Complaint volume
174 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
2020 Nissan Altima Complaints
174 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Nissan Altima, grouped by component category.
174 Total complaints
16 Crash reports
7 Fire reports
10 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, electrical system, engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 16 crash reports, 7 fire reports, 10 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 47 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 42,742 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to unknown or other, electrical system, engine?
- 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 2020 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.
2020 Nissan Altima
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Nissan Altima complaints?
16 Crash
7 Fire
10 Injury
1 Fatality
15 Towed
6 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Nissan Altima complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17
ENGINE 15
POWER TRAIN 8
VISIBILITY/WIPER 6
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5
STEERING 5
AIR BAGS 4
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4
STRUCTURE 4
174 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Driving car on the freeway and car lost power. Turned the car off and checked all the fluids to make sure they were at proper levels and found no issue. Started car back up and then started smoking, open the hood and an electric fire had started, tried putting out with a fire extinguisher and it did nothing 2 min later the whole car was in flames. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| May 2022 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Its not unknown. I arrived at work on Thursday the 12th of May, AT 8:00 A.M. I work in an Industrial Park where there is no traffic. My car was looking great, I put my sunshade cover up and proceeded to go into work. After working all day I came out to my car and my windshield was crack starting from the top of the car and flowering down. Nothing hit my car on my way into work, and actually there is nothing that shows it was hit a all. This is a factory defect and there are bubbles when the glue or whatever they use is a mess. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle would hesitate and shudder. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found; however, the failure reoccurred. Additionally, the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, she shifted into drive(D) and depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was unable to drive the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at her own expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired under the power train warranty due to the mileage. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000. The VIN was not available. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 59,000 |
| May 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER | First, the chip has started to malfunction around 13k miles. Secondly, there is a lurch when the car first starts and an aggressive RPM jump and then drop, it begins to run fine upon warming up alittle. Now, at 20k miles the car is having issues with the wipers not spraying the windows well and the rear passenger door has to be locked manually from the interior. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2022 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the grille shutter needed to be replaced. The contact stated that she replaced the grille shutter herself. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. The VIN was unavailable. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Mar 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While I was parking the car suddenly accelerated rapidly, causing me to hit the parked vehicle in front of me. I have not yet had the car inspected. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Mar 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and turning off the engine white smoke was suddenly present inside the cabin of the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle flames and smoke could be seen coming from under the steering wheel. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. A fire report was taken at the scene. The failure mileage was 17,930. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Towed | 17,930 |
| Feb 2022 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | The washer fluid motor or spray nozzles design is defective. I’ve been to my dealership multiple times they have replaced the pumps and gone through the whole set up and said there’s nothing that can be done. When dirt and dust are on the windshield and you want to spray it off is when the problem arises. The fluid is only sprayed on the lower portion of the windshield and does not spray the part that needs sprayed the middle and top where you look out off. This is not only a hindrance but could be a safety issue when your visual path is compromised. The dealer said they were putting in complaints and hopefully the engineers or design team looks at it as a problem. I hope this grabs the attention of the people that can make safety issues known and hopefully something is put in the motion to fix this. Thanks | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2022 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while she had the vehicle serviced for oil maintenance at the local dealer, she had heard an abnormal noise but the dealer stated it was normal. The contact stated the next day while her nephew was driving 15 MPH and making a right turn, the tie rod detached from the vehicle. The contact stated he was not aware of any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V138000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the tie rod to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,039. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 21,039 |
| Nov 2021 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When braking there is a popping noise coming from the front of the car. And the Foward Braking light comes on for 5-10 mins of driving time then goes off | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The back up camera froze and it kept glitching. This has been happening since May. Everything else seems to be fine while it’s happening but now it’s stuck like that when I try to back up. This is extremely dangerous as cars are now made with backup cameras as a safety feature. If that feature is broken it’s going to be very bad. Most drivers now a day most every driver relies on this feature. This has happened 5 times now, but this time it seems permanent. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | My windshield cracked on the front passenger side out of nowhere...meaning not any reason for it to do so. First it was on the passenger's side which I originally assumed that something/somebody must have hit it while parked at my child's school. I took it to AAA Glass to get an estimate and was told that that usually a windshield does not do that unless it is 3 years old. My car is a 2020!!! Then my car was parked in my driveway all weekend and when I got in it, I noticed that the driver's windshield area was cracked. Finding this VERY usual, I did a google check to discover that several drivers have had the SAME problem with the SAME year, SAME model and SAME make of the car. A YouTube video of their car even showed it is the SAME area that I experience the crack. I called the dealership and was told there wasn't a recall and they offered no assistance. I called Nissan and am waiting on them to return my car. With so many people having this issue, it is worrisome. This is a safety issue and a recall should be done immediately to avoid any accidents or injury/harm to those that sit in the front seat. I am not getting anywhere and hope that this complaint and others are taken seriously. Thank you! