Nissan Altima electrical problems, 2016–2026
245 of the 1,737 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Nissan Altima 2016–2026 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2019 (58), 2020 (42), 2016 (42). Filed under the same heading across these years: 12 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Nissan Altima electrical problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the electrical system | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 100% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | 2 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | 6 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 10 | 34% | — | 12 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 7 | 23% | — | 14 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 21 | 30% | — | 60 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 | 42 | 27% | — | 84 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 58 | 25% | 21k | 100 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 | 37 | 16% | 32k | 62 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 | 27 | 7% | 44k | 67 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 | 42 | 8% | 42k | 100 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.
When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 22 · 2020: 29 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 20 · 2023: 33 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 44 · 2026: 32
Across the model years, half of the 74 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 18,000 and 57,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The front passenger door and both rear doors will not lock/unlock with the key fob or the button in the car. The doors when locked by hand will randomly unlock while the car is driving
The Radio and HVAC systems failed; Going down MN I-35 West south bound at 70mph the radio abruptly changed stations and went to full blast. It continued to randomly change between stations at full blast. I was unable to adjust the volume via the steering wheel controls or radio controls. I was also unable to shutoff the radio.
I was driving the car at about 70 mph on the expressway and it just randomly de-accelerated dripping from 70-34 mph and would not allow me to accelerate and then proceeded to shut down stating engine stall I almost got hit from the back when the car de-accelerated and couldn’t do anything about it after about 10-15 seconds I pressed the…
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 rock.
While driving the vehicle down the highway the car will continuously shake, surge, vibrate, and fail when attempting to accelerate. My vehicle has stalled with my kids in the vehicle, in front of oncoming traffic. I lost complete power including headlights, power steering, and mobility of the car.
What is on file about the electrical system, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications12 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Mar 30, 2026
- 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
- Feb 20, 2025
- 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.
- Feb 20, 2025
- 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
- Oct 4, 2024
- 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).
- Aug 30, 2024
- *****Dealer Announcement***** To ensure continued customer satisfaction and confidence, Nissan is now updating the temporary hold on specific model year 2025 Altima vehicles identified in Service Comm to a dealer inventory quality action to update the software to the Body Control Module (BCM). On affected vehicles, the battery can potentially be drained due to the BCM waking up periodically when i
- Aug 15, 2024
- SOFTWARE UPDATE POP-UP NOTIFICATION This bulletin is no longer active. Please discard previous versions of NTB20-075.
- Jul 11, 2024
- FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW APPLIED VEHICLES: 2021-2022 Altima (L34) 2022-2023 Frontier (D41) 2020-2022 Sentra (B18) APPLIED DATES: Altima: All Frontier: All Sentra: Built on or before March 10, 2022 APPLIED SYSTEMS: Automatic Emergency Braking/Forward Collision Warning IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states they have experienced false activation and/or unexpected braking of the Automatic Emergency
- May 21, 2024
- 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.
The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Nissan Altima
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Nissan Altima problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Nissan Altima years have the most electrical complaints?
2019, 58; 2020, 42; 2016, 42. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2026 (100%).
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Nissan Altima?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the Nissan Altima?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 31,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 18,000 and 57,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.