2019 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
53/100
#8 most-complained of 16 Altima years
The 2019 Nissan Altima has 232 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 53, and ranks 8th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Caution" rating. It carries 7 recalls, with engine and electrical issues the most reported problem areas.
- Complaints
- 232
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 22 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 26 city / 35 hwy
Top 2019 Nissan Altima problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine64 (28%)
- Electrical System59 (25%)
- Other49 (21%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras44 (19%)
- Brakes32 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers15 (6%)
- Fuel System13 (6%)
- Structure & Body12 (5%)
- Airbags11 (5%)
What owners report
- Automatic emergency braking and intelligent pilot systems reportedly fail to detect vehicles or animals ahead, sometimes leading to crashes.
- Some owners describe the collision avoidance system randomly slowing the vehicle for no visible reason, then failing to brake when needed.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple low-to-moderate speed collisions, resulting in driver injuries.
- A front wheel reportedly came loose while backing out of a garage at low speed, causing loss of control.
- Owners report smoke or burning smells coming from the seat area, in one case with visible fire from the passenger seat.
- Steering and brake reportedly became unresponsive during a turn, resulting in a collision with a stationary object.
2019 Nissan Altima recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V437000Jun 27, 2025Engine443,899 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
- NHTSA 23V628000Sep 8, 2023Collision Avoidance & Cameras153,376 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
- NHTSA 21V169000Mar 11, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires36,141 vehicles
Tires:sidewall
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.
2019 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 35 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2019 compared with other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Nissan Altima reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2019 Altima has a complaint index of 53 and ranks 8th worst out of 16 model years, placing it in the middle of the pack with a "Caution" verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2019 Nissan Altima?
- Engine issues account for 28% of complaints, followed by electrical system problems at 25% and collision avoidance/camera issues at 19%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2019 Nissan Altima have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2019 Altima, covering the engine, fuel system, electrical system, collision avoidance cameras, and Continental tires.
- How does the 2019 Altima compare to other years?
- The 2019 Altima's complaint index of 53 is better than 2013-2016 models (index 80-100, all rated Avoid) but worse than 2018, 2020, and 2021-2025 model years, which score lower.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Nissan Altima?
- The EPA rates the 2019 Altima at 30 mpg combined (26 city/35 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.