2023 Nissan Altima
The 2023 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 30 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $25,630 to $35,330 across 8 trims.
| Trim | Powertrain | Drive | MSRP | HP | Torque | MPG comb | Seats | Cargo (2nd row) | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Gas | FWD | $25,630 | 188 hp | 180 lb-ft | 32 mpg | 5 | 15.4 cu-ft | 16 in |
| SV | Gas | FWD | $26,430 | 188 hp | 180 lb-ft | 31 mpg | 5 | 15.4 cu-ft | 17 in |
| SV AWD | Gas | AWD | $27,930 | 182 hp | 178 lb-ft | 30 mpg | 5 | 15.4 cu-ft | 17 in |
| SR | Gas | FWD | $27,830 | 188 hp | 180 lb-ft | 31 mpg | 5 | 15.4 cu-ft | 19 in |
| SR AWD | Gas | AWD | $29,330 | 182 hp | 178 lb-ft | 29 mpg | 5 | 15.4 cu-ft | 19 in |
| SL | Gas | FWD | $32,330 | 188 hp | 180 lb-ft | 31 mpg | 5 | 15.4 cu-ft | 19 in |
| SL AWD | Gas | AWD | $33,830 | 182 hp | 178 lb-ft | 30 mpg | 5 | 15.4 cu-ft | 19 in |
| SR VC-Turbo | Gas | FWD | $35,330 | 248 hp | 273 lb-ft | 29 mpg | 5 | — | 19 in |
MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altima | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 27 | 38 | 31 | $2,150 |
| Altima SL/SR | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Altima AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 26 | 34 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Altima SR | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 34 | 29 | $2,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45944, 45946, 45945, 45947.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altima | 7 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| Altima AWD, Altima SL/SR | 7 / 10 | California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| Altima SR | 6 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 | All 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.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2023 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 (0)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseNo NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2023 Nissan Altima. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.
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.
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 2023 Nissan Altima, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2023 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 database5 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported
2.6 per 10,000 built · Nissan reported 117,225 Altima built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2023: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 8
Most-cited components
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.
I was driving down the freeway at about 70 miles an hour. When a warning came up, saying engine malfunction power reduced, the car then started the shaking a bit and not getting any power. Smoke started pouring out of the hood. I then pulled over open the hood. It was then on fire(small).I put it out with some water.
Reporting a severe hydraulic/mechanical braking defect on a 2023 Nissan Altima with only 26,820 miles. Vehicle experiences persistent 'spongy' brake pedal feel, premature metal-on-metal rotor gouging, and severely darkened/degraded brake fluid, indicating a systemic hydraulic component failure or electronic brake-dragging defect.
During a traffic incident on March 26 2026 I was the driver of the 2023 Nissan Altima SL and I suffered unnecessary bodily injury due to the AEB system. I was in a forward collision, the warning indicator did not go off, and the AEB may have went off after the crash unnecessarily causing major damage to my right shoulder tearing one…
I purchased my car earlier this year. Paid in full. After having it for about 3 months I had to get a new battery. Now, about 2 months later I’m having to get a new alternator. A licensed car mechanic purchased the battery and put it on. The alternator, I went to the Nissan dealership and they told me it was the alternator.
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, there was a popping sound coming from the front driver’s seat, and the seat detached and became unhinged. A dealer was contacted. No injuries were reported.
I was riding down the highway when all of a sudden I hear loud bang, the rear windshield, completely shutters, spontaneously out of nowhere. This is a huge safety concern as I could have easily caused or been involved in an accident due to what occurred I have looked up on other forms where this has happened to other Nissan owners.
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: 3 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 2.6 per 100,000 built. Every Altima model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover 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.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Electrical System, Structure, Visibility/Wiper, Power Train, Wheels.
- NTB09-131C Service bulletin2026-04-13 · 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 bulletin2026-04-13 · 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
- NTB19-033G Service bulletin2025-02-20 · 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.
- NTB20-075E Service bulletin2024-08-15 · Electrical System
- SOFTWARE UPDATE POP-UP NOTIFICATION This bulletin is no longer active. Please discard previous versions of NTB20-075.
- NTB13-107G Service bulletin2024-05-21 · Electrical System
- VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- NTB13-027D Service bulletin2024-05-21 · Electrical System
- CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- NTB10-066C Service bulletin2024-05-21 · Electrical System
- CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- NTB13-028I Service bulletin2024-04-30 · Visibility/Wiper
- REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
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 complaintsCodes 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.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1A16 C1A16 on Nissan → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 1 bulletin |
| C2582 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 1 bulletin |
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 DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Nissan Altima failed the emissions check on 1.9% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).
failed emissions
2,686 initial inspections of 2,638 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2023 Altima | Every 2023 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2,679 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.5% | 1.1% | 2,686 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.07% | 0.16% | 2,686 |
| Miles driven a year | 10,722 | 10,038 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 34,725 | 32,673 | odometer 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 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 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).
Compare the 2023 Altima with
Any vehicle, your weights →| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Toyota Prius Prime · Midsize Sedan · grade C | Prius Prime +8.1 |
Altima by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2023 Altima
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsHow much does the 2023 Nissan Altima cost?
Manufacturer pricing runs from $25,630 for the S FWD to $35,330 for the SR VC-Turbo FWD, across 8 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.
Does the 2023 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2023 Nissan Altima. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them, and a clean sheet on a recent model year often just means the vehicle is new.
How safe is the 2023 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA gave the 2023 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 A (100/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Nissan Altima?
Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Nissan Altima, the best EPA combined figure is 31 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2023 Nissan Altima?
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Nissan Altima, most often about electrical system, unspecified, forward collision avoidance. Of those, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 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 2023 Nissan Altima?
The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Nissan Altima runs 6 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 ULEV50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Nissan Altima?
The manufacturer has filed 30 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Nissan Altima, most often covering electrical system, structure, visibility/wiper. 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 2023 Nissan Altima do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Nissan Altima failed the emissions check on 1.9% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). 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.
Which 2023 Nissan Altima trim is the best value?
$9,700 separates the cheapest of the 8 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.
Is the 2023 Nissan Altima better than the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?
The Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 90 to 81.9, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Altima is ahead on price and performance. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2023 Nissan Altima against the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.
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.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 4 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 4 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | none | NHTSA recall campaigns | No campaign has been filed. Because the register is complete, an empty row here means there is nothing to find — not that we are missing it. |
| Owner complaints | 30 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 30 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No 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 NHTSA | none | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | 8 trims | Manufacturer press kit | Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from. |
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.
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. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.