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Your vehicleHome›Nissan›Altima› 2020
Nissan · Midsize Sedan

2020 Nissan Altima

Gas
Midsize Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints15 crash · 5 fire · 13 injured · 1 died reported 160
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 160 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Nissan Altima — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Nissan Altima · Photo: LukaCali · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AltimaGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl283932$2,100
Altima SR/PlatinumGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273731$2,150
Altima AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263530$2,250
Altima AWD SR/PlatinumGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263429$2,300
Altima SR/PlatinumGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253429$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41532, 41533, 41534, 41535, 41536.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Altima, Altima AWD, Altima SR/Platinum7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Altima AWD SR/Platinum7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Altima SR/Platinum5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Displacement2 L

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Platinum, S, SL, SR). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length192.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.8 in
Height57.1 in
Wheelbase111.4 in
Track, front63.4 in
Track, rear63.4 in
Curb weight3,406 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2020 Altima
Other years The 2026 Altima Recalls Nissan recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Nissan Altima is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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 (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

R25A8/A9 R25B1/B2/D1
443,899 vehicles 69% reported repaired
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure. Risk Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire. Fix Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V437000 reported Jun 27, 2025 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

R23C3
153,376 vehicles 70% reported repaired
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V628000 reported Sep 8, 2023 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

PC798
36,141 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production. Risk Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V169000 reported Mar 11, 2021 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Steering

PC795
2,407 vehicles 97% reported repaired
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle. Risk A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V138000 reported Mar 4, 2021 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

PC765
2,214 vehicles 94% reported repaired
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima S grade vehicles equipped with Continental ProContact TX tires, size 215/60 R16 H, with TIN date code 3320 and Mold ID S-419149. The tires may have been over cured. Risk Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-8677669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC765.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V685000 reported Nov 5, 2020 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Visibility

PC752
150 vehicles 84% reported repaired
Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle. Risk Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V570000 reported Sep 22, 2020 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure closed

On December 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-023 to investigate allegations of engine failures leading to loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Nissan Rogue; MY 2019-2021 Nissan Altima; and MY 2019-2021 Infiniti QX50 vehicles. At that time, ODI had received 6 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) and multiple early warning reports, with consumers reporting engine knocking noises accompanied by a loss of engine power while driving. The investigation identified bearing failures in certain vehicles equipped with the subject 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. ODI also identified early warning reports describin

Opened Dec 13, 2023 · closed Jul 18, 2025 · action PE23023 · the investigation’s page →

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 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Altima

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Nissan publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Nissan’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Nissan Altima, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Nissan Altima

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Altima →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
160complaints filed

15 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 13 injuries · 1 deaths reported

8.5 per 10,000 built · Nissan reported 189,140 Altima built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 21 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 23 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 37 · 2026: 23

Most-cited components

Electrical System 43
Engine 39
Unspecified 35
Forward Collision Avoidance 33
Service Brakes 18
Power Train 17

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Airbag has hole in it and all chemicals inside were splashed on passengers arm. Said felt as if person was impaled.to be exact on injuries; passengers arm from armpit to elbow was chemically burned. Coronavirus so couldn’t go to hospital. Very painful long healing and lots of home bandage replacements.
Air Bags Jun 19, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11421498
Parked the car for roughly 10 minutes. Came back and started car with all lights on dash illuminated. Hard to drive, hard to steer and could not tell how fast vehicle was moving as speedometer didn't work. This has happened before, had it taken to Nissan dealer.
Electrical System at 14,500 miles Apr 18, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11412753
My windshield cracked for no reason . No signs that it was cracked by impact . The crack keeps getting bigger. Giving me poor visibility while driving . Very expensive to replace
Visibility/Wiper Apr 7, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11406815
Car slamming on brakes when no other vehicle is around gas guage start to read wrong
Service Brakes at 18,125 miles Mar 1, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11398406
During cold temperatures the car accelerates poorly, engine RPM is unusual. At least one instance of the engine warning light illuminates with a "service now" message displayed. In all cases the vehicle engine was running, in (slow) motion, and on a city street and one incident on a highway going straight ahead.
Engine at 10,976 miles Feb 19, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11396918
As a true and faithful customer over the last 10 years, i'm finally throwing in the towel in regards to my recent 2020 Nissan Altima sr. with only 7500 precious miles, this car has been to the dealership over five times now, within a six month period.
Steering Jan 23, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11389572

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.

Reported by Nissan itself: 12 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 killed, 15 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 6.3 per 100,000 built. Every Altima model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 14k

miles, typically

Half the 28 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 45,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 28 on file: 12 under 10k, 6 10k–20k, 2 20k–30k, 1 40k–50k, 2 50k–60k, 2 60k–70k, 3 100k–150k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 146
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-04-13
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 146 service bulletins

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train, Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance.

  • NTB09-131C Service bulletin
    2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
  • CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
  • NTB09-131C Service bulletin
    2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
  • CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
  • NTB15-049CC Service bulletin
    2026-03-30 · Electrical System
  • TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION HINT: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with a 4G network compatible TCU. TCUs compatible with 3G network only are no longer supported. SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed SOS switch, located near the overhead map lamp, also come equipped with a wireless communication device called a Telematics Communication U
  • NTB26-003 Service bulletin
    2026-01-16 · Forward Collision Avoidance — Warnings
  • FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states they have experienced false activation and/or unexpected braking of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, AND There are no related DTCs stored. ACTION Follow the SERVICE PROCEDURE in this bulletin to: 1. Confirm the current ICC/ADAS part number. 2. Reprogram the ICC/ADAS, if applicable. 3.
  • NTB19-042F Service bulletin
    2025-02-20 · Service Brakes
  • AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the windshield. A blinking AEB warning light may occur under the following condit
  • NTB19-033G Service bulletin
    2025-02-20 · Electrical System
  • INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
  • NTB20-066C Service bulletin
    2024-10-04 · Electrical System
  • LANE CAMERA AIMING VEHICLE REFERENCE VALUES NOT IN ESM SERVICE INFORMATION If the lane camera requires aiming, the values in Table A on page 4 must be used.  For all other models/model years, consult the Electronic Service Manual (ESM).
  • NTB19-071D Service bulletin
    2024-09-19 · Air Bags
  • DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
B26FEManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P0101
P0101 on Nissan →		The mass air flow sensor is reporting a figure the engine computer does not believe for the conditions.Engine · Mass air flow sensor →2 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0742The torque converter clutch is staying locked when it should release.Power Train3 bulletins
P0456
P0456 on Nissan →		A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →2 bulletins
P0776
P0776 on Nissan →		Pressure control solenoid B is not holding the pressure it was commanded.Power Train2 bulletins
P0841
P0841 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train2 bulletins
P11A7Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →2 bulletins
P17F0
P17F0 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train2 bulletins
P17F1
P17F1 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train2 bulletins
P2004
P2004 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2015Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2813
P2813 on Nissan →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Nissan Altima failed the emissions check on 3.4% of first inspections — higher than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 3.4%

failed emissions

5,319 initial inspections of 5,208 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 AltimaEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.4%2.2%5,309
Failed the safety inspection2.3%1.6%5,319
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.21%0.19%5,319
Miles driven a year10,8939,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer68,31362,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Altima by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 0 1 30 mpg2025 B 2 7 31 mpg2024 B 1 41 31 mpg2023 A 0 30 31 mpg2022 A 0 31 32 mpg2021 B 2 70 32 mpg2020 this page D 6 160 32 mpg2019 F 7 233 32 mpg2018 B 2 226 31 mpg2017 C 3 393 31 mpg2016 D 4 554 31 mpg

Common questions about the 2020 Altima

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Nissan Altima have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2020 Nissan Altima, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V437000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Nissan Altima?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Nissan Altima 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (61/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Nissan Altima?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Nissan Altima, the best EPA combined figure is 32 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Nissan Altima?

Transport Canada measured it at 192.9 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1 in tall, on a 111.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,406 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Nissan Altima?

Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Nissan Altima, most often about electrical system, engine, unspecified. Of those, 15 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 13 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Nissan Altima?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Nissan Altima runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Nissan Altima?

The manufacturer has filed 146 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Nissan Altima, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-04-13. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Nissan Altima do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Nissan Altima failed the emissions check on 3.4% of first inspections — higher than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates5 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints160NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins146NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations2NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA6 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2026 Altima The Altima model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Nissan recall on file All campaigns filed against Nissan vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Altima by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

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

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