2016 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
80/100
#4 most-complained of 16 Altima years
The 2016 Nissan Altima ranks 4th worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 553 complaints tied mainly to Transmission & Powertrain (42% of complaints) and Engine (23%). NHTSA lists 4 recalls, including an airbag recall and two hood/door latch recalls.
- Complaints
- 553
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 28 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 32 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 26 city / 37 hwy
Top 2016 Nissan Altima problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain235 (42%)
- Engine127 (23%)
- Electrical System83 (15%)
- Other81 (15%)
- Airbags70 (13%)
- Structure & Body57 (10%)
- Fuel System30 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (3%)
- Steering16 (3%)
- Brakes15 (3%)
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed frontal or animal-strike collisions, leaving occupants without protection.
- The hood latch assembly can release at highway speed, causing loss of visibility and impact with the windshield.
- Transmission loses power and stops accelerating on the freeway while RPMs rise, forcing drivers to pull over.
- Engine revs and accelerates involuntarily with brakes failing to stop the car during low-speed maneuvers.
- A rear-end collision caused smoking and fire in the fuel system area.
- Seat belts fail to retract properly after a rear-end crash, contributing to whiplash and back injuries.
2016 Nissan Altima recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V315000May 28, 2020Structure & Body1,831,818 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 18V915000Dec 19, 2018Structure & Body341,003 vehicles
Structure:emergency:escape/egress/exit
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.
Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 17V040000Jan 18, 2017Structure & Body341,005 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
2016 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 37 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Nissan Altima reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Altima ranks 4th worst among 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and a verdict of Avoid relative to other Altima years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Nissan Altima?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area, accounting for 42% of the 553 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 64,700 miles.
- Does the 2016 Nissan Altima have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 Altima, covering airbags and structure/body issues such as hood and rear door latch cables. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2016 Altima compare to other years?
- The 2016 Altima's Complaint Index of 80 is lower than the 2013 model (100, Avoid) but higher than the 2018 (33, Good) and 2021-2023 models rated Best.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Nissan Altima?
- The 2016 Altima gets an EPA-rated 30 mpg combined (26 city/37 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $2,150.