2016 Nissan Altima Structure & Body Problems
Structure & Body complaints account for 57 of 553 total complaints (10%) on the 2016 Nissan Altima, with a median failure mileage of 42,000. Three related recalls cover hood latch and rear door latch-lock cable issues, and four crashes with seven injuries were reported in this area.
- Structure & Body complaints
- 57
- 10% of 553
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 7
- Median mileage
- 42,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical body and structure symptoms owners report
- Owners describe the hood latch failing to stay secure while driving, causing the hood to fly open, strike or shatter the windshield, and in one case lead to a crash into a guardrail.
- Several report the rear passenger door unlatching and opening on its own when the window is lowered, tied to an improperly routed door latch-lock cable.
- Some owners say the trunk fails to stay open or does not latch shut properly after closing.
- Multiple complaints describe a sharp plastic shroud under the driver seat that cuts or bruises the calf when getting in or out.
- One owner reported melted sealant material inside the trunk after hot weather exposure, raising fire concerns before any flame occurred.
- A driver-side or passenger-side window was reported as non-functional shortly after purchase, requiring repeated dealer visits.
When 2016 Nissan Altima body and structure complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 8, 2016, latest Jul 23, 2026.
Structure & Body recalls for the 2016 Nissan Altima
- 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.
Structure & Body complaints by Altima model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are structure and body complaints on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
- NHTSA lists 57 Structure & Body complaints for the 2016 Altima, which is 10% of the 553 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Nissan Altima hood latch or doors?
- Yes. NHTSA lists recall 20V315000 for a hood latch spring issue, plus recalls 18V915000 and 17V040000 covering a rear door latch-lock cable that could let the door open unexpectedly.
- At what mileage do these structure and body problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2016 Altima is 42,000 miles.
- Have these body issues caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA records 4 crashes and 7 injuries tied to Structure & Body complaints on the 2016 Altima, including hood latch failures that obstructed the driver's view.
- Does the door latch recall fully fix the rear door opening problem?
- NHTSA data shows complaints filed after the 2017 and 2018 recalls, including one owner who said their vehicle was not on the recall list, so coverage may vary by VIN.