KnownCarProblems2016 Nissan Altima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 554 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Altima, most often about the transmission (42% of complaints, typically around 64,500 miles). It is 10th of 27 Altima model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2016 Nissan Altima problems
Transmission
235 complaints · 42%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. While driving 65 MPH, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle jerked and decelerated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered CVT judder code: p17f0. The dealer (Nissan of mobile, 1015 east interstate 65 service rd s, mobile, al 36606) was…
While driving on highway the car slowed to approx. 40 MPH, while RPM's remained high. This is the third time it happened. Seems like transmission is slipping. Pull over shut vehicle off and problem goes away. No check engine light or anything. Had it to shop each time and dealer unable to duplicate. This will be third…
Engine
86 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles.
Started vehicle this morning and put in reverse and pressed the pedal to back out and had a delayed reaction and the RPM's just increased. The car did not move for approximately four to five seconds and finally backed out. Placed the car in drive and drove toward a stop sign approximately 100 yards away and it seemed…
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a stopped position, the vehicle loss motive power and failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to southerlin Nissan vero beach located at 946 US-1, vero beach, fl 32962. The mechanic replaced the CVT valve however, the…
Other or unspecified
81 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
After stopping and going a decent amount (such as a drive thru) the car has a delay of shifting gears and starting to move after completely stopped. I am not sure what is wrong with my vehicle. The rpms will go significantly up before increasing speed. It will do this on slow or fast roads.
While driving towards the end of the trip 250 miles, was cruising about 15 MPH, car was no longer responding to acceleration, engine making loud noise as if struggling and RPM increased about 5000, I drove like this for about 2 miles, no check engine light came on. Next day car drove fine. Had two similar episodes in…
Air bags
71 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: sensor.
Not sure if it includes takata recall. My 2016 Nissan Altima was in a accident on june 19th 2019 the car went to a fence a palm tree and a structure of the house inside of the house and no airbags deployed. And the first time buyer I am married with a child and thank god my child was not in the car because no airbags…
I have a 2016 Nissan Altima. First: I was involved in an accident in which a regular truck hauling an enclosed trailer drove over a large piece of plywood on the interstate at 70mph in front of me (also going about 70 MPH) causing the piece of plywood to raise off of the road after he cleared it and it flew into the…
Speed control
65 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
As my family and I were driving on the highway the vehicle started to drop speed from 70 miles to about 10 miles per hour. As I tried to speed up by accelerating, the speed would not go higher and would just continue to drop. The vehicles behind me were able to see I was having difficulty and would slow down when they…
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact parked on the side of the road and turned off the ignition. When the vehicle was restarted, it resumed normal operation. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The…
Electrical
42 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 33,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel, software, hand heater.
Installed a brand new battery warranted for 7 years over a month ago and now the battery will not start the car at all. Most drivining is within city limits.
At random times while driving, sensor triggers front end collision dash light and notification alarm. Weather and speed has not been a factor in causing this, it has been sunny out and driving at 30 MPH when this has happened.
Lights
42 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the low beam and hi-beam headlights failed to provide adequate illumination while driving. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the bulbs replaced however, the light bulb replacement failed to service correct the failure. The…
Headlights have been dim for a few years now. This makes driving at night difficult. The dealership said it has something to do with the magnifier and that changing the bulb won't fix the problem.
Fuel system
30 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles.
I was stopped at a red light when I took my foot off of the brake and pressed the accelerator my car stalled out. It took 30 seconds of pressing on the gas for it to begin to move.
When I am stopped (at a stop sign, traffic light, etc.) the car hesitates to accelerate when I press the gas. It sometimes takes 5 to 7 seconds before the car will begin to accelerate. This happens randomly, and there is no warning. There have been instances when the rpms rev up extremely high and the car feels like…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Nissan Altima recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an ownerâs manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 30, 2021. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: recall 16v-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16v-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Full defect summary
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.
Body and structure: escape/egress/exit
Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began february 5, 2019. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17v-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on february 16, 2017. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet city express owners will be notified by general motors. Dealers will reprogram the air bag control unit (acu) and ocs electronic control unit (ecu) in altima, maxima, murano, rogue, and sentra vehicles, and replace the ocs ecu in leaf, nv200, nv200 taxi, pathfinder, infiniti q50, jx35, and qx60 and chevrolet city express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on may 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, infiniti customer ser
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 nissan maxima, 2013-2016 nissan altima, nv200, leaf, sentra, and pathfinder, 2014-2016 nissan nv200 taxi, infiniti qx60, qx60 hybrid, and q50 hybrid, 2014-2017 nissan rogue and infiniti q50, 2015-2016 nissan murano, murano hybrid, and chevrolet city express, 2014-2015 nissan pathfinder hybrid, and 2013 infiniti jx35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger occupant classification system (ocs) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Rear suspension control arm failure
Summary
On july 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened ea19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 nissan altima and 2016-2018 nissan maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened odi had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.odi was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged an increased steering effort or loss of vehicle control.at the time these complaints were received, odi was also aware of a proactive service campaign addressing 2013 nissan altima in salt-belt states for a similar concern. Since opening the investigation, odi has confirmed, based on
Rear suspension control arm failure
Summary
Pe18-013 was opened on december 1, 2018, with 4 complaints to odi alleging incidents of the lower control arm fracturing at a connection point to the vehicle chassis due to corrosion. Odi has received an additional 87 complaints since the pe was opened. During pe18-013, nissan indicated model years 2013-2018 shared a common rear lower control arm design. Nissan provided complaint and warranty data regarding 48 incidents of the subject failure. The majority of the complaints are from vehicles registered in salt belt states. There have been no crashes, injuries, or fatalities confirmed as of this date. Nissan advised that it has conducted testing to assess safety risk. Nissan states that due t
Questions about the 2016 Nissan Altima
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Nissan Altima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (235 complaints, typically around 64,500 miles); engine (86 complaints, typically around 53,000 miles); other or unspecified (81 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Altima have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 28, 2020 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Nissan Altima?
- It is 10th of 27 Altima model years by number of complaints, with 554 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.