Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the fuel gauge indicated that there was no fuel in the fuel tank. The contact drove to the gas station and refueled; however, the fuel gauge failed to provide the fuel level inside the fuel tank. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Parts store to have the vehicle diagnosed. The employee retrieved a diagnostic trouble code related to a fuel level sensor failure. The contact was informed that the sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that after retrieving the vehicle following an engine repair, the fuel gauge was inoperable. The contact refueled the vehicle however, a week later the fuel gauge had not moved. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that fuel sensing unit located in the gas tank had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,701.
Car loses power while driving on highways or roads and had nearly cost me my life on occasion where the vehicle cannot complete a turn from loss of power and I cannot proceed and obstruct oncoming vehicle paths. It has also revved up out of the blue to 6000-7000 RPMs despite a holding steady pace on the gas pedal. The speed jolts and has nearly caused me to rear end unsuspecting vehicles. Sometimes the vehicle cannot accelerate and has NO POWER after coming to a full stop at a red light or stop sign. I have been unable to receive help for any of these issues despite many diagnoses and lots of money spent. And it was not made aware to me, an owner of a Nissan Altima vehicle that there is a known probability of failure with CVTs in use in Altima's of my hear. …
When I am stopped at a light or in stop and go traffic my car will not accelerate when I put my foot on the gas pedal. I can push it all the way to the floor and my car will not move. It takes about 10 seconds or so then my car will jolt quickly and finally go. I have also had issues with the RPM's shooting up while I am driving at a low rate of speed. This has happened maybe 3 times and I have to pull over and turn my vehicle off then turn it back on and then it seems to drive normally. This issue started several months ago and at first it was just occasionally. Now it is more frequent and happens anytime I am driving. If I turn my car off then turn it back on it seems to correct the issue briefly. I have found myself while stopped in traffic just turning my car off then back on because I am in fear of it happening. …
I believe The failure that i'm experiencing is with the vehicle's transmission. The car stalls or refuses to shift gears, has trouble accelerating, and when the car is trying to accelerating the car makes an unfamiliar noise which is quiet loud and noticeable and sometimes shake or full on just pushes forward randomly. I believe the safety for mine and others can be at risk at times because they would be times where the car will not accelerate, even when your foot is pushed all the way on the pedal and as a result the car begins to slow down. This is can be risk depending on where you're driving for an example if you're on the highway or a congested area going at a specified speed. …
I have a 2016 Nissan Altima 3.5 Sr I brought into the Nissan dealership multiple times since 2022 now in 2025 at 100,000 miles to transmission is not working it's dying at intersections and oil is pouring out of the engine I was told that there was a recall that expired in April of 2023 however I was never notified about the recall despite taking my car to the Nissan dealership prior to that date no one ever said that there was a problem with the CVT I've stored my car multiple years because I'm a veteran and I had to deploy so it wasn't driven as much and now that's crossed 100,000 miles it's on its last leg this isn't fair the 2019 models are getting recalled they should fix mine I've taken care of this car and now they're trying to deny me my mobility I'm a retiree I don't have that much money the last time I took it to the dealership they said I needed a new engine never once …
I just purchased this vehicle with 93,000 miles and good condition. A warning or indicator light never comes on but sporadically I will be driving around 40-50mph & if I let off of the gas something happens where no matter how hard or fast I press the accelerator the car looses power. I can press the accelerator all the way to the floor & still not speed up. The car will slowly decrease speed until about 30mph or either I have to take my foot off of the accelerator totally & press hard about 1/4 on the accelerator to regain power. It feels like the pressure behind the accelerator disappears when all of this happens. There is no dimming of lights or anything obvious. It happens when my Mom drives also. I have lost power trying to pass a car or turn with oncoming traffic ahead. It scares me.
After driving the vehicle for about an hour, when coming to a stop, the vehicle will not accelerate. Stepping in the acceleration pedal does nothing. No RPM increase, nothing. After 10 seconds the vehicle suddenly takes off. After angry drivers honk. The RPMS rev up and will not decrease to normal. I am limited to 25 mph with very high RPMs. Same thing repeats after every stop. The problem goes away intermittently after restarting the car. I've almost died trying to make turns in front of oncoming traffic when it will not accelerate.
After the car warms up it will not accelerate like it should. I was stopped at a light - when I went to turn left at the light my car would not accelerate. It slowly rolled out into oncoming traffic. Like it was in limp mode or something. Then at the last minute the car jolted forward like I had the gas pedal fully depressed. Very scary and unsafe. I've had this happen many times. I've taken it in but haven't found a solution.
Car will not accelerate or moved after stopping at red light..even after pressing the pedal all the way to the floor..very dangerous situation..some one is going to get hurt or kill...Nissan needs to recall because almost every nissan altima experience the same problem..very scary and dangerous situation it happens every day now..car will not move at all or sometimes very slow..please help..Dealers are no help at all
Fuel System complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2016 Nissan Altima, 5% of the model year's 554 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Nissan Altima fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2016 Nissan Altima, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Nissan Altima fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.