Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine...
Engine & cooling
Nissan Altima Engine problems by year
3,365 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Nissan Altima's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Engine complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 86 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 66 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 80 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 166 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 72 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 54 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 2009 | 117 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 74 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | 79 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2006 | 352 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 2005 | 395 | 9 | 11 | 1 |
| 2004 | 138 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 559 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| 2002 | 687 | 8 | 13 | 3 |
| 2001 | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 56 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Engine recalls
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor.
On certain vehicles, if a sufficiently hot object enters the air filter housing through the engine fresh air intake system and contacts the engine air filter, the flammability characteristics of the air filter material are such that the filter may ignite.
Covers2007 Nissan Altima
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.5L engine, the crank angle sensor is affected by temperature variations. Under certain driving conditions, these variations in temperature can be large enough to cause a brief interruption in the signal output...
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines may experience excessive engine oil consumption as a result of improper performance of the piston rings.
On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
On certain vehicles equipped with the 2.5 Liter engine, the exhaust pipe hanger pin may catch debris from the road that could be ignited by contact with the main catalyst. Also on 2002 altima and sentra vehicles, certain engine operating conditions may...
Latest Altima engine complaints
Nissan Corporate has opened Case#57208422 but is refusing to remedy the safety defect because they claim the recall paperwork was previously closed. I received a recall notice and took my 2019 Nissan Altima 2.0 VC Turbo to Whites Auto Mall in Hopkinsville, KY on May 15 2026 to have it checked. The recall was a NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign 25V437 (VC-Turbo Engine Failure). They checked the car and i was told they didn't see any metal shavings in the oil pan and that it would not be covered because of the title...
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was "Branded". Just recently been having code P11AB to appear in the car and it goes in to limp mode. I took the car to a mechanic he said it had metal shavings in the oil/oil pan and this was and this was directly pointed to the recall. I called Nissan Customer Affairs and started Case#57208422 and they told me it was not covered since the recall had been done and it was closed. I told them that the NHTSA mandates that the recall needs to be fixed and that it is a "Safety Recall" that is a safety concern. I am reaching out for help of resolving this issue and having Nissan to stand behind this Safety Recall.
The components and systems experiencing problems in my 2020 Nissan Altima S 2.5L include the engine, throttle body, and mass airflow (MAF) sensor system. The vehicle has experienced severe engine performance issues, including excessive fuel consumption, jerking, hesitation during acceleration, reduced engine power, and unexpected limp mode. The safety of myself and others were put at risk because the car did not accelerate anymore in the middle of on going traffic. It was me and my 2 underaged children in the car. Yes it has been confirmed by an independent service center. Yes, insurance representatives and others including mechanics. Check engine light appeared
I was driving on the freeway at 65mph and I felt the car jump and it felt like it was losing power and kicking me at the same time. It wanted to stall out. So I had to pull over to the far right lane and it continued to make a screaming noise when I would push on the had and not want to accelerate.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the rear seat belt failed to latch securely. The instrument panel illuminated, and the seat belt warning light remained displayed with a beeping sound during and after the failure. The battery was replaced twice within one year, and the vehicle needed to be jumpstarted by AAA due to an issue associated with a sensor. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the RPC became extremely elevated. The contact stated that the vehicle...
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occasionally stalled and shut off unexpectedly. There was an abnormal odor coming from the vehicle which was associated with the radiator. Additionally, Bluetooth calls were dropped, a key fob failed to be recognized by the vehicle, and the TPMS readings were incorrect. The contact also stated that the windshield wiper malfunctioned, and that the remote control needed a battery replacement at the time of purchase, and that the vehicle was pulling to one side whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer associated the failure with a sensor caused by the rain. The corporate office was contacted by phone about a buyback. The approximate failure mileage was 44,011.
SUBJECT: Improper Recall Remedy Denial - NHTSA Recall #25V437000 (Nissan R25A8/R25A9) Vehicle: 2020 Nissan Altima 2.0L VC-Turbo Mileage at Failure: 147,540 Incident Description: The vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic engine failure resulting in a permanent no-start condition. The vehicle had been parked normally and completely failed to start the following morning. An independent certified mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed substantial metal shavings and bearing debris in the oil pan. The vehicle...
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was towed to an authorized Nissan dealership service department for remedy under open NHTSA Campaign #25V437000. The dealership dropped the oil pan, re-confirmed the presence of metal bearing debris, and initially acknowledged this triggered an engine replacement under the recall. The claim was submitted to Nissan corporate warranty/Powertrain Call Center (PCC). Basis of Complaint (Recall Non-Compliance): Nissan North America and the dealership have officially declined the zero-cost recall remedy mandated by federal law, demanding nearly $10,000 for an engine replacement. Nissan claims the engine failed due to "loss of compression" rather than bearing breakdown. This claim is mechanically flawed: 1. In the KR20DDET VC-Turbo multi-link architecture, lower-link and crankshaft bearing degradation directly disrupts piston stroke geometry, scores cylinder walls, and causes severe loss of compression and eventual no-start. 2. The documented metal debris in the oil pan meets the exact diagnostic trigger in Nissan's recall bulletin for a full engine replacement. 3. Nissan has provided no diagnostic evidence showing an alternate source for the metal shavings in the pan. Nissan is evading its legal obligation under 49 U.S.C. § 30120 to remedy a known safety defect without charge. I request immediate ODI intervention regarding recall non-compliance.
While operating my 2018 Nissan Altima on September 19, 2026, at approximately 9:20 a.m., during daytime highway traffic, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of propulsion, leaving me entirely immobilized on a highway ramp with no ability to accelerate or move out of danger. I was stranded in an extremely hazardous location with vehicles, including large commercial trucks, traveling nearby at highway speeds. I feared for my life because I had no way to move my vehicle to safety or protect myself from a...
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potential collision. The situation was so dangerous that a State Trooper with Highway Patrol had to intervene and arrange assistance to have my disabled vehicle removed from the highway. Had Highway Patrol not arrived, I genuinely believe I could have lost my life. This was not a minor inconvenience or an ordinary vehicle breakdown. It was a potentially fatal safety incident caused by the vehicle's sudden and complete inability to move. Following the incident, an independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and determined that the transmission requires replacement. The diagnostic findings included P17F0 (CVT Judder), P0776 (Pressure Control Solenoid B performance/stuck off), and P2813 (Pressure Control Solenoid G control circuit range/performance). Before the complete failure, the vehicle had experienced hesitation, vibration, and difficulty accelerating. I am extremely concerned that this type of transmission failure can occur suddenly while a vehicle is operating in active highway traffic, potentially resulting in a serious or fatal collision. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this incident as a significant vehicle safety concern and determine whether a safety-related defect exists in the CVT transmission system of the 2018 Nissan Altima. I have supporting diagnostic documentation and towing records, and the vehicle is available for inspection.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with internal engine failure. The contact was informed that there was oil leaking onto the spark plugs. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown...
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recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was awaiting a return call from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a trade-in, and during the test drive, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the cam actuator and the bearings were falling apart. The mechanic informed the contact about NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there were metal shavings inside the oil and in the...
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oil pan. The engine replacement fees were provided. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the mechanic was unable to force the dealer to repair the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Engine Malfunction" was displayed. Additionally, the vehicle experienced excessive coolant consumption and the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the thermostat was replaced; however, the failure recurred and worsened. The vehicle was returned to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a cooling system and head gasket failure. The dealer was...
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contacted and provided with the diagnostic trouble codes, and the dealer recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired and remained parked at the residence for two months. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Cracked Engine Head- The vehicle is around 165,000 miles and the engine has cracked. No collisions or crashes or any fault of owner. At around 100,000 miles ALL four doors had the actuators stop working within 1 week. All doors now must be manually locked and unlocked.
When I am driving my car randomly states check engine and makes a beeping noise and then the engine starts to make some type of combustion noise and then slows down and then turns off.
The warming lights for different items come on at random. Examples :Low washer fluid, gas cap open, speedometer digital speed not showing.
The contact's friend owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated for an extended period. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanic shops, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated, and the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
Coolant leak not visible egr cooler and egr valve malfunction catalytic converter malfunction. Diagnosted at nissan a known issue with nissan make and model.
Ever since I bought the car with zero miles I been having electrical issues. From reverse camera to low wash fluid light that doesn't turned off . Now even when it's over 100 degrees outside my car marks inside that's 26 degrees . And now my Ac completely stopped working. I don't know what to do I only owe $4,000 on my car
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data