Complaint volume
61 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
2021 Nissan Altima Complaints
61 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Nissan Altima, grouped by component category.
61 Total complaints
4 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
2 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 service brakes,forward collision avoidance, electrical system, forward collision avoidance. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 4 crash reports, 1 fire report, 2 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 11 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 49,572 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to service brakes,forward collision avoidance, electrical system, forward collision avoidance?
- 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 2021 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.
2021 Nissan Altima
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Nissan Altima complaints?
4 Crash
1 Fire
2 Injury
0 Fatality
2 Towed
2 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Nissan Altima complaint categories?
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5
ENGINE 4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2
POWER TRAIN 2
STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES 2
VISIBILITY 2
61 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Passenger door won’t unlock at all | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | Due to the Pasadena wildfires the car has been highly affected due to the extreme heat and the ashes | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | When it rains I cannot see using the backup camera at all. Car also gives false alerts when backing up when raining or after rain. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The passenger side door won’t unlock at all. By remote nor manually. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION HAD FRONT SEAL LEAKING.CAR HAS LESS THAN 51,OOO MILES. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | [XXX] slams on brakes going in reverse for no reason, I wish there was a way to disconnect this to me it's more of a safety issue. Problem is there trying to dumb [XXX] down for all the idiots out there that don't know how to drive.. I don't have that problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Every time I drive under an over pass my vehicle will come to a stop. Placing me in DANGER with traffic. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | I Serviced my vehicle with a Nissan Dealership, and was told brake pads were good. Within a couple of weeks there was a scratching sound like the brake warning indicator. I brought my car to a mechanic to be repaired but brake pads were confirmed to be fine. Further investigation indicates a bad brake caliper in the rear. Mechanic contacted Nissan to order a rear caliper and was told it’s a known issue with the rear calipers. With the caliper not functioning properly this is a direct safety violation and can cause my brakes to seize or not function hindering my/others ability to stop. I will have the repairs done with my mechanic and I have submitted a case file with Nissan. If Nissan is aware of the brake calipers having issues then this should be on the recall list and immediately fixed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | POWER TRAIN | I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a recurring transmission issue with my 2021 Nissan Altima. The car has been experiencing significant power loss while driving, which I am certain is linked to a malfunctioning CVT transmission system. Despite ensuring that the transmission fluid levels are correct, the problem persists. Recently, the car lost power while I was going at least 50 mph on a busy road, which is very dangerous. Additionally, I have come across numerous complaints from other owners of the same model experiencing similar transmission issues. This history of complaints indicates a widespread problem that poses a serious safety risk and warrants a recall. Although there is an extended warranty, I don’t think it is fair for others being out of warranty when this is a very known issue with all owners. A CVT should last way longer than 70,000 miles, and some owners even report issues as early as 25,000 miles. Some mechanics even tell all their Nissan customers about the cons of the CVT, so it is very well known to not be good. Nissan basically has a deadly issue on their hands. I kindly request a thorough investigation and appropriate action to resolve this matter. Thank you for your attention to this serious issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The car rear impact warning comes on when driving this has happened at least 5 times Also the windshield washer fluid light comes on even though the reservoir is full | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Based on comments from various post online, it is a common issue that the doors’ lock on altimas with no warning or reasoning just stop working. Whatever position the lock is in, is the one that the lock will stay on even if a safety feature that’s advertised and you expect is for the Altima to automatically lock up when you begin to drive. At this point my personal Altima has not been inspected or fixed by anyone, just a day to day experience of having to check my backseat before getting in to make sure no one is in the back of my car because the doors do not lock. It’s been since about February that the car doors locking mechanism will not engage on two of my car doors, even if you press the lock/unlock switch inside of the door, the lock/unlock button on the key fob, nor the button on the outside of the door handle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ENGINE | This has been an ongoing issue for over 2 years where I go somewhere, park and come back out and my car won’t start. I literally have to have someone come in to give me a jump so the whole time I was thinking it was a bad battery so I went and bought a new battery. Well fast forward not even 7 months later I’m in the same position I go to the store come out and my car completely has no power so I take the car to autozone and what do you know a faulty engine and alternator. So I get on line and see I’m not the only one with this issue. My main concern is I’ve always gone to my car dealership to get oil changes and not once have they ever told me after putting my car on the machine that they found an issue with neither. And again this has been going on for quite some time. My issue is now my warranty is out and it just so happen to just have ran out after my last oil change and again this was going on then and they never mentioned it. What are they going to do about this problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera malfunctioned and images were displayed distorted at times or black and blue, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V628000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall The failure mileage was 49,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 49,000 |
