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2021 Nissan Altima

Gas
Midsize Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
84 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA69
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA32 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 69 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. 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 SRGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273731$2,000
Altima SV/SLGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273731$2,000
Altima AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl263529$2,150
Altima AWD SR/PlatinumGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl253429$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: 43390, 43391, 43394, 43392, 43393, 43395.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Nissan Altima is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲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

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.

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
69complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 4 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 16

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance26
Electrical System21
Service Brakes18
Unspecified12
Steering7
Engine6

What owners describe

“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…”Sep 2, 2023 · Forward Collision Avoidance · NHTSA owner report
“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 malfunct…”Aug 5, 2023 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“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.â€� This happens multiple times per week, sometimes multiple times a day. There have…”Aug 4, 2023 · Service Brakes · 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, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Compare the 2021 Altima with

2021 Toyota Camry →2021 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

F

2020 Nissan Altima

6 recalls · 158 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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