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | All of a sudden, heard a very loud bang and the back window shattered and was pushed outward. We were driving slow and in an open space; nothing hit the window. It did not have any prior cracks or chips in it. This issue has been reported with other Nissan Altimas, however my specific VIN did not fall under this recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | STEERING,AIR BAGS | I brought this car last year of 2020 and I had my car for a year and a half and all of a sudden my drive train is making noise, to a point people on the street thinks it’s gum shots. My car already passed inspection way before this started. I took it back to the place I got it from they had no loaners I have to wait a week to come in I have to drive the car to work and I’m scared it’s gonna lock or break down on me my car should not be having these problems I have receipts of me taking car of my car to ensure nothing happens. Then all of a sudden my airbag lights come so if someone did hit me my airbags would not deploy. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | EQUIPMENT | 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IS REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE INTELLIGENT FORWARD COLLISION WARNING FEATURE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM WOULD BEEP THEN SLAM ON THE BRAKES, WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF AN OBSTRUCTION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | POWER TRAIN | 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | STEERING | I was driving home and my steering wheel locked up on me while my car was in motion. I eased on down the road thinking that it locked because of a safety warning, but it never unlocked. I eased my car onside the road and put it in park. While in park, the power steering light appeared on the dashboard. Once I turned my car off, the steering wheel was still locked. This risked my safety because I was not able to control my vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds there was an abnormal clicking noise while turning left and right. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number 21V138000 (steering). | Crash: No Fire: No | 35,000 |
| Jun 2021 | AIR BAGS | Airbag has hole in it and all chemicals inside were splashed on passengers arm. Said felt as if person was impaled.to be exact on injuries; passengers arm from armpit to elbow was chemically burned. Coronavirus so couldn’t go to hospital. Very painful long healing and lots of home bandage replacements. A lot of skin was missing from underarm had to sleep with arm up for like two weeks. Rental vehicle from enterprise | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | PARKED THE CAR FOR ROUGHLY 10 MINUTES. CAME BACK AND STARTED CAR WITH ALL LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATED. HARD TO DRIVE, HARD TO STEER AND COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST VEHICLE WAS MOVING AS SPEEDOMETER DIDN'T WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, HAD IT TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALER. ADVISED THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE LIGHTS ISSUES AFTER IT SAT FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE "RESETTING" ITSELF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 14,500 |
| Apr 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON . NO SIGNS THAT IT WAS CRACKED BY IMPACT . THE CRACK KEEPS GETTING BIGGER. GIVING ME POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING . VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I LEASED A 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA SL IN JANUARY. 2020. I'VE BEEN IN ISOLATION FOR 13 MONTHS BECAUSE OF A HIGH RISK OF CONTRACTING COVID19. I TURNED ON MY CAR PERIODICALLY AND SAW AN ALERT ON THE DASHBOARD.I CALLED THE MANAGER OF CONTINENTAL NISSAN WHERE I LEASED THE CAR. HE TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH THE REAR SENSORS AND ADVISED ME TO WIPE THEM, WHICH I DID. HOWEVER, WHEN I BACKED UP MY CAR TODAY THE REAR SENSORS DID NOT GO OFF WHEN I GOT VERY CLOSE TO MY NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE DOOR. I HAVE A CASE #43362334. THE NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS TO THE REAR SENSORS, WHICH IS PREPOSTEROUS. I DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR.MOREOVER, THERE ARE RECALLS ON 2020/2021 ALTIMAS. NISSAN IS PUTTING ME AT DANGER OF A REAR END COLLISION/DAMAGE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |
| Mar 2021 | WHEELS,VISIBILITY/WIPER | SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE I'VE HAD TWO INSTANCES THAT I FEEL ARE DEFECT RELATED. THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHTS CONTINUED TO READ LOW AIR. THE TIRE WAS LEAKING SOME TYPE OF BLACK FILM AND A HUGE KNOT APPEARED ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE. ANOTHER INCIDENT INVOLVED THE TIRE COMPLETELY BLOWING. THE TIRE DEFECTS WERE REPORTED BACK TO THE COMPANY AND WERE INDICATED AS NO FAULT TO MANUFACTURE. SINCE I'VE COMPLAINED OF A RECALL THAT HAS BEEN IN THE MODEL VEHICLE BUT A DIFFERENT YEAR. MY VISIBILITY IS OBSTRUCTED DUE TO ALL WINDOWS RETAINING DEW AND MOISTURE CAUSING FOG TO APPEAR IN ALL WINDOWS. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING EARLY MORNING & AT DAWN DURING TEMPERATURE CHANGES. THE DEFROST DOESN'T CLEAR THE WINDOWS. DURING RAINY WEATHER THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DISABLED DUE THE OBSTRUCTION IN VISION FROM THE THICKLY FOGGED WINDOWS. I HAD IT CHECKED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE WINDOW WAS DIRTY. I DON'T FEEL LIKE SERVICE HAS THOROUGHLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD AND HAVE STRESSED THIS TO THEM NUMEROUS TIMES. DURING EACH DEFECT, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. PLEASE HELP | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| Mar 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | CAR SLAMMING ON BRAKES WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLE IS AROUND GAS GUAGE START TO READ WRONG | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,125 |
| Feb 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | DURING COLD TEMPERATURES THE CAR ACCELERATES POORLY, ENGINE RPM IS UNUSUAL. AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE OF THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH A "SERVICE NOW" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. IN ALL CASES THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, IN (SLOW) MOTION, AND ON A CITY STREET AND ONE INCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD. A SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A NISSAN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE ABOUT THIS CALL YEAR AND MODEL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,976 |