| Jan 2024 | AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | On 10/26/23 at 5:00 pm I was involved in an accident I was hit on the front passenger side and none of the airbags deployed I do remember that right on impact immediately my chest started hurting I also hit my head on the driver side window now i dont know how fast i should be going or how hard do i need to be hit for the airbags to deploy but they never did. When I first purchased the vehicle back in May of 2021 I had set up my nissan connect services which i was paying $14.99 a month and in those l services I had an option that if I were to ever be in an accident that it would contact my family and during the time of the incident they were never contacted. Ive contacted nissan of the situation and all they have done was reimburseme me 1 month which I feel isn't right I've even gone down to the dealership and told them my concerns and they didn't nothing about it | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3out of 4 door lock actuators went out .three of the doors can’t be locked from driver side and don’t automatically lock when the car is being driven.problem has been confirmed by an independent center.there were no prior warnings. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | My car has a detached tie rod ball joint and is causing a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash. My children are in danger yet your site says my vin has no safety recall after I reviewed the safety recall for my vehicle and noticed a connection. I can’t afford any repairs and I shouldn’t have to risk my life over a recalled problem with my make model and year vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When traveling in a rental from SFO to Concord CA, on the Bay Bridge at 9 am on the 26 of September 2023, just as I entered the underpass section near Treasure Island, the front sensor malfunctioned and auto braked from 47 mph to 28, generated audible, tactile, and visual alarms, even though the car in front was not decelerating (auto lights, tail lights in from of me as the car went into a dark section of road may have been misinterpreted). I was almost crashed into. Scariest experience in 37 years of driving. No over ride. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I purchased my car from Sheehy Nissan of Waldorf on November 1, 2022. At the time of purchase the vehicle had 38,709 miles. It reportedly had one previous owner and was originally titled on 3/11/2021. From the day I purchased this vehicle I have had trouble with the automatic emergency braking system. I am experiencing sudden unintended brake activation in various situations. I have experienced the emergency braking system activating when I am driving at high speeds (60-70 mph) with nothing in front of me. I have had it automatically brake when I am in traffic maintaining safe distances and speeds. I have experienced it braking when I have been leaving a parking garage - again with nothing near or around my vehicle. When this occurs, it is when the warning lights turn off. So, it is completely random and unpredictable. The warning light turns on 100% of the time I drive the vehicle. I took my car to Sheehy Nissan of Waldorf for repair of this issue on 3/28/23, 6/13/23, and 8/3/23, but, to date, they have been unable to correct the problem. Most recently (8/25/23) I was given an estimate of an additional $1,977.43 for a 4th attempt to fix this problem. I met with the Service Manager, [XXX] , on 8/28/23 to discuss the matter. He said he would talk to the Nissan area rep and their warranty rep and get back to me. Two days later he responded that the area rep offered to cover 40% of the repair cost, making my cost $808.96 for the 4th repair attempt. As you are aware, this is a known issue with this vehicle and many other Nissan models. The NHTSA started an investigation into Nissan regarding this issue in September 2019. There have been multiple lawsuits and class action suits against Nissan for this same problem, yet they continue to sell these vehicles without fixing the problem or issuing a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1. The automatic emergency braking activated while approaching a railway crossing. And yes, it is available for inspection. 2. If anyone had been behind me, it very likely would have resulted in a collision. 3. Not yet confirmed by the dealer, but has happened to me three times. 4. No. 5. No warning before the malfunction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving, most times at higher speeds, the light with the car and lines behind it (VDC light?) will turn on, and then a minute later the front and back AEB lights turn on and the dashboard says “malfunction: see owner’s manual.” This happens multiple times per week, sometimes multiple times a day. There have been other recalls for this issue with other Nissan Altima years with this system. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On two separate occasions, during intermittent weather changes, my vehicle has giving me notice of forward warning collision being disabled or has flashed on my dashboard. Same goes with my rear collision warnings. My car has also force-brake while driving under 30 mph. I don't know if there is a safety issue with the alignment of the radars in the newer models but its caused a fear of driving my family in that car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On two separate occasions my vehicle stopped on its own. Once while doing roughly 35mph the brakes applied on their own and the car stopped immediately. The second time I was at a.traffic light that had just turned green as I began to accelerate the brakes locked up and the car stopped immediately. What are my options regarding this issue.that I am having? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving on the interstate in a construction zone and begin reducing speed from about 62 mph after noticing brake lights from cars in the far distance. As the car start to reduce speed, I begin to apply the brakes as I'm approaching the stopped traffic and instead of stopping my car kept going. I pressed the brakes harder, and the car began to slide. After sliding about 9-10 car lengths, I was stopped by rear ending the vehicle in front of me. There was an error message on the dash "Chassis Control System Error See Owner's Manual" that appeared on the dash. I was struck in the back by a Toyota 4Runner resulting in my car being totaled. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| May 2023 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES | Unknown. But upon googling I’ve discovered a recall for ball joint separating from steering column due to bolt not tightened properly which explains the noise I’ve heard since I got It which has now progressed to popping even up exiting the vehicle and shutting the door. Yet, “0 unrepaired recalls” according to you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Driving down the street a truck in front of the lady in front of me. It was a green light he decided to stop. She stopped I put I started to stop my brakes would not stop the car nor did the emergency front collision brakes work I could not stop the car. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |