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2020 Nissan Altima

Gas
Midsize Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
45 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical6
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA158
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA32 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car 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 F. Owners have filed 158 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AltimaGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl283932$1,950
Altima SR/PlatinumGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273731$2,000
Altima AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263530$2,100
Altima AWD SR/PlatinumGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263429$2,150
Altima SR/PlatinumGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253429$2,150

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

Factory warranty running out?

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

R25A8/A9 R25B1/B2/D1
443,899 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskEngine 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.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V437000reported Jun 27, 2025Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Back Over Prevention

R23C3
153,376 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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."RiskA rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V628000reported Sep 8, 2023Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Tires

PC798
36,141 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskOver 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.FixNissan 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V169000reported Mar 11, 2021Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Steering

PC795
2,407 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskA detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.FixNissan 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V138000reported Mar 4, 2021Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Tires

PC765
2,214 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskOver 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.FixNissan 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V685000reported Nov 5, 2020Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Visibility

PC752
150 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskRear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.FixNissan 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V570000reported Sep 22, 2020Nissan North America, Inc.

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

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

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
158complaints filed

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

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

Most-cited components

Electrical System42
Unspecified35
Engine33
Forward Collision Avoidance33
Service Brakes17
Power Train17

What owners describe

“I have been noticing electrical issues with the vehicle that have been going unresolved. This is the third time I'm taking it to a dealership. On 15 Nov 2022 the vehicle gave a frontal collision warning with no other vehicles around it felt like the emergency braking system engaged because the brakes became solid as a …”Nov 18, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“Crash Malfunction is randomly coming on while driving. It comes on even when there is NO vehicle in front of you. It comes on at random speeds from 2 to 40 MPH. I feel that if there was a warning, it may not come on. Problem has been going Vehicle is being inspected by Nissan today however the technician cannot duplica…”Sep 15, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“1. The volume knob for the radio is VERY touchy. Turns all the way up when trying to turn it down. 2. When I have cruise control on and am trying to avoid getting hit by a car that has gone too far out of their lane, the lane keeping assistant will fight me for control. 3. If labe assistance is fighting me for control …”Sep 8, 2022 · Electrical System · 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 AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%

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

Compare the 2020 Altima with

2020 Toyota Camry →2020 Honda Civic →

Other Altima model years

A

2026 Nissan Altima

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2025 Nissan Altima

2 recalls · 6 complaints

A

2024 Nissan Altima

1 recalls · 41 complaints

A

2023 Nissan Altima

0 recalls · 29 complaints

A

2022 Nissan Altima

0 recalls · 30 complaints

B

2021 Nissan Altima

2 recalls · 69 complaints

F

2019 Nissan Altima

7 recalls · 229 complaints

B

2018 Nissan Altima

2 recalls · 225 complaints

B

2017 Nissan Altima

3 recalls · 390 complaints

C

2016 Nissan Altima

4 recalls · 553 complaints

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.

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