Last updated: 2026-04-20
2025 Nissan Altima Reliability Report
The 2025 Nissan Altima scores 78/100 ("Good"). With 1 recall and 4 owner complaints, reliability is acceptable but not class-leading.
Recalls
1
Complaints
4
Complaint Rate
0.4per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$483
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,950–$2,150
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Acceptable reliability — worth considering with a pre-purchase inspection.
Top Issues to Watch
- VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)
- BACK OVER PREVENTION (1)
- AIR BAGS (1)
Should You Buy the 2025 Nissan Altima?
At 78/100, the 2025 Nissan Altima lands in "Good" territory — acceptable, but not class-leading.
Owners log 4 complaints on this model year — enough to suggest attention is needed, but no single failure mode dominates yet.
Get a pre-purchase inspection on any used example, with extra attention to visibility wiper (1). An extended warranty is worth pricing out.
Compared to the 2026 Nissan Altima. See also the 2024 Nissan Altima for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$43 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize cars
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (12%)
Cons
- −VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1)
Compare 2025 Nissan Altima With
2025 Chevrolet Malibu
Reliability: 80/100
2025 Toyota Camry
Reliability: 76/100
2025 KIA K5
Reliability: 79/100
2025 Honda Accord
Reliability: 84/100
2025 Hyundai Sonata
Reliability: 76/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2025 Nissan Altima carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
0.4
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 1.9
Safety Incidents
1
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2025 Nissan Altima Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2025 Nissan Altima. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Consequence
A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 28, 2026.
Buying a used 2025 Nissan Altima? Check its history first
Every 2025 Nissan Altima has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2025 Nissan Altima NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 9.2%
Safety Technologies
Nissan AltimaRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$483
vs $526 avg for midsize cars
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.3
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
12%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
28–31 MPG
Running cost: $2,450–$2,650/yr
Fuel + repair
25–27 city / 34–38 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2025 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altima 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 27 | 38 | 31 | $1,950 |
| Altima SL/SR 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,000 |
| Altima AWD 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 25 | 34 | 28 | $2,150 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Nissan Altima.
Inspect windshield for unexplained cracks
Test rear view camera for clarity and brightness at night
Verify back-over prevention camera image quality
Check airbag deployment system functionality
Ensure seats are securely attached and inspect for damage
2025 Nissan Altima Common Problems by Component
4 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 complaintMy car was parked in a driveway for 1 hour and when going to approach my car from that 1 hour of leaving I came back to my front windshield cracked in the center , crack did start from the bottom and go up , no forced trauma , no sign of rock or pebble hit , no sign of any issue on a ring camera within that 1 hour of sitting .
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaintRear view camera visibility is not clear and brightness at night makes it difficult to see at night. I made appointment with Nissan dealer to check camera. Dealer agreed that camera was not clear and much to bright at night. Dealer said they checked with other Altimms that had same troubles with camera. Dealer said there is nothing they can do. dealer said maybe wait for a manufactures download to correct problem. Well it's been nine months and no downloads or call from dealer. This is definitely a safety hazzard.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2025 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the back-over prevention camera failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the image appeared blurry and distorted. The contact stated that it was difficult to identify a human from an object because of the failure. The vehicle was taken to two dealers, where it was confirmed that the images appeared blurry and distorted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 145.
AIR BAGS (1 complaints)
AIR BAGS
1 complaintSafety-relatedA tractor trailer hit my vehicle from behind/driver side rear in snowy road conditions and then jackknifed causing my vehicle to spin out of control across the interstate. My 2 children were in the backseat, my [XXX] son driver side rear & [XXX] daughter passenger rear. My husband was in front passenger seat. No air bags deployed, the vehicle was a total loss, we almost got killed. The impact was mainly on the driver side rear where the initial impact happened & my son’s seat was pushed up & completely detached from the rest of the vehicle and yet his SRS Side Airbag never deployed. Please see images below of the air bags not deploying . If that tractor trailer hit us 2 inches different, my son would be dead right now. There were injuries and we were seen by EMS on scene & then the hospital later. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When Do 2025 Nissan Altima Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Nissan Altima Years
Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.
Best Nissan Altima Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe best Nissan Altima year is 2023 with a reliability score of 84/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2022 (83/100) and 2024 (82/100).
Nissan Altima Years to Avoid
The worst Nissan Altima year is 2020 with a score of 71/100, primarily due to electrical system (33) issues. Also avoid 2019 (72/100).
Nissan Altima Reliability Score Trend
Nissan Altima reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 82/100 compared to 75/100 for older years.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 83/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 84/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 78/100 | Good |
Nissan Altima Reliability Compared to Other Years
| Year | Score | vs Prior Year | Rating | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 81/100 (predicted) | — | Predicted | 0 | 0 |
| 2025(selected) | 78/100 | -4 | Good | 1 | 4 |
| 2024 | 82/100 | -2 | Excellent | 1 | 31 |
| 2023 | 84/100 | +1 | Excellent | 0 | 24 |
| 2022 | 83/100 | +4 | Excellent | 0 | 20 |
| 2021 | 79/100 | +8 | Good | 2 | 53 |
| 2020 | 71/100 | -1 | Good | 6 | 162 |
| 2019 | 72/100 | -4 | Good | 8 | 230 |
| 2018 | 76/100 | — | Good | 2 | 217 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 Nissan Altima reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Nissan Altima?
How many recalls does the 2025 Nissan Altima have?
Is the 2025 Nissan Altima expensive to maintain?
Don’t buy a 2025 Nissan Altima without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Nissan Altima.
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