2021 Nissan Altima Safety Report
2021 NISSAN ALTIMA Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Nissan Altima
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 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 | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (56) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 5 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance | Compare service brakes,forward collision avoidance issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2022 | Compare against the 2022 Nissan Altima with 20 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Nissan Altima | 20 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Nissan Altima | 165 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Nissan Altima | 24 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Nissan Altima | 210 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Nissan Altima | 34 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Nissan Altima | 217 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Nissan Altima Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 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.
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Nissan onlyElectrical System
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Nissan onlyForward Collision Avoidance
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Nissan onlyUnknown Or Other
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Nissan onlyEngine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Nissan onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Nissan onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Nissan Altima
Reliability Score
The 2021 Nissan Altima receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 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 2021 Nissan Altima
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Nissan Altima:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brake Malfunction Some vehicles have experienced brake malfunctions, including the vehicle breaking on its own while driving. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Malfunction The forward collision avoidance system has been reported to frequently malfunction, causing false warnings and potential safety concerns. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Issues Issues with the electrical system, including malfunctioning door locks and keyless entry, have been reported, affecting the vehicle's reliability. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Odometer Fraud A significant number of owners have reported odometer fraud, with the vehicle's odometer showing incorrect mileage at the time of purchase. |
High | 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 2021 Nissan Altima:
Issues with the brake system, including brake malfunctions and false warnings, are commonly reported.
The forward collision avoidance system has been reported to frequently malfunction, causing false warnings.
Issues with the electrical system, including malfunctioning door locks and keyless entry, are commonly reported.
Odometer fraud has been reported, with the vehicle's odometer showing incorrect mileage at the time of purchase.
Recall Details for the 2021 Nissan Altima
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Nissan Altima by NHTSA:
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for t...
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
Consequence: A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Nissan Altima
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Nissan Altima with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was determined that there was debris in the engine oil pan. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and debris was ...
Back up camera display distorted
Passenger back locks stopped working first. Then driver side back locks. Now both driver and passenger front locks will not lock/unlock automatically. This is scary when not being able to get in/out of vehicle for an emergency. I have reviewed multiple complaints and it appears this is a very common Nissan problem that needs to be addressed before it becomes a bigger safety problem.
Vehicle Breaking on Its Own While Driving I am writing to file a formal safety complaint and to demand immediate corporate intervention regarding an extremely dangerous mechanical/ADAS defect. My Nissan Altima has serious, ongoing safety issues where the vehicle will unexpectedly and aggressively apply the brakes on its own while I am driving, including on highways and regular roads. This defect h...
RE: Formal Demand for Vehicle Repurchase/ Buyback due to Critical Safety Defect- Vehicle Breaking on Its Own While Driving I am writing to file a formal safety complaint and to demand immediate corporate intervention regarding an extremely dangerous mechanical/ADAS defect in my vehicle that Nissan has failed to repair since I purchased it in 2021. My Nissan Altima has serious, ongoing safety issu...
Hi this is in reference to my 2021 Nissan altima. The fob key entry and electrical door control doesn't work. The automator for my doors have had to be replaced. First the rear passenger and five days later the rear passenger door on drivers side and now the drivers door. As a single female this is a safety issue. If I can't access my vehicle in an emergency it turns into a life or death situatio...
The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in my 2021 Nissan Altima SR frequently malfunctions. The forward radar sensor, located behind the front grille, becomes easily obstructed by normal road dirt or weather conditions. When this happens, the system falsely detects obstacles and engages braking or gives collision warnings even when the road ahead is clear. This places my safety and the safe...
The transmission is jerking while driving. it has been doing this since purchased in 2021. I have reported this several times to nissan and the consumer advisors deemed it undrivable but no on has resolved the issue.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the brakes independently activated, and the rear of the vehicle fishtailed. The contact stated an unknown warning light showing an image of the rear of the vehicle was briefly illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the driver's side front seat frame was fractured, and the seat was loose. The vehicle was take...
Rear Crash warning comes on when stopped at light , or when car is put in reverse and nothings there . also wiper refill warning. stays on even when full. Has been reported to dealership more than once also hear clicking at speeds over 50 mph.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud clicking sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fractured front driver's and passenger's side axles. The contact was informed that the driver's and passenger's side...
