1,775 of the
20,238 complaints filed about the Nissan Altima
are about the electrical system —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
Front passenger door lock actuator fails to unlock door when driver's, passengers or key fob to unlock is activated. All other doors (3) work as they should. This creates a safety issue as the door must manually be unlocked which during a panic situation may not be easily accomplished. I am in the process of having the mechanism inspected & repaired. Part failed with no notice. It may have failed earlier, but July '26 was the 1st I noticed.
NHTSA complaint #11754114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I currently own a 2020 Nissan Altima with 49,186 miles and I am reporting a recurring power door lock failure. This vehicle was inspected at the Nissan of Cumming location this morning to confirm the issue. Three of the passenger-side door lock actuators have failed within a short period of time. The two rear door locks stopped working at the same time, and approximately two weeks later the front passenger door lock also stopped working. The driver's door has started to not unlock when turning the car off where it normally did up until recently. The affected doors do not respond to the interior power lock/unlock buttons or the key fob. When attempting to lock or unlock the doors electronically, I can hear the actuators attempting to operate, but the doors do not actually lock or unlock. The doors can only be locked or unlocked manually. This failure affects multiple doors and appears to be a premature component failure given the vehicle's mileage. A malfunctioning power lock system could create a safety concern if occupants are unable to quickly secure or unlock doors during an emergency situation or if electronic access is needed. I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate whether there is a broader defect involving door lock actuators or the power door lock system in 2019 - 2020 Altima vehicles. I have also submitted a case with Nissan Affairs. The case number is 56942179.
NHTSA complaint #11753776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Got the car from kingdom Chevy on 66 and western on February 2024 used at 62.000. I took the car back twice because the screen in the car kept cutting off fading on and fading off. Secondly, the Bluetooth plug would not work. I did not have the car a month. They kept telling me that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. I took my vehicle to the dealer and was told that there were no recalls on the vehicle and that basically my car was one of the cars that got put in the bad batch. I was also told that the only recall on this car was the hood. No one could open the hood, even if I pull the latch in the car. I explained to the guy at the Nissan dealer again that the board kept cutting on and off and all he said was it was the Bluetooth. Today my car does not start without me getting a jump. Lastly, I’ve been stopped by the cops three times on my way from work at night because the lights are auto and they they do not work properly. I really do not know what to do at this point. I called last week to speak to someone and I spoke to someone named David, who was not at all trying to help me, but was trying to sell me a car😡. He informed me that since it wasa used vehicle, the warranty has already iexpired. More importantly they are no longer kingdom Chevy. It is now under new ownership, and that they do not have access to the Records. I ended up with this vehicle because the vehicle that they recently leased to me. The engine went out once I got my oil changed at Valvoline.
NHTSA complaint #11752550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle from a private seller on Facebook Marketplace, the vehicle was then sold to a third person. The contact was informed by the third owner that the mileage on the vehicle was incorrect. The contact obtained a vehicle history report and discovered the mileage discrepancy. At the time the contact purchased the vehicle on the Facebook Marketplace, the seller listed the mileage at 108,757. It was later discovered that in June 2022, the mileage was listed as 156,000.
NHTSA complaint #11751604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Both passenger-side and driver's side rear door lock mechanisms ceased working. They do not work when attempting to lock/unlock the doors from the inside controls in the front seat. These doors also do not lock/unlock when using the remote key fob either. Both rear doors have to be lock/unlocked manually from the inside of the door.
NHTSA complaint #11751528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Door lock actuators have failed completely on 2 doors, and intermittently on 1 door of a 2021 Nissan Altima. They do not respond to either the key fob or door button. There are no warnings or indicators associated with this component so it is unknown when the failures first occurred, but it was first noticed in summer of 2025. The components have not been inspected but could be made available for inspection if requested. Not being able to unlock doors could present an entrapment hazard in the event of a collision. The doors remaining unlocked is a safety concern as there is nothing preventing the door from potentially being opened while driving, and a security concern as the vehicle may inadvertently be left unlocked even if the lock buttons are pressed on the key fob and/or door. Numerous official and anecdotal consumer reports exist but at the time of this submittal the manufacturer has not issued any notices or recalls regarding this problem.
NHTSA complaint #11748703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coolant leak not visible egr cooler and egr valve malfunction catalytic converter malfunction. Diagnosted at nissan a known issue with nissan make and model.
