2018 Nissan Altima Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Nissan Altima. Part of Generation 5 — 2013–2018.

20172019
Complaints
316
per 10K Sold
15.1
US Sales
209,146
Crashes
16
Fires
0
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2018 Nissan Altima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#148 complaints

Brakes

Avg mileage:29,757 mi
Crash-related:4
#236 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:33,820 mi
Crash-related:1
#334 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:47,768 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Nissan Altima.

Brakes
48
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
29,757
Electrical Faults
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
33,820
Airbags
34
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
47,768
Transmission / Drivetrain
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
9,843
Engine Problems
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,656
Steering Defects
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
42,208
Electronic Stability Control
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
39,387
Unintended Acceleration
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
36,949
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,368
Headlight/Taillight Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
42,152
Latches / Locks
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,750
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,483
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Backup Camera
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Bulbs
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2018 Nissan Altima

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,060,648 vehicles.

20V315000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~1,831,818 affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.

19V654000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
~1,228,830 affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Other Nissan Altima Years

2018 Nissan Altima — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2018 Nissan Altima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2018 Nissan Altima has 316 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Brakes with 48 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2018 Nissan Altima?
Top reported problems: Brakes (48 complaints, avg 29,757 mi); Electrical Faults (36 complaints, avg 33,820 mi); Airbags (34 complaints, avg 47,768 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Nissan Altima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 33,880 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2018 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Nissan Altima include 16 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2018 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,060,648 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2018 Nissan Altima?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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