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 35,189 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 65,543.
About a month ago I noticed my backup camera had gotten dark. I didn’t worry much about it until it started glitching a couple days ago. I gave it a couple of days thinking it would go away but it hasn’t. It either glitches with lines through it, it freezes, or goes black altogether. I then did some research on it finding that there have been recalls on the 2021 nissan altima model cameras, just n...
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, there were abnormal sounds coming from the engine compartment. The contact inspected the vehicle and sent off an oil sample. The contact stated that a metal fragment was found in the engine oil. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fail...
Stating that something is malfunctioning and see owners manual
The contact rented a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that it felt like the brakes were inoperable. The vehicle was then taken back to the rental car agency. The vehicle was not diagnosed, and the contact was unsure if the vehicle was repaired. ...
Windshield Repair Issue I have a cracked windshield that I attempted to have repaired through my insurance company. The repair company I was sent to was unable to remove the windshield, so they referred me to Nissan, as they are the manufacturer of my vehicle. However, when I went to Nissan, I was informed that they could not remove the necessary bolts to replace my windshield without breaking my...
The backseat driver seatbelt does not click locked. The driver seat squeaks and moves. The driver door locks while trying to open.
Purchased the car in June of 2024 with around 33,000 miles. I thought the doors were locked and someone was able to just open my back door when my car was unattended in a store parking lot; the car was supposed to be locked. Lights and horn started going off. Being a female with a child this is a very scary issue. The idea that anyone can get in when you think the doors are locked or vice versa, ...
I was driving with my child in the car and the volume on the radio spiked to an extremely high level. This has happened multiple times and the volume control knob is defective so I cannot turn down the volume or the radio off. I brought the vehicle into the Nissan dealer and they diagnosed an internal failure to the A/V control unit and recommended replacing this. When the volume spikes to full...
Showing 20 of 56 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2021 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: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Opened 2023-12-13 · Closed 2025-07-18
On December 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-023 to investigate allegations of engine failures leading to loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Nissan Rogue; MY 2019-2021 Nissan Altima; and MY 2019-2021 Infiniti QX50 vehicles. At that time, ODI had received 6 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) and multiple early warning reports, with consumers reporting engine knocking noises accompanied by a loss of engine power while driving. The investigation identif...
Component: Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Opened 2022-12-16
NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates Hertz rented vehicles to customers without having performed required recall ...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Nissan Altima
Has the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
The 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA has 56 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 4 involved crashes. 2 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA involve service brakes,forward collision avoidance (8 complaints), electrical system (7 complaints), forward collision avoidance (5 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, engine, electrical system,unknown or other.
How many crash reports does the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
There are 4 crash reports associated with the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA out of 56 total complaints (7.1% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA out of 56 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
2 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA is acceptable with caveats. It has 56 complaints, 2 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 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA are: 1. SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (8 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7 complaints), 3. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (5 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), 5. ENGINE (3 complaints). SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE is the single most-reported problem area with 8 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
Be cautious of potential brake and electrical system issues, and verify the vehicle's odometer reading before purchase. The 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA has 56 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 56 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 5 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Brake Malfunction and Forward Collision Avoidance Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA?
Known issues with the 2021 NISSAN ALTIMA include: Brake Malfunction, Forward Collision Avoidance Malfunction, Electrical System Issues, Odometer Fraud. These are based on patterns found across 56 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any known issues with the 2021 Nissan Altima's brakes?
Yes, some vehicles have experienced brake malfunctions, including the vehicle breaking on its own while driving.
What are the common electrical system issues reported for the 2021 Nissan Altima?
Issues include malfunctioning door locks and keyless entry, affecting the vehicle's reliability.
Is there any concern about the odometer accuracy of the 2021 Nissan Altima?
Yes, a significant number of owners have reported odometer fraud, with the vehicle's odometer showing incorrect mileage at the time of purchase.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential brake and electrical system issues, and verify the vehicle's odometer reading before purchase.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Nissan Altima
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Nissan Altima. The data includes 56 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 4 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 2 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 Nissan Altima an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 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