YearToAvoid

2018 Nissan Altima Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 18 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Nissan Altima, 8% of its 225 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 59,000 miles. Most trace back to hood latch recall 20V315000. No crashes, fires, or injuries were reported.

Structure & Body complaints
18
8% of 225
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
59,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the hood latch inadvertently unlatching while driving, causing the hood to fly up and strike the windshield.
  • Several complaints describe waiting on recall 20V315000 hood latch repair parts that dealers said were unavailable for extended periods.
  • One owner reported a vibration and shaking sensation coming from under the hood at 74,100 miles with no determined cause.
  • A separate airbag-related complaint mentioned a faulty passenger seat weight sensor triggering the airbag warning light.

When 2018 Nissan Altima body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 2, 2018, latest Aug 17, 2026.

2018 Nissan Altima structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2018Sep 2020Feb 2021May 2021Dec 2021Nov 2022Jun 2024Jun 2025
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Sep 2020 (2).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Nissan Altima

  1. 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 Owner’s 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.

Structure & Body complaints by Altima model year

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

  1. 2005361 (33%)
  2. 2006228 (28%)
  3. 200739 (8%)
  4. 2008343 (33%)
  5. 2009104 (7%)
  6. 201038 (10%)
  7. 201130 (12%)
  8. 201241 (10%)
  9. 2013229 (10%)
  10. 201497 (9%)
  11. 2015110 (12%)
  12. 201657 (10%)
  13. 201736 (9%)
  14. 201818 (8%)
  15. 201912 (5%)
  16. 202010 (6%)
  17. 20216 (9%)
  18. 20222 (7%)
  19. 20231 (3%)
  20. 20248 (20%)
  21. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2018 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 18 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Altima, which is 8% of its 225 total complaints for the year.
Is there a recall related to Structure & Body issues on the 2018 Nissan Altima?
Yes, recall 20V315000 covers 2013-2018 Altima models for a hood latch issue where the secondary latch may not catch if the primary latch releases.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 59,000 miles.
Have any crashes or injuries been reported for this issue?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 Altima.

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.