YearToAvoid

2021 Nissan Altima Electrical System Problems

The 2021 Nissan Altima has 21 electrical system complaints to NHTSA, making up 30% of all 70 complaints filed for the year. That share is higher than most other Altima model years. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Electrical System complaints
21
30% of 70
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
17,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Door lock actuators fail one at a time, leaving multiple doors unable to lock or unlock and sometimes locking occupants out during an emergency.
  • Backup camera image glitches, freezes, goes dark, or shows lines across the display.
  • Rear crash warning and windshield wiper fluid alerts trigger falsely even when there is no obstacle or the fluid reservoir is full.
  • Steering wheel control buttons stop responding, with owners describing a need for sensor replacement and recalibration.
  • Instrument panel malfunction alerts flash on the display accompanied by seat vibration and a reported loss of steering control.
  • Infotainment audio/video control unit fails, causing the radio volume to spike uncontrollably with no way to lower or shut it off.

When 2021 Nissan Altima electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 26, 2021, latest Jul 23, 2026.

2021 Nissan Altima electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2021Apr 2024Jan 2025May 2025Nov 2025Apr 2026
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2025 (3).

Electrical System recalls for the 2021 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Altima model year

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

  1. 201077 (20%)
  2. 201131 (13%)
  3. 201248 (11%)
  4. 2013590 (26%)
  5. 2014356 (32%)
  6. 2015320 (34%)
  7. 201683 (15%)
  8. 201744 (11%)
  9. 201849 (22%)
  10. 201959 (25%)
  11. 202043 (27%)
  12. 202121 (30%)
  13. 20227 (23%)
  14. 202310 (34%)
  15. 20243 (7%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does the 2021 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 21 electrical system complaints for the 2021 Nissan Altima, which is 30% of the 70 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Nissan Altima electrical system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this electrical system problem area on the 2021 Altima.
What electrical problems do 2021 Altima owners report most?
Owners most often report door lock actuator failures, backup camera glitches, false rear crash and wiper fluid warnings, and steering wheel control button malfunctions.
Has the 2021 Altima electrical issue caused any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2021 Altima records 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries among the 21 complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 Altima electrical problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 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.