Complaint volume
221 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Nissan Altima Complaints
221 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Nissan Altima, grouped by component category.
221 Total complaints
11 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
5 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are unknown or other, air bags, power train. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 11 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 5 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 109 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 34,207 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to unknown or other, air bags, power train?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Nissan Altima?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Nissan Altima
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Nissan Altima complaints?
11 Crash
0 Fire
5 Injury
0 Fatality
11 Towed
4 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Nissan Altima complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 37
AIR BAGS 24
POWER TRAIN 16
SERVICE BRAKES 14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 11
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 6
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 6
ENGINE 5
221 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2023 | AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My airbag light recently came on after driving through some standing water and I have tried filing through my insurance company and they have stated that due to the fact that water wasnt submerged inside my car, it was due to the age of my vehicle (which is only 5 years old). I am concerned about this obviously as it is my driver side airbag. They are trying to tell me in insurance that it is a Nissan issue so I’m wondering if anything can be done so that I can feel safe to drive my vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | AIR BAGS | Airbag warning light comes on and off. Vehicle has 33,000 miles and side airbag spring / module is faulty | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS | AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT IS ON DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE REPLACED AIR BAG COULD HAVE DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the passenger’s side air bag warning light was turned off, and the contact was informed that the front passenger’s side air bag was adjusted; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Mar 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Brake light switch went out 3 months after getting car. Car would not start then after it started it would not go in gear nor would the brake lights turn on dealership repaired it. The Brake light switch went out again one year later while driving causing my brake lights not to turn on resulting in me getting rear ended after. After I replaced the switch for the second time. It lasted maybe a year and a half or so and went out again leaving me stranded having to get a tow truck to bring car home and had to replace it a third time. I’ve had this car less than 5 years and I really believe it needs further review of the switch due to the safety risk it causes | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Feb 2023 | ENGINE | First thing in the morning the car makes a rattling noise when cold and smell of fumes coming thru car vents. Took car in Jan. 30, dealership bent heat shield. Bought car back Feb. 20 for now clicking noise was told heating shield needs to be replaced! This had to be preexisting and this car was sold to me in this condition! Now I have to pay over $1,000.00 that I don't have?!? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | When pressing the brakes the push button does not start the car. The car also will not shift from park to drive even if the brakes are pressed. There are no warning lights and the problem has been “fixed” once by a Nissan dealership already but it is a recurring issue. This problem is ongoing since October 2022 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The CVT transmission failed at the light in mid drive. The car started to roll backwards down a highway exit in traffic. I had to blow the horn and scream out the window to keep from hitting other cars. As the car ascended down the hill, it completely stopped midway and I was unable to remove it from the street. I had to place my hazardous lights on, and push the car off the ramp. I had a Nissan dealership review the vehicle and in return they stated that the actual belt in the CVT was worn down or completely gone and that the entire CVT transmission would have to be fixed. There was no warnings that happened to notify me that there was an actual issue with the vehicle. In addition, I do have a 2015 Nissan Altima who is now showing possible issues with the CVT transmission and it has less than 90,000 miles | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | STEERING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While I was driving my power steering went out completely on the interstate right when I went to turn almost causing an accident where I could have been severely injured or injured others around me. Prior to the failure my front vehicle obstruction light has been coming on and off multiple times while driving but other than that no warning signs of power steering going out. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | POWER TRAIN | With a little under 68,000 miles on my 2018 Nissan Altima the transmission started shuttering and slipping. No lights came on the dash but the car was difficult to control. After going to get some dry gas and see if it was motor related the car made a loud squealing noise, the check engine light came on and then the car shuttered the rest of the way home . The car goes in to the Nissan dealership in two days. They told me that I hadn't brought it in to have the transmission for it's 60,000 mile flush but I never recieved a notification. in addition, the car went in for a hood latch replacement at that time but nothing was said then. The car could easily be dangerous if this happened while driving in traffic or trying to pull into traffic. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO HOOD LATCH SAFETY RECALL. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while his son was idled, he depressed the accelerator pedal, but the engine failed to engage. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 60,000 |
