YearToAvoid

2016 Nissan Altima Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 30 Fuel System complaints for the 2016 Nissan Altima, 5% of its 553 total complaints for the year. The median mileage at failure was 44,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this fuel system pattern, though the crash and fire counts (1 each) raise the stakes.

Fuel System complaints
30
5% of 553
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
44,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Delayed acceleration from a stop, where the pedal produces no response for several seconds before the car suddenly lurches forward.
  • Sudden loss of power or stalling at highway speed, including one case where the car could not complete a turn.
  • Unexplained RPM spikes to 6000-7000 RPM without corresponding pedal input, followed by jolts of acceleration.
  • Fuel gauge failing to register fuel level accurately, sometimes paired with an illuminated check engine light.
  • One report describes a rear-end collision that caused smoking and fire in a 2016 Altima.

When 2016 Nissan Altima fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 4, 2017, latest Feb 26, 2026.

2016 Nissan Altima fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2017Apr 2018Mar 2020Jul 2021Jul 2022Mar 2023Jan 2024Feb 2025
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Feb 2026; peak Jul 2019 (3).

Fuel System recalls for the 2016 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by Altima model year

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

  1. 20107 (2%)
  2. 201110 (4%)
  3. 201213 (3%)
  4. 201349 (2%)
  5. 201425 (2%)
  6. 201528 (3%)
  7. 201630 (5%)
  8. 201717 (4%)
  9. 20182 (1%)
  10. 201913 (6%)
  11. 20207 (4%)
  12. 20210 (0%)
  13. 20220 (0%)
  14. 20230 (0%)
  15. 20242 (5%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2016 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 30 Fuel System complaints for the 2016 Altima, making up 5% of the 553 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Nissan Altima fuel system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this fuel system complaint pattern.
At what mileage do fuel system problems typically show up on the 2016 Altima?
The median mileage at failure among reported fuel system complaints is 44,000 miles.
What kind of fuel system problems do owners report on the 2016 Altima?
Owners describe delayed acceleration from a stop, sudden power loss at speed, unexplained RPM surges, and fuel gauge readings that fail to reflect actual fuel level.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to fuel system complaints?
NHTSA data for this area lists 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the 30 complaints.

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.