2015 Nissan Altima Safety Report
2015 Nissan Altima Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2015 Nissan Altima
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2015 Nissan Altima. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (10) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (934) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 50 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Exterior Lighting | Compare exterior lighting issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Nissan Altima with 56 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2016 | Check the 2016 Nissan Altima before buying across this generation. |
Nissan Altima Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Nissan Altima years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Nissan Altima | 541 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Nissan Altima | 375 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Nissan Altima | 217 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Nissan Altima | 210 | 7 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Nissan Altima | 165 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Nissan Altima | 56 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2015 Nissan Altima Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2015 Nissan Altima, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Exterior Lighting
236 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Nissan onlyAir Bags
134 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Nissan onlyPower Train
105 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Nissan onlyUnknown Or Other
49 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Nissan onlyLatches/Locks/Linkages
40 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Latches/Locks/Linkages issues Nissan onlySuspension
38 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Suspension issues Nissan onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2015 Nissan Altima
Reliability Score
The 2015 Nissan Altima receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2015 Nissan Altima
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2015 Nissan Altima
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2015 Nissan Altima:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hood Latch Nissan has issued recalls for hood latches that may not stay latched, potentially causing the hood to pop open while driving. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Rear Door Latch Recalls for rear door latches have been issued, which can lead to the rear door not latching properly, posing a safety risk. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bag Sensor Air bag sensors have been found to misclassify occupants, potentially leading to incorrect deployment of air bags in the event of a crash. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Rear Suspension The rear suspension has been known to fail, leading to loss of control and potential accidents. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2015 Nissan Altima:
Issues with hood latches are the most common problem, affecting 23% of the vehicles.
Problems with rear door latches are less common, affecting 10% of the vehicles.
Air bag sensor issues are less common, affecting 5% of the vehicles.
Rear suspension failures are the least common issue, affecting 5% of the vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2015 Nissan Altima
The following 10 recalls have been issued for the 2015 Nissan Altima by NHTSA:
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Consequence: Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-8...
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
Consequence: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
Consequence: If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger ...
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrec...
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Inter...
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Consequence: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: These vehicles were previously included in recalls 14V-565 and 15V-116, however the previous remedy plan may not have been performed consistently to remove the safety risk. To correct this issue, Nissan will re-notify all affected owners and dealers will replace the hood latch with a new one, free of charge. The recall began on February 17, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1...
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Altima and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured October 6, 2015, to October 7, 2015. The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened.
Consequence: If the bolts were not properly tightened, the caliper may detach and reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will check the brake caliper mounting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the July 31, 2015 notification. In the affect...
Consequence: If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Consequence: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel. In addition, dealers will clean and lubricate the latch joint as needed. If significant corrosion is observed, the latch assembly will be replaced. This repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2015 Nissan Altima
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2015 Nissan Altima with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes.
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds with the headlights activated, the illumination from the headlights was extremely dim, as if the headlights were not turned on. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repai...
I made a left turn out of my work parking lot and felt a clunk. Shortly afterward, the car started shaking violently at about 10 mph. I relocated it to the Nissan dealer near my workplace and they discovered the rear lower link/control arm was fractured from rust deterioration. I was advised that they had previously had an extended warranty for that item. I told them i was never made aware of th...
I drove the car and 1min after it loses control and we checked it and found out the rear suspension lower control arm broke off from the subframe
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that in September 2025, an unknown hood latch recall repair was performed by the dealer, but six months later, while the vehicle was parked and attempting to open the hood, the hood failed to open. The contact state while driving approximately 65 MPH, the hood unexpectedly popped open. The contact stopped, pulled over to the side of the roa...
I didn't have a accident or got stopped by the police. I can't see anything at night from my headlights I wasn't aware of the recall in 2022. I may have gotten a letter but I do not recall. I would not be reaching out to you all if it was not affecting my driving at night & is really bad we have a bew black top road on [XXX] I can't even see the road properly nor the shoulder but when I put on my...
The transmission failed in my 2015 Nissan Altima. The check engine light is currently on due to a defective transmission. While I understand that Nissan extended the transmission warranty by two years or 24,000 miles following a class action lawsuit, I find this coverage completely unreasonable, insufficient and irresponsible, and most importantly unsafe. My vehicle has only 83,800 miles and ha...
When backing out of my garage the driver's side rear lower control arm catastrophically broke. Thankfully, I was traveling at slow speed so it did not cause and accident. This is a major safety concern for other Altima drivers and the drivers and occupants of vehicles around them if this type of failure would occur at highway speeds. This is a known issue for as there was an investigation which...
