Research · Midsize Cars

2020 Nissan AltimaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 182 owner complaints for the 2020 Nissan Altima. Most complaints involve electrical system (46) and engine (37). The EPA rates it 29–32 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
29–32mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Jun 2025
Owner complaints
182
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,000est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Engine and engine cooling: hard parts internal

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jun 27, 2025NHTSA 25V437000

Back over prevention: camera

Free remedy

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."

Back over preventionReported Sep 8, 2023NHTSA 23V628000

Tires

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.

TiresReported Mar 11, 2021NHTSA 21V169000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

182 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2020 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system46
  2. Engine37
  3. Forward collision avoidance30
  4. Steering20
  5. Service brakes17
  6. Power train17
  7. Visibility/wiper10
  8. Air bags9
  9. Back over prevention7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Altima model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998125
199996
2000176
2001168
20021,062
2003883
2004276
20051,091
2006824
2007498
20081,031
20091,547
2010381
2011242
2012426
20132,315
20141,113
2015955
2016555
2017393
2018226
2019234
2020182
202171
202220
202330
202443
20257
20261
Crashes reported
16
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
15
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

46 reports6 fires
“I currently own a 2020 Nissan Altima with 49,186 miles and I am reporting a recurring power door lock failure. This vehicle was inspected at the Nissan of Cumming location this morning to confirm the issue. Three of the passenger-side door lock actuators have failed within a short period of time. The two rear door locks stopped working at the same time, and approximately two weeks later the front passenger door lock also stopped working. The driver's door has started to not unlock when turning the car off where it normally did up until recently. The affected doors do not respond to the interior power lock/unlock buttons or the key fob. When attempting to lock or unlock the doors electronically, I can hear the actuators attempting to operate, but the doors do not actually lock or unlock. The doors can only be locked or unlocked manually. This failure affects multiple doors and appears to be a premature component failure given the vehicle's mileage. A malfunctioning power lock system could create a safety concern if occupants are unable to quickly secure or unlock doors during an emergency situation or if electronic access is needed. I am requesting that the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11753776

Engine

37 reports1 crash2 fires
“SUBJECT: Improper Recall Remedy Denial – NHTSA Recall #25V437000 (Nissan R25A8/R25A9) Vehicle: 2020 Nissan Altima 2.0L VC-Turbo Mileage at Failure: 147,540 Incident Description: The vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic engine failure resulting in a permanent no-start condition. The vehicle had been parked normally and completely failed to start the following morning. An independent certified mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed substantial metal shavings and bearing debris in the oil pan. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Nissan dealership service department for remedy under open NHTSA Campaign #25V437000. The dealership dropped the oil pan, re-confirmed the presence of metal bearing debris, and initially acknowledged this triggered an engine replacement under the recall. The claim was submitted to Nissan corporate warranty/Powertrain Call Center (PCC). Basis of Complaint (Recall Non-Compliance): Nissan North America and the dealership have officially declined the zero-cost recall remedy mandated by federal law, demanding nearly $10,000 for an engine replacement. Nissan claims the engine failed due to "loss of compression" rather than bearing…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2026EngineODI 11772284

Forward collision avoidance

30 reports4 crashes
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the auto-braking system unexpectedly activated, and there was a grinding sound coming from the brakes; however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The ABS warning light was illuminated. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the brakes suddenly activated, and the instrument panel illuminated with a vertical yellow light. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and waited for a while before restarting the vehicle to continue driving. The failure reoccurred the following morning while driving 35 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over, turned off, and restarted to continue driving. The failure had occurred approximately 5 times. The contact stated that with the cruise control set to co-pilot, the steering and lane assist features failed to operate as intended, advising the contact to manually steer the vehicle. The failure became more persistent. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2026Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departureODI 11750330
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Altima
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
283932$2,000278
Altima SR/Platinum
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
273731$2,050288
Altima AWD
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
263530$2,150300
Altima AWD SR/Platinum
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
263429$2,200307
Altima SR/Platinum
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
253429$2,200311
  • Altima
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    28 city · 39 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Altima SR/Platinum
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    27 city · 37 hwy · $2,050/yr
    31
    mpg comb.
  • Altima AWD
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    26 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Altima AWD SR/Platinum
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    26 city · 34 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Altima SR/Platinum
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    25 city · 34 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Nissan Altima 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.2%
Overall
5 / 5
Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.2%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 14519Vehicle 14494
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2020 Altima questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Nissan Altima have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2020 Nissan Altima problems?

Owners filed 182 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (46), engine (37), forward collision avoidance (30). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2020 Nissan Altima get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Nissan Altima at 29–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

How safe is the 2020 Nissan Altima?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2020 Nissan Altima 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026