Nissan Altima Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Nissan Altima model year (2002–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Nissan Altima Years to Avoid
5 recalls · 1506 complaints
27 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 1575
3 recalls · 1118 complaints
23 reported injuries
1 reported death
Top issue: STEERING
Problem score: 1178
1 recall · 695 complaints
55 reported injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY
Problem score: 808
Best Nissan Altima Years to Buy
0 recalls · 2 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 2
0 recalls · 16 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 16
1 recall · 7 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 32
Found the right year? Verify that specific Altima with a free VIN report.
Nissan Altima — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 2 | — | — | 2 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 7 | 11 | — | 32 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 0 | 31 | 7 | — | 45 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 0 | 16 | — | — | 16 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 0 | 31 | 5 | — | 41 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 1 | 60 | 5 | — | 73 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 3 | 141 | 8 | — | 166 | Good |
| 2019 | 1 | 187 | 9 | — | 208 | Good |
| 2018 | 0 | 165 | 1 | — | 167 | Good |
| 2017 | 0 | 251 | 18 | — | 287 | Good |
| 2016 | 2 | 412 | 27 | 1 | 477 | Good |
| 2015 | 3 | 620 | 23 | — | 675 | Caution |
| 2014 | 3 | 735 | 31 | — | 806 | Caution |
| 2013 | 5 | 1506 | 27 | — | 1575 | Avoid |
| 2012 | 2 | 294 | 22 | — | 344 | Good |
| 2011 | 0 | 158 | 7 | — | 172 | Good |
| 2010 | 3 | 269 | 22 | — | 322 | Good |
| 2009 | 3 | 1118 | 23 | 1 | 1178 | Avoid |
| 2008 | 1 | 697 | 21 | 2 | 752 | Caution |
| 2007 | 1 | 277 | 10 | 2 | 310 | Good |
| 2006 | 3 | 570 | 44 | — | 667 | Caution |
| 2005 | 1 | 695 | 55 | — | 808 | Caution |
| 2004 | 0 | 176 | 11 | — | 198 | Good |
| 2003 | 4 | 564 | 17 | — | 610 | Caution |
| 2002 | 6 | 715 | 34 | — | 801 | Caution |
All 25 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Nissan Altima Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent Altima models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 2 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2017Mid-decade Altima units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder Altima models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Altima should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2013 Nissan Altima if possible. It has 5 recalls, 1506 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 1575 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Altima to buy?+
The 2026 Nissan Altima is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 2. It has only 0 recalls and 2 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Altima has the fewest problems?+
The 2026, 2023, 2025 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Nissan Altima Research
Check a Specific Nissan Altima VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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