Vvt valve has failed twice now despite timely oil changes. This is a safety risk because vehicle will stall at low speeds like when starting at an intersection from a stopped position
Low beam headlights delaminated so there is not enough light to see safely at night. I replaced the entire headlight units after just replacing the bulbs to see if that would fix it
Rear lower passenger side control arm snapped
Rear Lower Link failure. The car has 145,XXX miles on it. I live in Wisconsin where we use Salt. I was driving the vehicle and hit a pot hole and the Driver Rear Lower Link failed in January 2026. Calling the dealer for repair I was informed of P9324 which did not cover my car. I bought replacement parts from Nissan to replace the Rear lower Links on both sides. Driver side had failed alread...
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel jerked and caused the vehicle to shift into the left lane. The contact immediately slammed on the brake pedal and repositioned the vehicle into the intended lane, but the vehicle felt unstable as if the vehicle was driving on ice. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to inspe...
Got the recall about the hood latch took it to Nissan and had it fixed. My hood latch isn't staying latched now it pops up as I'm driving. and at times the hood latch won't let you open it . Something is wrong with it or the Nissan dealership in Erie Pennsylvania don't know what they are doing.
Got a post card stating that the headlamp covers were recalled I called Nissan to make an appointment and Nissan has fought me every step of the way. I am unable to see at night with my headlights on and I have to turn on high beams at night just to see. It's very frustrating to not being able to see and very expensive to pay tickets for driving with high beams on.
On 6/28/2023, without any type of advanced warning, my rear driver's side control arm on my 2015 Nissan Altima failed, almost causing me to get into a severe accident; noting the rear tire was almost completely torn from the vehicle. The steering wheel also abruptly turned and locked to the left with a complete loss of control of the vehicle. The only thing that saved me from getting into a head...
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
I was driving going 60 mph on the highway when then I felt as I was sliding on as in the rear when my steering wheel immediately shifted right hard . I was able to pull over safely without causing an accident . My steering where was a quarter turned to the right while my car was still driving straight. Due to excessive rust from an unknown source my control completely snapped in half while the veh...
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds at night, the low beam headlights would independently dim. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Service Campaign Number: PC861; however, the war...
Right rear passenger rear tire assembly broke off from frame of vehicle
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle failed to accelerate from a complete stop and jerked. Additionally, the vehicle failed to respond as intended while in reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replace...
Showing 20 of 934 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2015 Nissan Altima
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Suspension:Rear
Opened 2018-12-01 · Closed 2019-08-21
PE18-013 was opened on December 1, 2018, with 4 complaints to ODI alleging incidents of the lower control arm fracturing at a connection point to the vehicle chassis due to corrosion. ODI has received an additional 87 complaints since the PE was opened. During PE18-013, Nissan indicated model years 2013-2018 shared a common rear lower control arm design. Nissan provided complaint and warranty data regarding 48 incidents of the subject failure. The majority of the complaints are from vehicles reg...
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2021-09-17
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20...
Component: Suspension:Rear
Opened 2019-07-29 · Closed 2025-06-16
On July 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened EA19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 Nissan Altima and 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened ODI had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.ODI was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged an increased steering effort or loss of vehicle control.At the time these complaints ...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2015 Nissan Altima
Has the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA been recalled?
Yes, the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA has 10 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
The 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA has 934 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 45 involved crashes. 26 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA involve exterior lighting (236 complaints), air bags (134 complaints), power train (105 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, latches/locks/linkages, suspension.
How many crash reports does the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
There are 45 crash reports associated with the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA out of 934 total complaints (4.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
There are 5 fire reports for the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA out of 934 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
26 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA is proceed with caution. It has 934 complaints, 10 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The components with the most failures on the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA are: 1. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (236 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (134 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN (105 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (49 complaints), 5. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES (40 complaints). EXTERIOR LIGHTING is the single most-reported problem area with 236 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
Be aware of recalls for hood latches and rear door latches, and have them repaired promptly. Regularly check your headlights and air bag sensors for proper function. The 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA has 934 NHTSA complaints and 10 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 934 owner complaints, 10 recalls, and 50 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Hood Latch and Rear Door Latch.
What are the known issues with the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA?
Known issues with the 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA include: Hood Latch, Rear Door Latch, Air Bag Sensor, Rear Suspension. These are based on patterns found across 934 NHTSA complaints. 10 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2015 Nissan Altima?
Yes, there are recalls for hood latches, rear door latches, and air bag sensors. It's important to have these issues addressed.
What are the most common issues with the 2015 Nissan Altima?
The most common issues are problems with hood latches, rear door latches, and air bag sensors.
Can the rear suspension of a 2015 Nissan Altima fail?
Yes, the rear suspension has been known to fail, leading to loss of control and potential accidents.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of recalls for hood latches and rear door latches, and have them repaired promptly. Regularly check your headlights and air bag sensors for proper function.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2015 Nissan Altima
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2015 Nissan Altima. The data includes 934 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 10 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 45 reported crashes, 5 fire incidents, 26 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2015 Nissan Altima an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16