It is amazing to think that the Nissan Altima has been around since the early 1990s. When the 6th generation Altima hit the road in 2019 it was an impressive mix of value and features. A big change was the availability of all-wheel drive, a first for the Altima lineup. While the venerable VQ35 engine was gone, it was replaced with a 2.0L turbo engine with a little less horsepower but a bit more torque. Unfortunately that high-tech turbo engine would end up being just one problem for Nissan’s mid-size people hauler.
The information presented below was collected from NHTSA.gov complaints, recall information, various Facebook groups and online forums plus experience from covering the industry for the last 15 years.
Engine Failure
“Last week I received a letter notifying me of an open recall and instructing me to have my vehicle inspected. I brought my car to my local Nissan dealership on Saturday. During the inspection, I was told that metal debris was found in the engine and that the vehicle would need a full engine replacement.“ – NHTSA ID# 11701365
“Engine failed prematurly with less than 40k miles. All service was completed in a timely fashion. Nissan is taking a long time to get back to me with what next steps are.” – NHTSA ID# 11591858
On the list of bad problems, engine failure is pretty much at the top. The engines in question are Nissan’s innovative variable displacement 1.5L 3-cylinder (KR15DDT) and 2.0L 4-cylinder (KR20DDET) turbocharged engines. These engines had a pretty neat feature: variable compression. But this new engine technology itself wasn’t the culprit, it was actually a problem with the bearings. According to NHTSA recall #25V-437 bearings used in several places on these complicated engines may have a manufacturing defect. Over 440,000 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles were affected including 5,685 2019-2020 Nissan Altimas. Traditionally engine bearing failure usually makes itself known via a knocking sound or the engine just suddenly seizing up. In this case it could also be a check engine light, stalling, or rough running. Nissan is inspecting the affected vehicles and if they find metal in the oil pan, a free new engine is the fix.
Fuel Leak
The new 6th generation Nissan Altima launched in 2019 and there are always manufacturing teething issues with new models. In this case a tiny retainer clip may not have been locked into place where the lower pressure fuel tube connects to the high pressure fuel pump. If the retainer clip isn’t locked into place, the whole low pressure fuel tube could slide away from the high pressure fuel pump and cause a small fuel leak. In the worst case scenario the fuel tube could completely come off and cause a large fuel leak that would also stop the engine from running. Over 23,000 2019 Nissan Altimas were part of NHTSA recall #18V-922 which was tracked to an assembly process error that was since corrected. Nissan notified affected owners to visit their local dealership to have the fuel system inspected and verify that the retaining clip is indeed secured.
Tire Failure
“I was driving 65 mph on a major highway (I-95) at 7:40am on a clear morning when my tire blew out completely. There was no debris on the road. There were no warning signs. I put on my hazards and was able to cross the lanes to pull over on the shoulder.” NHTSA ID# 11661560
In this case the problem wasn’t with a Nissan design or even process, but the vendor who supplied 2019-2020 Nissan Altima tires. Somehow at the Continental Tire plant several batches of tires may have been over-cured. Per NHTSA recall #21V-169 the problem could manifest as a break in the tire sidewall (sometimes called a zipper) where the tire deflates instantly (a blowout). It is also possible that the radial belts could suffer edge separation leading to a partial or complete tread loss. Other signs of a problem include abnormal treadwear or vibration while driving down the road. By now most of these tires should have been replaced, but anyone who suspects of having one of these bad tires should visit their local Nissan dealership for a replacement.
Backup Camera Issues
Back in 2019 Nissan had an issue with their backup camera software and how it dealt with user adjustments. It seems a user could adjust the camera view to the point of the image not being visible, and that setting being retained. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards dictate a certain field of vision for the backup camera that is the default view every time you use reverse. NHTSA recall #19V-654 affected over 1.2 million 2018-2019 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, including a batch of 2018-2019 Nissan Altimas. A free software update from the dealership puts everything as it should be, when it should be.
Another camera issued affected 2019-2021 Nissan Altima models due to how the wiring harness was routed. As explained by NHTSA recall #23V-628 the backup camera wiring harness was routed in such a way as to allow for too much vibration during driving. It is possible for the wiring inside the harness to degrade and affect the backup camera image quality. The solution is for the dealership to inspect the harness and replace it along with the camera if necessary. If the wiring harness is fine, the dealer will wrap it in protective tape and reroute the wiring harness to a better location.
Faulty Door Hardware
The humble door latch is what keeps your car door from flying open while going down the road. More importantly, it also keeps the doors shut during an accident. In this case a manufacturing issue caused a batch of 2025 Nissan Altima models to have insufficiently strong door strikers. Per NHTSA recall #26V-023 these door strikers were not welded correctly which could lead to the door coming open unexpectedly. There may be a rattling noise in some cases to indicate failure, but not always. The dealership will replace any faulty door strikers for free on affected vehicles.
Conclusion
The humble Nissan Altima has a reputation as a rental fleet staple. Some examples on the road have lead hard lives, but they also keep soldiering on despite the abuse. Even with the issues above there is a reason why Nissan still sells plenty of Altimas: people like them. It fills a need in the mid-size sedan market for those who aren’t fans of the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Anyone looking to buy a 2019-2026 Nissan Altima should check the VIN in the NHTSA recall database as well as having a pre-purchase inspection done by an independent repair shop.
