Photo: User3204 / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2021 Nissan Altima: common problems and reliability
One of the better Altima years.
70 owner complaints, most about forward collision avoidance. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2021 Altima?The 2021 Nissan Altima has 70 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are forward collision avoidance and service brakes. Owners most often flag engine issues (various): for 2019-2021 models with the 2.0l vc-turbo engine, a manufacturing defect in engine bearings can lead to catastrophic engine failure, knocking noises, loss of power, and potential fire, as detailed in a nhtsa recall (25v437). for older 2.5l engines, reports of oil consumption, misfires, and sensor problems.
Safety record for the 2021 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2021 Nissan Altima vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Altima years only. How we score it
Is 2021 a good year for the Altima?
Across the 31 Altima model years we track, complaint volume runs from 20 (2022) to 3,148 (2009). With 70 complaints, the 2021 Altima sits below the model's median of 276.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2021 Altima
steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Campaign 21V138000Nissan 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.
back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Campaign 23V628000Nissan 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."
What owners say across generations
Extremely negative sentiment regarding long-term reliability, dominated by widespread and severe criticism of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
- RecurrentEngine issues (various)
For 2019-2021 models with the 2.0L VC-Turbo engine, a manufacturing defect in engine bearings can lead to catastrophic engine failure, knocking noises, loss of power, and potential fire, as detailed in a NHTSA recall (25V437). For older 2.5L engines, reports of oil consumption, misfires, and sensor problems.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Altima. See the full Altima owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Altima listings typically run $9,439–$20,988.
Other Altima model years
Compare every Altima year side by side to see how 2021 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Altima against its rivals
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