Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 88/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Nissan Altima Reliability Report

The 2026 Nissan Altima has an excellent reliability standing, with no owner complaints or recalls on file and a 5-star federal crash rating.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

$483

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,000–$2,150

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Ranks first among the nine scored Altima years, with no complaints or recalls filed yet, though its record is still short.

Should You Buy the 2026 Nissan Altima?

Buy with confidence, but know the record is still short. This model year holds an excellent reliability standing, sits above average among 2026 sedans, and ranks first of the nine Altima years we score. The 2025 Altima is rated good, but it rates worse than this year.

Owners have filed no complaints so far, and federal recall records list no recalls. That leaves no symptom to warn you about. Part of that is timing, since complaints build up the longer a car is on the road. The car also earns 5 of 5 stars in federal crash testing, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $483 against $526 for the class.

Before you sign, run the VIN through federal recall records to confirm the count is still zero. If you want to compare, the 2025 has 4 complaints and 1 recall on file. On any 2025 you consider, ask for the recall record and proof the work was done.

See also the 2025 Nissan Altima for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+$43 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize cars
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (12%)
+No recalls issued

Cons

No recurring complaint themes yet.

Compare 2026 Nissan Altima With

2026 Kia K5

Reliability: 83/100

Excellent

2026 Hyundai Sonata

Reliability: 75/100

Good

2026 Honda Accord

Reliability: 87/100

Excellent

2026 Toyota Camry

Reliability: 88/100

Excellent

2026 Tesla Model 3

Reliability: 59/100

Mixed

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2026 Nissan Altima — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Nissan Altima? Check its history first

Every 2026 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

2026 Nissan Altima NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 9.2%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Nissan AltimaRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based 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

Altima

$483

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Nissan Altima Resale Value

The Nissan Altima is estimated to retain about 65.4% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Nissan Altima model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.

Value Retained: 65.4%
Depreciation: 34.6%
Listings Analyzed: 720

Listings observed in June 2026. Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.

Explore Nissan Altima depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

28–30 MPG

Running cost: $2,500–$2,650/yr

Fuel + repair

25–26 city / 33–36 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 2026 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)	26	36	30	$2,000
Altima AWD 2.5L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	25	33	28	$2,150

Best & Worst Nissan Altima Years

Best Nissan Altima Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Excellent

Nissan Altima Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Nissan Altima reliability scores by year
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
2026	88/100	Excellent

Nissan Altima Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	88/100	+10	Excellent	0	0
2025	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 2026 Nissan Altima reliable?

Yes, it has an excellent reliability standing. It is above average among 2026 sedans and ranks first of the nine Altima years we score. No owner complaints or recalls are on file, though a newer year has had less time to collect them.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Nissan Altima?

None have been reported yet. Owners have filed no complaints for this model year, so there is no pattern of symptoms to describe. Federal recall records also show no recalls. As more cars rack up miles, that picture could change, so check again before you buy.

Does the 2026 Nissan Altima have any recalls?

No. Federal recall records list zero recalls for this model year. Recalls are tied to a specific VIN, so run the car you are considering through the federal lookup to confirm nothing has been filed since. The 2025 Altima, by comparison, has one recall on file.

How much does it cost to maintain a 2026 Nissan Altima?

Independent repair-cost data estimates $483 a year in repairs, measured across the whole model. That is less than the $526 it estimates for the midsize sedan class. It is a model-wide figure, so your own costs will depend on the car's condition and history.

Is the 2026 Nissan Altima better than the 2025?

On the data, yes. The 2026 has an excellent standing and no complaints or recalls. The 2025 is rated good and rates worse, with 4 complaints and 1 recall. The 2026 has had less time on the road, so its record may grow.

Don’t buy a 2026 Nissan Altima without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2026 Nissan Altima

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Nissan Altima does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (80/100). 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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