2021 Nissan Altima: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2021 / nissan / altima
known issues7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-21)
complaints70 on file (2021-11-10 → 2026-09-10)
recalls2
investigations2
fars47 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Automatic emergency braking unintended activationFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, SERVICE BRAKES20 complaints2021-11 → 2026-07altima-2021-aeb-phantom-braking
  • 11542313 From the day I purchased this vehicle I have had trouble with the automatic emergency braking system. I am experiencing sudden unintended brake activation in various situations. I have experienced the emergency braking system activating when I am driving at high speeds (60-70…
  • 11684670 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…
  • 11617082 Every time I drive under an over pass my vehicle will come to a stop. Placing me in DANGER with traffic
Door lock actuator failure — remote and button non-responseLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:ELECTRONIC LOCK/LATCH ACTUATOR11 complaints2022-01 → 2026-07altima-2021-door-lock-actuator-failure
  • 11748703 Door lock actuators have failed completely on 2 doors, and intermittently on 1 door of a 2021 Nissan Altima. They do not respond to either the key fob or door button. There are no warnings or indicators associated with this component so it is unknown when the failures first…
  • 11748567 Rear door locks both do not work other than manually locking. Reported incidents online show many others have had newer Nissan vehicles like our 2021 Nissan Altima with the same issue, some have been locked in the car and had to climb out the window and others said the door…
Engine failure with metal debris in oilENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5 complaints2024-04 → 2026-05altima-2021-engine-oil-metal-contamination
  • 11736122 Dealership found metal contamination in oil pan from engine. They diagnosed as car needing a new engine due to engine failure. The car only has 90,000 miles and it’s a 2021
  • 11723560 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…
  • 11660684 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
Engine power loss and stalling while drivingPOWER TRAIN, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER5 complaints2024-06 → 2026-06altima-2021-engine-power-loss
  • 11744468 Often while driving the car loses power as if the power went off or I ran out of gas,,, studder for a moment then pick up power to continue to drive is the best way I can describe it. Immediately after I get a notification on the dashboard saying maintenance something
  • 11603901 The car has been experiencing significant power loss while driving, which I am certain is linked to a malfunctioning CVT transmission system. Despite ensuring that the transmission fluid levels are correct, the problem persists. Recently, the car lost power while I was going at…
  • 11745511 While heading west on interstate after a Drs. Appointment my wife was driving our 2021 Nissan Altima when suddenly there was a loss of power to the engine as if the engine was overheating or had loss of fuel or only able to slowly exit the freeway to a safe place and call a tow…
Backup camera distortion and display failureBACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5 complaints2024-03 → 2026-02altima-2021-backup-camera-malfunction
  • 11576178 The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera malfunctioned and images were displayed distorted at times or black and blue, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined
  • 11661395 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…
  • 11719304 Back up camera display distorted
Air bag non-deployment in crashAIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER3 complaints2023-09 → 2026-06altima-2021-airbag-non-deployment
  • 11567063 On 10/26/23 at 5:00 pm I was involved in an accident I was hit on the front passenger side and none of the airbags deployed I do remember that right on impact immediately my chest started hurting I also hit my head on the driver side window
  • 11746502 I was hit by a F150 truck. I got T-bone I had to go to the hospital, etc. it was a pretty bad hit. My windows were cracked or excuse me broken and my airbags were not deployed. No airbag was deployed. I did have my seatbelt on
Steering linkage tie rod and suspension clickingSERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION, STEERING4 complaints2023-05 → 2026-07altima-2021-steering-tie-rod-suspension
  • 11749536 When I make a turn, I hear a clicking noise and also when I come to a complete stop, I can a sound that sounds like a grunting noise. I had new brakes, rotors and brand new tires put on in 2025. I think my ball joints and tie rod is defective
  • 11547535 My car has a detached tie rod ball joint and is causing a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash. My children are in danger yet your site says my vin has no safety recall after I reviewed the safety recall for my vehicle and noticed a connection
  • 11666708 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…

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
702021-11-102026-09-1071FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE:22; SERVICE BRAKES:21; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:21; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:12; STEERING:7

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
21V13800004/03/2021STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLYNissan 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.A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.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.
23V62800008/09/2023BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERANissan 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."A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.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 this recall is R23C3.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
AQ22003openHertz/Vehicles Rented with Open RecallsLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH2022-12-16··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 repairs. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.
PE23023closedComplete loss of motive power due to engine failureENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL2023-12-132025-07-1825V437On 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 identified bearing failures in certain vehicles equipped with the subject 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202447legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2021 Nissan Altima vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/nissan/altima
@misc{wrenchpro_2021_nissan_altima_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2021 Nissan Altima},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/nissan/altima}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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