Short answer
Among Nissan Altima model years through 2024, 2022 and 2023 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2013 has the most (12). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Nissan Altima: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 49
- Fewest recalls
- 2022 and 2023 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2013 (12)
- Most recalled system
- Latches/locks/linkages (17)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 11 more years
Nissan Altima Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2024 | 1 | 5 stars | Steering |
| 2023 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2022 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Steering |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 stars | Tires, Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2019 | 7 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2017 | 3 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Structure |
| 2016 | 4 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Air bags, Structure |
| 2015 | 10 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 8 | 5 stars | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 12 | 5 stars | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, Electrical system |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Suspension |
| 2011 | 1 | 4 stars | Suspension |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Structure, Suspension |
| 2009 | 4 | Not rated | Equipment, Structure, Suspension |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Equipment, Suspension |
| 2007 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2006 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Suspension |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2004 | 1 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2003 | 4 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2002 | 5 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2001 | 1 | Not rated | Tires |
| 2000 | 1 | Not rated | Tires |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20252 recalls
- 20241 recall
- 20230 recalls
- 20220 recalls
- 20212 recalls
- 20206 recalls
- 20197 recalls
- 20182 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 201510 recalls
- 20148 recalls
- 201312 recalls
- 20124 recalls
- 20111 recall
- 20103 recalls
- 20094 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20073 recalls
- 20063 recalls
- 20051 recall
- 20041 recall
- 20034 recalls
- 20025 recalls
- 20011 recall
- 20001 recall
Nissan Altima: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Nissan Altima recalls are latches/locks/linkages (17), air bags (15), engine and engine cooling (13), suspension (8) and fuel system, gasoline (7). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 27 model years, and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 11 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Nissan Altima Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Nissan Altima?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2022 and 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Nissan Altima model years have the most recalls?
2013 has the most, with 12 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Altima", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy