YearToAvoid

2016 Nissan Altima Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 83 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Nissan Altima, 15% of that year's 553 total complaints. Owners describe stalling with an engine fire, dead batteries, failed power windows, and false collision-warning alerts. No related recall is listed for this issue.

Electrical System complaints
83
15% of 553
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
50,635 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls or dies while driving, in one case followed by smoke and a fire under the hood.
  • Battery drains repeatedly overnight even when the car is parked and unused, requiring jump starts or towing.
  • Power windows fail partway, sometimes rolling down only partially and triggering a warning light, or causing the rear door to lock unexpectedly.
  • Headlights fail to adequately light the roadway at night despite the dealer finding them within specification.
  • Front-end collision warning system triggers false alarms at moderate speed on clear, dry roads.
  • A burning rubber smell comes from under the hood after driving a short distance, with no cause found by the dealer.

When 2016 Nissan Altima electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 20, 2016, latest Aug 10, 2026.

2016 Nissan Altima electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter52016 Q22018 Q12019 Q32020 Q42022 Q22023 Q32025 Q22026 Q3
83 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q4 (5).

Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Altima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201077 (20%)
  2. 201131 (13%)
  3. 201248 (11%)
  4. 2013590 (26%)
  5. 2014356 (32%)
  6. 2015320 (34%)
  7. 201683 (15%)
  8. 201744 (11%)
  9. 201849 (22%)
  10. 201959 (25%)
  11. 202043 (27%)
  12. 202121 (30%)
  13. 20227 (23%)
  14. 202310 (34%)
  15. 20243 (7%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA lists 83 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 model year, which is 15% of the 553 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Nissan Altima's electrical system?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this Electrical System complaint category on the 2016 Altima.
What electrical issues do owners report most on the 2016 Altima?
Owners describe stalling episodes, repeated battery drain, malfunctioning power windows and door locks, and false collision-warning alerts. One complaint involved a fire after the car stalled.
At what mileage do these electrical problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2016 Altima is 50,635 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
Did any 2016 Altima electrical complaints involve crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint area lists 2 crashes and 1 fire among the reports, with 0 injuries recorded.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.