For those who wanted a different midsize sedan, the Nissan Altima has been serving as a great option in the segment. The Altima did hit several rough patches in recent years where it was subjected to more than a couple of official investigations regarding safety issues by the NHTSA. The 2019 Nissan Altima has also faced several complaints regarding its electrical system, forward collision avoidance system, and windshield. There are records of a total of 5 recalls against the sedan to date. The competitors of the Altima include the Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry, and the Hyundai Sonata.
Nissan Altima user complaints and problems
Electrical problems
- Door locking mechanism malfunction: Several models of the 2019 Nissan Altima were hit by this problem according to the NHTSA. The owners said in their reports that the door locking mechanism or the locking actuators failed prematurely. The failures happened on both the front door and the rear doors of the affected vehicles.
- Radio and air conditioning system failure: A few official complaints regarding these issues were lodged by the users. The complainants said in their reports that the HVAC system and the radio of their vehicles started to malfunction or stopped working. In one case, the owner traded in an older Altima model for a new one where the former had a similar issue with its HVAC system.
Safety problems
- Forward collision avoidance system malfunction: Plenty of owners complained that the forward collision avoidance system of their 2019 Altimas failed to work as designed. In a majority of the cases, the system engaged unnecessarily and randomly, slowing down the car while driving. In a few instances, the warning light for the system came on on the instrument cluster.
2019 Nissan Altima recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
December 20, 2018 |
18V922000 |
Fuel Tube may Leak or Disconnect |
If the retainer clip is unlocked, the fuel tube may shift and cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire. If the fuel tube fully disconnects, the engine can stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Nissan has notified owners, and dealers will route the fuel hose into the holding clip and lock the retainer clip into place, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 11, 2019. |
|
2 |
March 25, 2019 |
19V235000 |
Brake Lights May Remain Illuminated |
If the brake switch remains in the ON position, the brake lights will remain illuminated when the brakes are not being pressed, which may confuse other drivers. Additionally, the transmission shift lever may be moved out of the Park position without the brake pedal being pressed, allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash. |
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install a new brake pedal as needed, free of charge. The recall began on May 15, 2019. |
|
3 |
April 18, 2019 |
19V316000 |
Fuel Tank May Leak/FMVSS 301 |
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. |
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly. If the lock ring is disengaged, dealers will tighten the ring to specification. If the lock ring is detached, dealers will replace the fuel pump. Both remedies will be completed free of charge. The recall began on May 15, 2019. |
|
4 |
September 12, 2019 |
19V654000 |
No Back-Up Camera Display Image/FMVSS 111 |
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash. |
Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. |
|
5 |
March 11, 2021 |
21V169000 |
Tire Failure may Cause Sudden Air Loss |
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation that could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
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. |
Should you buy a used Nissan Altima?
The Nissan Altima looks great as compared to its peers and gets a lot of things right after its redesign for the current model year. However, it still lacks in some key areas such as handling and an upscale feeling inside its cabin. Moreover, the sedan had a fair share of run-ins with issues and investigations in the last couple of model years. Hence, going for a used Altima might sound like a not so sensible thing. Instead, you can opt for the Hyundai Sonata that gets almost everything right including having a great record of reliability as well.