NHTSA complaint #11748154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ever since I bought the car with zero miles I been having electrical issues. From reverse camera to low wash fluid light that doesn’t turned off . Now even when it’s over 100 degrees outside my car marks inside that’s 26 degrees . And now my Ac completely stopped working. I don’t know what to do I only owe $4,000 on my car
NHTSA complaint #11747965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased this car in April 2023 and in December 2023. I had to get a new battery when I purchased a car. They told me that there was no worries or mishaps with the vehicle they said just only normal wear and tear for is a used vehicle. My car is a 2021 Nissan Altima so the car would’ve been about two years old maybe or on his way to be in two years old when I got the car according to the Carfax and the information provided to me it only had one owner previously. I’m not sure what the person did with the car but the battery was bad fast-forward to 2025. I was hit by a F150 truck. I got T-bone I had to go to the hospital, etc. it was a pretty bad hit. My windows were cracked or excuse me broken and my airbags were not deployed. No airbag was deployed. I did have my seatbelt on when the police came. My CB was still on so my car had to go. It was towed, and then it went to a mechanic shop to be fixed by the other person‘s insurance at that time, the mechanic sent me photos and explain that there was faulty, wiring and seatbelts, and he was unsure why it would be there. He said it was a immediate safety hazard, and I should address it with North Coast as soon as possible North Coast auto Mall is where I purchased the car from when I reached out to them all they told me was all you’ve had the car for about three years now we don’t know what you may have done to the Car. I still have the photos of the faulty wiring. I’m no mechanic. I explained to them that was an accident and the airbags did not deploy and when the mechanic also confirmed that’s probably why I have not heard anything from North Coast. This is an extreme safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11746502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact became aware that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was an independent dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle mileage was 83,000. It was later discovered during routine maintenance with an authorized local dealer that the mileage was 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #11744494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Engine Control Module (ECM) is malfunctioning, triggering persistent P0101 codes related to the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. This specific issue is addressed in Nissan Technical Service Bulletin DE97AA, which recommends an ECM reprogramming. The component is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. ⸻ • How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the vehicle is at a complete stop and I attempt to accelerate, it becomes jumpy and unresponsive, refusing to accelerate properly. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially when trying to merge into traffic or cross intersections, as I am unable to match the speed of other vehicles. This increases the risk of being rear-ended or causing an accident due to unexpectedly slow acceleration. ⸻ • Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. An independent mechanic diagnosed the issue and confirmed the code P0101. After reviewing Nissan’s official TSB DE97AA, they advised me to go to a Nissan dealership to have the ECM reprogrammed as outlined in the bulletin. ⸻ • Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, but not yet by the manufacturer. The dealership is aware of the issue but has refused to perform the repair without payment. ⸻ • Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. The Check Engine Light is consistently triggered by code P0101, and the traction control warning light also comes on when the issue is active. The symptoms appeared recently and continue to recur even after the code is reset by standard non-dealership methods like unplugging the battery.
NHTSA complaint #11741855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact purchased a 2015 Nissan Altima. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was
NHTSA complaint #11740805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
All four of my door lock actuators have went out without warning. This has caused stress and frustration due to not having the correct access to get in and out of my vehicle. The doors would not lock or unlock by pressing the buttons on the door or on the key itself. This has also caused a big safety concern. Being able to not open my car door is dangerous and could potentially hurt myself or others. I have contacted Nissan and they stated that there were not any recalls on my vehicle but I was suspicious since all lock actuators went out around the same time frame. I have paid to get 3/4 lock actuators replaced out of my own pocket with 1 lock actuator still not fixed. I was not made aware of the lock actuators failing and didn’t know that this was a problem a lot of other people were experiencing as well.
NHTSA complaint #11740834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I bought my 2019 Nissan Altima SR from Westshore Mazda in Tampa. The next day I locked and unlocked the car and noticed that only the driver‘s door was working so three out of the four doors don’t lock and unlock by either the driver side door or the key fobs. I looked this up online and noticed it’s a defect on a lot of these models and the sentras.
NHTSA complaint #11736209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The issue appears to involve the vehicle’s battery system. The issue is abnormal battery drain and corrosion buildup on the battery terminals. The failure results in the vehicle being unable to start without warning. The battery and affected components are available for inspection upon request. This issue creates a safety risk because the vehicle can become inoperable without warning, leaving me stranded. This could occur in unsafe or vulnerable situations, such as being stuck in traffic, in an isolated area, or during extreme weather conditions. The unpredictability of the failure increases the risk, as there is no reliable warning before the vehicle will not start. I've been stranded multiple times. Yes. An independent mechanic can confirm the issue. There were little to no warning indicators prior to failure. The issue primarily presents as unexpected battery drain and corrosion, followed by the vehicle failing to start. Any symptoms that did occur were inconsistent and did not provide sufficient warning of the impending failure.
NHTSA complaint #11735794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud - The contact purchased a 2020 Nissan Altima. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 10,976. When the vehicle was later taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, the recorded mileage was 113,000.
NHTSA complaint #11734876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.