2018 Nissan Altima Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle would not start. The contact pressed the start button and depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to start-up. After multiple attempts the vehicle eventually started however, the…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 36,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving, the feb automatic collision notification illuminated then unilluminated. The contact stated that while approached a stop sign at 500 feet, while depressing the brake pedal, it went to the floorboard causing the distance to be extended. As a result, another…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 59,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

My back doors do not lock with the FOB or the interior door lock/unlock button. I have to manually unlock and lock my rear doors. This is a defect that Nissan is well aware of and seems to not care. My car only has 63,000 miles on it.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Vehicle turned off while driving. Battery disconnected as the battery terminal connector got lose. after a quick clean-up of the terminal corrosion, it was obvious that the terminal has completely deteriorated (corroded) and has no more strength to hold a good contact to the battery terminal.Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The passenger‑side airbag warning light first appeared within the first year of ownership. During that visit, the dealership did not repair the defect. They only reset the warning light and told me it was not a problem. No diagnostic documentation or repair explanation was provided, and the underlying issue was not addressed. The warning…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The warning light on the dash is indicating that there is a problem with the airbag. I took it to a Nissan Dealership and was told that the side airbag needed to be replaced. I was quoted $3,241.41labor only. I was told there was no recall. I certainly don't want there to be a collision and it doesn't deploy as it should. So I would like…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am currently experiencing CVT failure as of I have filed a case with the nissan consumer affairs unit, case number 56846043. I was advised that even though there was a class action suit in 2022 for CVT issues, my CVT Warranty Extension expired on 12/09/2024 for this class action suit. I purchased the car in May of 2025. The dealership…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The problem is I have that transmission in my car that nissan was sued for . Yes I received a extended warranty 85 months or 85,000 miles . My transmission started going out as soon I rolled over 85,000. Dealer told me the warranty was no good. Now it's sitting in the yard. All I can do is make the payment. Not only am I making payments…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles. Parts named most: Warnings (11), Automatic emergency braking (5).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

2018 Nissan Altima 24,864 miles. Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) system keeps turning on and off. Contacted dealership and they said it was a dirty bumper/sensor, clean sensor location and continue to use vehicle. If issue persisted set up appointment with dealership to have looked at. Cleaned front bumper and continued to operate. FEB…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Just purchased used from nissan and warning for afb failure keeps coming on. After a quick internet search I am concerned about safety.Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 18,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving at regular road speeds, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic safety component failure. The primary hood latch disengaged, and the secondary safety backup latch failed to catch or secure the hood. This caused the hood to violently slam completely open against the front windshield without warning, instantly and totally…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the hood latch inadvertently unlatched, and the hood raised up and fell onto the windshield and cracked the windshield. The contact was able to drive a short distance to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 59,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 39,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the halogen headlights failed to function as intended and were dimmed, which reduced the visibility of the roadway. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a collision center, where the headlight…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The headlights on my 2018 Altima SL are INCREDIBLY dim. I have tried two different LED manufacturer's bulbs with the same result. It is beyond dangerous to drive my car at night. Sadly, my floodlights are FAR brighter than my low beams. There are countless complaints for this issue over the past few years. It sounds like their solution…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

There is a recall for altimas from years 2019-2021 with an issue where the engine will not start after the battery light on the dashboard comes on. After a few minutes the car will start up and ride like normal. This also happens in the 2018 model of the altima. This happened to us multiple times. The battery is good, and there is no…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Vehicle turned off on a red light. The vehicle was on drive, my foot on the brake waiting for the green light, the car then died while waiting. Check engine light is on.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 37,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 nissan altima. The contact stated while driving, there was an abnormally annoying sound coming from the steering. The vehicle was taken to the united nissan dealer located at 3025 e sahara ave, las vegas, nv 89104, where the technician stated that the sound was normal and no failure was found. The [VIN] was not…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 100,000 miles

While I was driving around my city (san jose,ca), the steering when I turn left it right starting shaking.... It's not normal because the car was good. And now I can't go too far with that issue.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 36,700 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 52,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while his son was idled, he depressed the accelerator pedal, but the engine failed to engage. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 60,000 miles

A lag when accelerating from a stop. Step on the accelerator and feel a slight clunk before I start to move. Turning off overdrive seems to give a more solid start with not so much hesitation. Always feel like I need to gently accelerate from stop or something might breakOwner complaint, filed 2019, at 1,200 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

A truck turned quickly in front of my wife which made her hit him in the side of his truck while she was traveling at approx. 55mph. The truck was traveling southbound on highway and she was traveling northbound on a foggy day.she hit her brakes slid about 30 ft before striking the side of his f150 tearing his rear axles out and damaging…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 30,000 miles

Air bag dash warning light came on. Brought to dealer. They"fixed". Light came back on few days later. brought back to dealer. They said drivers side seat frame with air bag needs to be replaced. they ordered part & said 2 week wait. Called dealer back 2 weeks later & they said part not released by Nissan. Called Nissan consumer affairs.…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

For the transmission I was driving at normal speed in the freeway when out of no where the car started to jerk and lost power I almost got hit by the car behind me it was a traumatizing experience for me and my son I haven’t gotten my car to get repaired because as a single mother it is very hard on me and with the suspension it had been…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Display on my vehicle keeps saying front radar obstruction although nothing is either on the road nor in front of my vehicle. This does this without warning at least 5-6 times while I'm driving on city streets, highway or just turning. At random the warning will show and the lights will come up on my driver panel then a few mins later it…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 94,200 miles

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

So I have the 2.5L QR25DE engine with the exact exhaust failure from campaign PC717, and I need Goodwill Assistance because the part failed identically.Owner complaint, filed 2026

I’ve had to replace the break sensor a few times and it’s unusual… My check engine light came on and it reads the code for the catalyst converter.., the auto part store saw a recall on this for my make and model but not seeing it here . The code was cleared and hasn’t came back on yet but I’m anticipating it will .. these two issues need…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

I purchased Milestar tires model ms932 sport in 2021 size 235/45/18. In Jan.2024 my tire pressure indicator light came on and I pulled over and changed the tire to my spare and took the tire to my tire dealer and it had to be replaced with another tire due to the sidewall separating on the inside of the tire. The tire was on the front of…Owner complaint, filed 2024

While driving home and just entering my neighborhood, I noticed a low tire warning on my dashboard. I looked at the pressure and there was approximately 26 pounds still in the tire and the closest place to fill up was at my house. While approaching a right turn in the neighborhood and because of the winter weather conditions of snow and…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 15,300 miles