2021 Nissan Altima problems, complaints & recalls

2021 Nissan Altima recalls (2)

• Recall 23V628000Sep 8, 2023153,376 vehicles
  BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

  Nissan 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."

  Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers 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.

• Recall 21V138000Mar 4, 20212,407 vehicles
  STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

  Nissan 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.

  Risk: A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Nissan 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 defect investigations

• PE23023Opened Dec 13, 2023Closed Jul 18, 2025led to recall 25V437

  Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure

  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 2.0…

• AQ22003Opened Dec 16, 2022Open

  Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls

  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…

Recent 2021 Nissan Altima complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Sep 10, 202697,350 miGACrashBrakes

   The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while pulling out of a parking lot, the contact shifted into drive(D) and then to reverse(R) to exit the parking lot, and while driving 3 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact attempted to forcefully depress the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop. Due to the failure, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11763405 · source
2. Filed Jul 23, 2026ILElectrical System

   Got the car from kingdom Chevy on 66 and western on February 2024 used at 62.000. I took the car back twice because the screen in the car kept cutting off fading on and fading off. Secondly, the Bluetooth plug would not work. I did not have the car a month. They kept telling me that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. I took my vehicle to the dealer and was told that there were no recalls on the vehicle and that basically my car was one of the cars that got put in the bad…

   NHTSA complaint #11752550 · source
3. Filed Jul 10, 2026PABrakesSteeringSuspension

   When I make a turn, I hear a clicking noise and also when I come to a complete stop, I can a sound that sounds like a grunting noise. I had new brakes, rotors and brand new tires put on in 2025. I think my ball joints and tie rod is defective. I have a triple AAA membership and I just renewed it in June and it said that my 2021 has two recalls. NHTSA # 23V628000 The back over prevention sensing system camera & NHTSA# 21V138000 Steering Linkage Tie Rod Assembly.

   NHTSA complaint #11749536 · source
4. Filed Jul 8, 2026COCrash1 injuredTowedBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   My car is supposed to have an automatic braking system/collision detection. Two cars in front of me slammed on their brakes and the car in front of me slammed on his brake, and I didn't have enough time to react. I totalled my car, but my car is supposed to have a safety feature that automatically brakes. The faulty automatic braking didn't engage as it should have.

   NHTSA complaint #11749014 · source
5. Filed Jul 7, 2026TXElectrical System

   Door lock actuators have failed completely on 2 doors, and intermittently on 1 door of a 2021 Nissan Altima. They do not respond to either the key fob or door button. There are no warnings or indicators associated with this component so it is unknown when the failures first occurred, but it was first noticed in summer of 2025. The components have not been inspected but could be made available for inspection if requested. Not being able to unlock doors could present an…

   NHTSA complaint #11748703 · source
6. Filed Jul 6, 2026AZBody & Structure

   Rear door locks both do not work other than manually locking. Reported incidents online show many others have had newer Nissan vehicles like our 2021 Nissan Altima with the same issue, some have been locked in the car and had to climb out the window and others said the door unlocked and opened while driving. This is a big concern for me as a mom who has a son driving this car, the entire reason was that the safety ratings were good on this AWD full size 2021 vehicle. We…

   NHTSA complaint #11748567 · source
7. Filed Jun 25, 2026OHCrash1 injuredTowedAirbagsElectrical SystemSeats & Seat Belts

   I purchased this car in April 2023 and in December 2023. I had to get a new battery when I purchased a car. They told me that there was no worries or mishaps with the vehicle they said just only normal wear and tear for is a used vehicle. My car is a 2021 Nissan Altima so the car would’ve been about two years old maybe or on his way to be in two years old when I got the car according to the Carfax and the information provided to me it only had one owner previously. I’m not…

   NHTSA complaint #11746502 · source
8. Filed Jun 21, 2026CAEngineOther / Unknown

   While heading west on interstate after a Drs. Appointment my wife was driving our 2021 Nissan Altima when suddenly there was a loss of power to the engine as if the engine was overheating or had loss of fuel or only able to slowly exit the freeway to a safe place and call a tow truck, after 1 1/2 days of diagnosing and testing. I was able to drive the vehicle with no issues for approximately 4000 miles when the exact problem has occurred this past Friday 6-19-2026

   NHTSA complaint #11745511 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology