2020 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
47/100
#9 most-complained of 16 Altima years
The 2020 Nissan Altima has a Complaint Index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Altima years. It has 158 complaints, 6 recalls, and a top problem area of Electrical System.
- Complaints
- 158
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 15 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 13 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 26 city / 35 hwy
Top 2020 Nissan Altima problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System43 (27%)
- Engine43 (27%)
- Other35 (22%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras31 (20%)
- Brakes18 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain17 (11%)
- Steering13 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (8%)
- Structure & Body10 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers10 (6%)
What owners report
- Some drivers report the forward collision system engaging on its own and locking the brakes, causing a loss of control on icy or snowy roads.
- Owners describe electrical fires starting near the battery or firewall while driving, sometimes with total loss of the vehicle to fire.
- Front seat heaters have reportedly caught fire while the vehicle was parked and the heater was in use.
- Several owners report the tie rod ball joint fastener detaching or the tie rod snapping while driving, leading to loss of steering control and a crash, tied to a related recall.
- Owners describe brake pedals failing to stop the vehicle even when fully depressed, resulting in low-speed collisions.
- Front seat frames have reportedly broken at the hinge during rear-end collisions, pushing the seat back into rear passengers.
2020 Nissan Altima recalls
6 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.
2020 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.
2020 compared with other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Nissan Altima reliable?
- Compared with other Altima model years, 2020 rates 'Good.' It has a Complaint Index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 years tracked, well below the highest-complaint years like 2013.
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Altima?
- NHTSA data shows Electrical System and Engine complaints each make up 27% of reported problems, followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 20% and Brakes at 11%.
- Does the 2020 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2020 Altima, covering the engine control module software, rearview camera harness, Continental tire curing issues, a tie rod ball joint fastener, and rear window glass securing.
- How does the 2020 Altima compare to the 2013 Altima?
- The 2013 Altima has a Complaint Index of 100 and an 'Avoid' verdict, while the 2020 model has an index of 47 and a 'Good' verdict, making 2020 a comparatively stronger year.
- What is the median mileage for complaints on the 2020 Altima?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 13,700 miles across all complaint categories for the 2020 Altima.