⌘K
HomeNissanAltima2018
Nissan · Midsize car

2018 Nissan Altima

Gas
Midsize Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
89 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA225
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA31 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 225 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AltimaGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273831$2,000
Altima SRGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl263730$2,100
AltimaGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl223226$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39503, 39502, 39504.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Nissan Altima is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

Compare coverage →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

R20A7
1,831,818 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskCorrosion 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.FixNissan 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 OwnerÂ’s 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 ap
NHTSA campaign 20V315000reported May 28, 2020Nissan North America, Inc.
minor

Back Over Prevention

1,228,830 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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) numRiskThe lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.FixNissan 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 19V654000reported Sep 12, 2019Nissan North America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch — Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls open

NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates Hertz rented vehicles to customers without having performed required recall repairs. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.

Opened Dec 16, 2022 · action AQ22003

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Suspension:Rear — Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure closed

On July 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened EA19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 Nissan Altima and 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened ODI had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.ODI was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged an increased steering effort or loss of vehicle control.At the time these complaints were received, ODI was also aware of a proactive service campaign addressing 2013 Nissan Altima in salt-belt states for a similar concern. Since opening the investigation, ODI has confirmed, based on

Opened Jul 29, 2019 · closed Jun 16, 2025 · action EA19002

Suspension:Rear — Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure closed

PE18-013 was opened on December 1, 2018, with 4 complaints to ODI alleging incidents of the lower control arm fracturing at a connection point to the vehicle chassis due to corrosion. ODI has received an additional 87 complaints since the PE was opened. During PE18-013, Nissan indicated model years 2013-2018 shared a common rear lower control arm design. Nissan provided complaint and warranty data regarding 48 incidents of the subject failure. The majority of the complaints are from vehicles registered in salt belt states. There have been no crashes, injuries, or fatalities confirmed as of this date. Nissan advised that it has conducted testing to assess safety risk. Nissan states that due t

Opened Dec 1, 2018 · closed Aug 21, 2019 · action PE18013

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
225complaints filed

11 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 6 · 2019: 57 · 2020: 47 · 2021: 34 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

Unspecified60
Service Brakes48
Electrical System37
Air Bags37
Power Train23
Forward Collision Avoidance19

What owners describe

“the lighting isn’t good on the car! if I don’t have them on bright I cannot see”Mar 7, 2022 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while the vehicle had been parked in the driveway for three months, however, a crack developed on the windshield. The contact stated that no object had impacted the windshield to cause the crack. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failur…”Feb 28, 2022 · Visibility · NHTSA owner report
“i can be driving down the road and pass a guard rail or some other thing on the side of the road but usually a guard rail near my house and it knocks out the emergency braking system. sometimes, it may work my whole trip, other days, i may only go a mile or two before it goes out.”Feb 19, 2022 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Compare the 2018 Altima with

Other Altima model years

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

JSON for this page · API