YearToAvoid

2018 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 23 engine complaints for the 2018 Nissan Altima, 10% of that year's 225 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 36,813 miles. There are no related recalls tied to this engine issue.

Engine complaints
23
10% of 225
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
36,813 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report hesitation or a clunk when accelerating from a stop, sometimes requiring gentle throttle input to avoid a rough start.
  • Some describe the engine jerking for several minutes on startup along with an illuminated check engine light.
  • A few report the vehicle abruptly stalling or ceasing to move while driving at highway speed, in one case causing an injury.
  • Others report the engine failing to engage when the accelerator is pressed while idling, with no warning light and no fault found by the dealer.
  • One report describes the engine as physically split/damaged, though the owner noted skipped maintenance and oil changes.

When 2018 Nissan Altima engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 13, 2018, latest Jan 7, 2026.

2018 Nissan Altima engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2018Nov 2019May 2020Sep 2020Oct 2022Jun 2024Jan 2026
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2018 to Jan 2026; peak Mar 2019 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2018 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Altima model year

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

  1. 201070 (18%)
  2. 201147 (20%)
  3. 2012105 (25%)
  4. 2013206 (9%)
  5. 2014100 (9%)
  6. 201595 (10%)
  7. 2016127 (23%)
  8. 201773 (19%)
  9. 201823 (10%)
  10. 201964 (28%)
  11. 202043 (27%)
  12. 20217 (10%)
  13. 20227 (23%)
  14. 20237 (24%)
  15. 20245 (12%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2018 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 23 engine complaints for the 2018 Altima, which is 10% of the 225 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Nissan Altima engine?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to this engine complaint area.
At what mileage do 2018 Altima engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2018 Altima is 36,813 miles.
Are 2018 Altima engine problems dangerous?
NHTSA records no crashes and no fires tied to these engine complaints, but one injury was reported.
How does the 2018 Altima compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2018 Altima's engine complaints are 10% of its total complaints, lower than years like 2012 (25%), 2016 (23%), and 2019 (28%).

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.