YearToAvoid

2021 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Altima years

The 2021 Nissan Altima carries a complaint index of 20, the 13th-worst out of 16 model years, earning a Best verdict relative to other Altima years. NHTSA lists 70 complaints, 2 recalls, and 7 crash reports for this year.

Complaints
70
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
7 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30
26.5 city / 36 hwy

Top 2021 Nissan Altima problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras25 (36%)
  2. Brakes21 (30%)
  3. Electrical System21 (30%)
  4. Other12 (17%)
  5. Engine7 (10%)
  6. Steering7 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body6 (9%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (9%)
  9. Seat Belts3 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain3 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe rearview camera images that distort or drop out entirely, matching the collision-avoidance camera recall.
  • Some drivers report automatic emergency braking failing to engage even when a forward collision is imminent, leading to crashes.
  • Several owners say the brake pedal did not stop the car as expected, in one case at very low speed while parking, with median failure mileage around 44,794 miles for the brakes category overall.
  • One owner reported an electrical malfunction warning on the display followed by a sudden loss of steering control.
  • An airbag failed to deploy during a side-impact crash despite a hard hit.
  • A tie rod ball joint issue tied to the steering recall was also reported by owners.
2021 Nissan Altima complaints: complaints filed per month8Nov 2021Aug 2022Jul 2023Apr 2024Jan 2025Aug 2025Apr 2026
115 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2026 (8).

2021 Nissan Altima recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 21V138000Mar 4, 2021Steering2,407 vehicles

    Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.

    Risk: A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.

2021 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26.5 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,175
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.

2021 compared with other Altima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Caution53232730
2020Good47158630
2021Best2070230
2022Best030030.5
2023Best729029.5

All Nissan Altima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Altima reliable?
Among 16 Altima model years, 2021 ranks 13th worst with a complaint index of 20, making it one of the better years for the model. NHTSA records 70 complaints and 2 recalls for this year.
What are the main problems with the 2021 Nissan Altima?
The top problem areas are Collision Avoidance & Cameras (36% of complaints), Brakes (30%), and Electrical System (30%), based on NHTSA complaint data.
Does the 2021 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a rearview camera harness that can distort or lose the display image, and one for a tie rod ball joint fastener that was not tightened properly. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2021 Altima compare to other years?
The 2021 Altima's complaint index of 20 is much lower than 2013's index of 100 or 2014's 93, both rated Avoid, showing 2021 has far fewer reported problems relative to those years.
What is the median mileage for reported failures in the 2021 Altima?
Across all complaints, the median mileage at failure is 42,897 miles, with brake issues showing up at a median of 44,794 miles and electrical issues at 17,000 miles.

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.