2020 Nissan Altima Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2020 Nissan Altima has a complaint index of 40, ranking 13th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a Good verdict compared with other Altima years. It has 158 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls, with Electrical System and Engine issues each accounting for 27% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #13 of 21 Altima years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 158
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 15
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 13
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 26 city / 35 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 13 / 1
Top 2020 Nissan Altima problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe brakes failing to stop the car despite pressing the pedal to the floor, leading to low-speed collisions.
- Seat frames reportedly broke at the hinge during a rear-end collision, pushing seats into rear passengers.
- The forward collision system reportedly triggered unexpected hard braking during winter driving, causing a slide into a curb.
- Airbags reportedly deployed with chemical contents leaking onto a passenger's arm, causing burns.
- Owners report sudden loss of power while driving on the freeway followed by an electrical fire near the battery or firewall.
- Steering system reportedly failed during a routine turn, with the tie rod detaching and causing a crash, tied to a related recall.
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, with a complaint index of 40 and a rank of 13th worst out of 21 years tracked.
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Altima?
- NHTSA complaints show the top problem areas are the Electrical System (43 complaints, 27%) and Engine (43 complaints, 27%), followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras (31 complaints, 20%).
- Does the 2020 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2020 Altima, covering the engine control module, rearview camera harness, Continental tires, a tie rod ball joint fastener, and rear window glass.
- What year Nissan Altima should I avoid?
- Among all Altima years, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2014, and 2015 carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes of 100, 95, 85, 90, and 80. The 2020 model year is not one of the years to avoid.
- How many complaints and recalls does the 2020 Altima have?
- The 2020 Nissan Altima has 158 NHTSA complaints, 6 recalls, 15 crashes, 5 fires, 13 injuries, and 1 death reported.