Is the Nissan Altima more reliable than the Ford Fusion?

Yes, by a large gap. Both rate good, but the Altima draws 1.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, while the Fusion draws 21.1. Repair cost and shop-visit rates are close. The Fusion's engine and flex plate failures are what pull its record down.

Which has more recalls, the Altima or the Fusion?

The Altima has more in total, with 20 recalls across 9 model years. The Fusion has 8 across 3 model years. The Altima's count covers a much longer span of model years, so the totals are not a direct measure of which car is worse.

Which costs less to repair?

The Altima. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $483 a year against $581 for the Fusion, a difference of about $490 over five years. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and both have a 12% chance that a repair is major.

What is the main problem with the Ford Fusion?

Engine and drivetrain failures. Owners report a cracked flex plate that rattles at idle, often with no warning light, and coolant leaking into the cylinders that ends in engine replacement. Owners blame the 1.5L EcoBoost. Most engine reports fall between 65,000 and 96,448 miles.

Are there safety concerns with the Nissan Altima?

Yes. Altima owners report air bags that did not deploy in serious frontal crashes, tie rods that came apart during turns, and automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead. Fires are the most serious electrical pattern. Brakes and air bags have the most crash-linked complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima: Reliability Compared

Ford Fusion

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Altima

Good

Reliability favors the Nissan Altima over the Ford Fusion by a wide margin. Fusion owners file far more complaints per car sold. Cracked flex plates and coolant leaking into the cylinders drive that gap, though the Altima has serious air bag and steering reports of its own.

How Do the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima Generations Compare?

Late fifth-generation and sixth-generation cars are what most Altima shoppers will see. The 2018 model year closed out the fifth generation, which had a facelift in 2016. The sixth generation began in 2019 and ran through 2023, with a refresh in 2023. The 2019 and 2020 cars were the first of the new design and rank among the weakest years. For the Fusion, the data covers 2018 to 2020, all within the second generation. That generation had facelifts in 2017 and 2019, so the 2018 car follows the first and the 2019 and 2020 cars follow the second.

Verdict

The Nissan Altima is more reliable than the Ford Fusion, scoring 79/100 vs 69/100.

Reliability clearly favors the Altima, and the gap is large. Both sedans hold a good standing, and their repair costs and shop-visit rates sit close together. What separates them is how often owners complain. Fusion owners file far more complaints per car sold, and the worst reports end in engine or short block replacement. The Altima's complaints are fewer, but several involve safety systems, so its edge comes with real caveats.

Key Differences

1Nissan Altima costs $98 less per year to repair
2Nissan Altima has 19.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Ford Fusion has 12 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

1Ford Fusion

—

3Nissan Altima

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford Fusion	Nissan Altima
Reliability Score	69/100	79/100
Years Tracked	3	9
Total Recalls	8	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	21.1	1.6
Annual Repair Cost	$581/yr	$483/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	12%	12%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2020 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	0 (1 tied)	2 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima?

Drivetrain trouble defines the Fusion. A cracked flex plate causes rattling at idle with no warning light, and coolant leaking into the cylinders brings white smoke and a dead engine. Owners blame the 1.5L EcoBoost. The Altima's complaints spread across safety systems: electrical fires, automatic emergency braking that stops the car for no reason, air bags that did not deploy, and tie rods that separate during turns. Only the Altima has crash-linked complaints in service brakes and air bags. The Fusion's crash-linked reports sit in power train, electrical and steering, where control arms snapped.

Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford Fusion	Nissan Altima
ENGINE	5.7Average	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	5Average	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	2.9Low	—None
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.6Low	0.3Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.5Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	0.8Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	0.2Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Fusion or Nissan Altima?

Keeping an Altima on the road costs less, at $483 a year against $581 for the Fusion. That is $98 a year, or about $490 over five years. Shop-visit frequency is identical at 0.3 unscheduled visits a year, and both carry a 12% chance that a repair is major. The averages are close, so the gap is modest. The Fusion's risk sits in the tail: many engine reports end in a full engine or short block replacement, which a yearly average does not show.

How Does Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford Fusion	Nissan Altima	Edge
2020	71/1003R / 176C	71/1006R / 162C	Tie
2019	68/1003R / 370C	72/1008R / 230C	Nissan Altima
2018	68/1002R / 429C	76/1002R / 217C	Nissan Altima

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Ford Fusion scored 71/100 and the 2018 Nissan Altima scored 76/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Ford Fusion vs the Nissan Altima?

Pick the Altima if you want the lower chance of a surprise bill. Owner complaints are rare for the number sold, and repair costs run lower. Target 2023, which is listed among its strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest. Ask whether the tie rod fastener recall applied to the VIN, since some owners say theirs was not covered. Also check that the air bag and emergency braking systems show no warning lights. Pick the Fusion only if the price is clearly lower and you can confirm the engine. Owners point to the 1.5L EcoBoost for the flex plate and coolant failures, and some report that a Ford coverage program excluded them. Of the three model years covered, 2018 is among the weakest, and 2019 appears on both the strongest and weakest lists, so judge each car on its own records. Have a shop listen for rattling at idle with the air conditioning on, and check for unexplained coolant loss before you buy.

Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima: Common Questions

Is the Nissan Altima more reliable than the Ford Fusion?: Yes, by a large gap. Both rate good, but the Altima draws 1.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, while the Fusion draws 21.1. Repair cost and shop-visit rates are close. The Fusion's engine and flex plate failures are what pull its record down.
Which has more recalls, the Altima or the Fusion?: The Altima has more in total, with 20 recalls across 9 model years. The Fusion has 8 across 3 model years. The Altima's count covers a much longer span of model years, so the totals are not a direct measure of which car is worse.
Which costs less to repair?: The Altima. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $483 a year against $581 for the Fusion, a difference of about $490 over five years. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and both have a 12% chance that a repair is major.
What is the main problem with the Ford Fusion?: Engine and drivetrain failures. Owners report a cracked flex plate that rattles at idle, often with no warning light, and coolant leaking into the cylinders that ends in engine replacement. Owners blame the 1.5L EcoBoost. Most engine reports fall between 65,000 and 96,448 miles.
Are there safety concerns with the Nissan Altima?: Yes. Altima owners report air bags that did not deploy in serious frontal crashes, tie rods that came apart during turns, and automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead. Fires are the most serious electrical pattern. Brakes and air bags have the most crash-linked complaints.

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How we score the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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