rainstorm the warning light disengaged. The contact informed the dealer and was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA ID Number: 10207869 (Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the rainstorm could have caused water to enter into the sensors for the automatic emergency brake to become defective. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.
This has been an ongoing issue for over 2 years where I go somewhere, park and come back out and my car won’t start. I literally have to have someone come in to give me a jump so the whole time I was thinking it was a bad battery so I went and bought a new battery. Well fast forward not even 7 months later I’m in the same position I go to the store come out and my car completely has no power so I take the car to autozone and what do you know a faulty engine and alternator. So I get on line and see I’m not the only one with this issue. My main concern is I’ve always gone to my car dealership to get oil changes and not once have they ever told me after putting my car on the machine that they found an issue with neither. And again this has been going on for quite some time. My issue is now my warranty is out and it just so happen to just have ran out after my last oil change and again this was going on then and they never mentioned it. What are they going to do about this problem.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: ProContact, Tire Size: 215/55/R17, DOT Number: VY3RWCN5(3621). The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the TPMS showed that the tire pressures were low. After stopping the vehicle, the contact discovered a blowout of the driver’s side rear tire. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026