Which years should I avoid for the Nissan Altima and Honda HR-V?

For the Altima, avoid 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015, based on NHTSA complaint index and recall data. For the HR-V, avoid 2019, 2023 and 2024.

How many total complaints does each model have?

The Altima has 12,123 complaints over 21 model years (577 per year on average). The HR-V has 1,823 complaints over 10 model years (182 per year on average).

Which model has more recall campaigns?

The Altima has 43 total recall campaigns versus 13 for the HR-V, though the Altima also spans twice as many model years.

Are these numbers adjusted for how many of each were sold?

No. NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these complaint and recall totals are not normalized per vehicle sold and should not be read as a direct reliability ranking between the two nameplates.

How do fuel economy figures compare?

The Altima averages 27 mpg combined across its years and the HR-V averages 28.8 mpg combined, with annual fuel costs on both models generally in the $2,150 to $3,100 range depending on year.

Nissan Altima vs Honda HR-V: Which Years to Avoid

The Nissan Altima logs 12,123 complaints across 21 model years (577 per year, 43 recall campaigns), while the Honda HR-V logs 1,823 across 10 years (182 per year, 13 recalls). Altima years to avoid are 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013-2015; HR-V years to avoid are 2019, 2023 and 2024. Totals aren't sales-normalized, so this isn't a direct per-vehicle comparison.

Head to head

Nissan Altima

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 12,123
Per model year: 577
Recall campaigns: 43
Years to avoid: 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015
Best years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 27.0
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

Honda HR-V

Model years: 2016–2025 (10)
NHTSA complaints: 1,823
Per model year: 182
Recall campaigns: 13
Years to avoid: 2019, 2023, 2024
Best years: 2017, 2020, 2021
Top problem area: Visibility & Wipers
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 28.8
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 5.0 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Altima				HR-V
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Avoid	1,091	1	21	—	—	—	—
2006	Caution	824	3	21	—	—	—	—
2007	Good	471	3	24	—	—	—	—
2008	Avoid	1,028	4	24	—	—	—	—
2009	Avoid	1,547	4	24	—	—	—	—
2010	Caution	380	3	23	—	—	—	—
2011	Good	241	1	24.5	—	—	—	—
2012	Caution	426	4	24.5	—	—	—	—
2013	Avoid	2,312	12	26	—	—	—	—
2014	Avoid	1,114	8	28	—	—	—	—
2015	Avoid	953	10	28.5	—	—	—	—
2016	Caution	553	4	30	Caution	239	2	29
2017	Caution	391	3	30	Best	122	0	29
2018	Good	225	2	30	Good	156	3	29
2019	Good	232	7	30	Avoid	235	7	29.5
2020	Good	158	6	30	Best	83	5	29.5
2021	Best	70	2	30	Best	63	4	29.5
2022	Best	30	0	30.5	Caution	88	3	29.5
2023	Best	29	0	29.5	Avoid	686	3	27.5
2024	Best	41	1	29.5	Avoid	108	4	27.5
2025	Best	7	2	30	Good	43	1	27.5

Complaint Index by year

Nissan Altima

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Honda HR-V

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which years should I avoid for the Nissan Altima and Honda HR-V?: For the Altima, avoid 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015, based on NHTSA complaint index and recall data. For the HR-V, avoid 2019, 2023 and 2024.
How many total complaints does each model have?: The Altima has 12,123 complaints over 21 model years (577 per year on average). The HR-V has 1,823 complaints over 10 model years (182 per year on average).
Which model has more recall campaigns?: The Altima has 43 total recall campaigns versus 13 for the HR-V, though the Altima also spans twice as many model years.
Are these numbers adjusted for how many of each were sold?: No. NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these complaint and recall totals are not normalized per vehicle sold and should not be read as a direct reliability ranking between the two nameplates.
How do fuel economy figures compare?: The Altima averages 27 mpg combined across its years and the HR-V averages 28.8 mpg combined, with annual fuel costs on both models generally in the $2,150 to $3,100 range depending on year.