2021 Nissan Altima Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Altima. Part of Generation 6 — 2019–present.

20202022
Complaints
98
per 10K Sold
9.4
US Sales
103,776
Crashes
11
Fires
3
Injuries
5
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2021 Nissan Altima Problems

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

#117 complaints

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking

Crash-related:3
#216 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:17,000 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#316 complaints

Brakes

Crash-related:2
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Nissan Altima.

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
17
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
17,000
Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Backup Camera
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2021 Nissan Altima

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~155,783 vehicles.

23V628000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
~153,376 affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

21V138000Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
~2,407 affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.

Other Nissan Altima Years

2021 Nissan Altima — FAQ

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

Is the 2021 Nissan Altima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2021 Nissan Altima has 98 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking with 17 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2021 Nissan Altima?
Top reported problems: Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking (17 complaints); Electrical Faults (16 complaints, avg 17,000 mi); Brakes (16 complaints). 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 2021 Nissan Altima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 17,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2021 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Nissan Altima include 11 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 5 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 2021 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 155,783 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 2021 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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