| Oct 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My transmission began shuddering then next couple days when I put the car in reverse it would stick and when I put it in drive it would hesitate to move. Then when it did move it wouldn’t get up to at least 55 miles per hour. Took it to Nissan, put it on the rack ($170) test indicated that transmission was shot | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Battery cables corrosion is awful. I have replaced my battery three times since buying this car in 2018 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | The airbag light keeps coming on in the dashboard. I’ve had it in the shop twice for the diagnostic test and both times they said there was nothing they could find! Now it’s the 3rd time I will need to take it in and leave it and it’s the only car I have. I want to know if indeed my airbags will work in the event of an accident! If they are just turning the light off, I have no idea what will happen if I got into an accident!! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a left turn on a dark road, the low beam headlights were significantly dim, causing the contact to miss her turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. Additionally, the contact stated that the low beam headlights were being blown very quickly. The driver's side low beam headlight was replaced twice and the passenger's side low beam headlight was replaced once within the past 6-months. The contact received an unknown notice from the manufacturer for the repair of the parts. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the low beam headlights needed to be replaced; however, the parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 86,000 |
| Aug 2022 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | The driver seat airbag seems to be disabled. I am seeing a airbag warning light for driver airbag in the dashboard. The dealership doesnt see to car and a 4yr old car should not have airbag issues when it has never been in an accident. The driver seat seatbelt also seems to be disabled, if i step on the break the seatbelt doesnt seem to be gripping me its still freely moving which it shouldnt be. This is a big safety issue and seems to be a manufacturing defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | POWER TRAIN | My 2018 Nissan Altima just now reached 100,000 miles on it. I was heading home from work on the interstate when my RPMs started revving up and down and it felt I lost power when I was hitting the gas. My transmission started sputtering, vibrating, slipping. When I place it in drive or reverse now it takes time to go in gear. I took my car to get regular maintenance such as oil change and fluids to see if it was the transmission fluid. The dealership maintenance department did the maintenance and fluids and my car is still doing the same. I asked of the transmission fluid was low I was told it wasn't and I stated about the transmission acting up and was told by the worker yeah I could tell when I took it back and brought it up. The worker stated it was probably the CVT in my car and it costs $5500 to fix and stated this was an issue on models before mine that got extended warranties and the issues was taking place in the model of my vehicle but no extended warranty. This CVT is something that continues to mess up in Nissan and in the 2018 and current models. Either there needs to be a recall or extended warranties or both. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2022 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | I was rear-ended in my car while at a red light. The car hit me 35 mph plus., Pushing me into the Tahoe in front of me. My shoulder strap driver side DID NOT restrain me and NONE of the air bags deployed. I flew forward towards the steering wheel and dash. Do to me being very short I didn't get hurt, just stiff neck, shoulders. The collision company who did my work stated that the seatbelt should have restrained me and at least 1 airbag should have deployed. I contacted Nissan and I was told that the air bags and seatbelts are only suppose to work in a roll over to prevent from being thrown from the vehicle and that the airbags and seatbelts are working properly. Nissan never offered to check to make sure that the safety components are working properly. There were no warning lights on before or after the accident. Over $10,000 worth of damage was done. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Mar 2022 | POWER TRAIN | 2018 Nissan Altima and Sentra cars have faulty continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) that cause juddering, shuddering, clunking, jerking and acceleration problems. This happen while driving on the highway at a speed of 75 mph. This caused me swerve and almost rear ended by another car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2022 | STRUCTURE | The rear trunk latch will not close and latch so the trunk is left wide open | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Gear shift will not leave park when car is first started, usually when vehicle is cold. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | the lighting isn’t good on the car! if I don’t have them on bright I cannot see | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2022 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while the vehicle had been parked in the driveway for three months, however, a crack developed on the windshield. The contact stated that no object had impacted the windshield to cause the crack. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 12,846. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,846 |
| Feb 2022 | AIR BAGS,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | i can be driving down the road and pass a guard rail or some other thing on the side of the road but usually a guard rail near my house and it knocks out the emergency braking system. sometimes, it may work my whole trip, other days, i may only go a mile or two before it goes out. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |