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Nissan Altima.

The best Nissan Altima years are 2022, 2011, 2021. Years to avoid: 2013, 2002, 2005. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 70, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

70Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.4× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2022 · Worst year 2013

Nissan Altima
Photo shows a 2020 Nissan Altima. Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000452.2× fewer complaints2001432.3× fewer complaints20021231.2× the complaints20031161.2× the complaints2004362.8× fewer complaints20051231.2× the complaints2006108about average2007521.9× fewer complaints2008651.5× fewer complaints2009861.2× fewer complaints2010333× fewer complaints2011175.9× fewer complaints2012342.9× fewer complaints20131941.9× the complaints201490about average2015861.2× fewer complaints2016661.5× fewer complaints2017521.9× fewer complaints2018631.6× fewer complaints2019502× fewer complaints2020512× fewer complaints2021303.3× fewer complaints2022166.2× fewer complaints202319early read · 5.3× fewer complaints202440early read · 2.5× fewer complaints2025–few complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2022.

2022166.2× fewer complaints than average2011175.9× fewer complaints than average2021303.3× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2013.

20131941.9× the average car's complaints20021231.2× the average car's complaints20051231.2× the average car's complaints

Compare the Nissan Altima.

Nissan AltimaToyota Camryvs Toyota CamryNissan AltimaHonda Civicvs Honda CivicNissan AltimaToyota Corollavs Toyota CorollaNissan AltimaHonda Accordvs Honda Accord

vs Toyota Camry · vs Honda Civic · vs Toyota Corolla · vs Honda Accord · vs Ford Fusion · vs Hyundai Elantra · vs Chevrolet Malibu · vs Hyundai Sonata

Quick answers.

Is the Nissan Altima a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 70; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2022 and the worst is 2013.

What are the best Nissan Altima years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2022, 2011, 2021.

What Nissan Altima years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2013, 2002, 2005.

How many recalls does the Nissan Altima have?

113 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2002 (12), 2013 (12), 2003 (10). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Nissan Altima problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name engine, airbags and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000452.2× fewer complaints than average68tires (24%)2—21–24
2001432.3× fewer complaints than average67suspension (25%)2—21–23
20021231.2× the average car's complaints253engine (42%)12—19–23
20031161.2× the average car's complaints191engine (53%)10—19–23
2004362.8× fewer complaints than average72engine (56%)5—20–23
20051231.2× the average car's complaints217engine (37%)2—21–24
2006108about average177engine (60%)4—21–24
2007521.9× fewer complaints than average130engine (26%)3—22–34
2008651.5× fewer complaints than average174service brakes, hydraulic (29%)4—22–34
2009861.2× fewer complaints than average146steering (35%)4—21–34
2010333× fewer complaints than average83transmission & drivetrain (34%)3—21–34
2011175.9× fewer complaints than average53electrical (25%)1★★★★☆21–33
2012342.9× fewer complaints than average111airbags (18%)4★★★★☆21–26
20131941.9× the average car's complaints757airbags (41%)12★★★★★25–31
201490about average332airbags (36%)8★★★★★25–31
2015861.2× fewer complaints than average284airbags (30%)10★★★★★26–31
2016661.5× fewer complaints than average209transmission & drivetrain (44%)4★★★★★26–31
2017521.9× fewer complaints than average148transmission & drivetrain (37%)3★★★★★26–31
2018631.6× fewer complaints than average144brakes (32%)2★★★★★26–31
2019502× fewer complaints than average106brakes (21%)7★★★★★29–32
2020512× fewer complaints than average74electrical (28%)6★★★★★29–32
2021303.3× fewer complaints than average34automatic emergency braking (53%)2★★★★★29–32
2022166.2× fewer complaints than average27automatic emergency braking (44%)0★★★★★29–32
2023195.3× fewer complaints than average30electrical (37%)0★★★★★29–31
2024402.5× fewer complaints than average41automatic emergency braking (12%)1★★★★★29–31
2025–too few complaints to score7body structure (14%)2★★★★★28–31

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Nissan Altima transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data