Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving home from work I experienced my fourth or fifth malfunction error flashing across my digital display. It scares me because this time is different. This time the flash made the seat vibrate and before I had a chance to react, I totally lost control Of my steering even though I had my hand family placed on each side of the wheel none of my maneuvers resulting in the tires moving in any direction. I was trying to straighten myself out but the trajectory Steered me to the right side of the road and up over the curb which tore out my front end And, had it not been for my superb braking skills, id be headfirst into a big cement hole on the side of the road. Brakes We're locked out until I pressed on them 15,000 times it seems. Fortunately I am the only one hurt, I'm grateful that no one else has been involved in this malfunction of supposed quality machinery. …
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH in a rainstorm, the automatic emergency braking system warning light illuminated, however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact continued to drive and noticed that once they cleared the rainstorm the warning light disengaged. The contact informed the dealer and was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA ID Number: 10207869 (Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the rainstorm could have caused water to enter into the sensors for the automatic emergency brake to become defective. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.
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, in the event of an emergency no one can get in because the doors dont unlock. It started with the passenger side rear door lock not working with fob or button. The lock needs to be done manually. The dealership looked at it and said they could not replicate the problem and everything was working. Now both rear door locks dont work with the buttons or the key fob. The rear doors have to be locked and unlocked manually all the time. …
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 happens without my input, without warning, and creates a major risk of being rear-ended, losing control of the vehicle, or causing a serious accident. This issue is Not minor. It is a life-threatening malfunction that makes the vehicle unsafe to operate. …
I purchased this car in April 2023 and in December 2023. I had to get a new battery when I purchased a car. They told me that there was no worries or mishaps with the vehicle they said just only normal wear and tear for is a used vehicle. My car is a 2021 Nissan Altima so the car would've been about two years old maybe or on his way to be in two years old when I got the car according to the Carfax and the information provided to me it only had one owner previously. I'm not sure what the person did with the car but the battery was bad fast-forward to 2025. 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 when the police came. My CB was still on so my car had to go. …
Got the car from kingdom Chevy on 66 and western on February 2024 used at 62.000. I took the car back twice because the screen in the car kept cutting off fading on and fading off. Secondly, the Bluetooth plug would not work. I did not have the car a month. They kept telling me that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. I took my vehicle to the dealer and was told that there were no recalls on the vehicle and that basically my car was one of the cars that got put in the bad batch. I was also told that the only recall on this car was the hood. No one could open the hood, even if I pull the latch in the car. I explained to the guy at the Nissan dealer again that the board kept cutting on and off and all he said was it was the Bluetooth. Today my car does not start without me getting a jump. …
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 occurred, but it was first noticed in summer of 2025. The components have not been inspected but could be made available for inspection if requested. Not being able to unlock doors could present an entrapment hazard in the event of a collision. The doors remaining unlocked is a safety concern as there is nothing preventing the door from potentially being opened while driving, and a security concern as the vehicle may inadvertently be left unlocked even if the lock buttons are pressed on the key fob and/or door. …
Based on comments from various post online, it is a common issue that the doors' lock on altimas with no warning or reasoning just stop working. Whatever position the lock is in, is the one that the lock will stay on even if a safety feature that's advertised and you expect is for the Altima to automatically lock up when you begin to drive. At this point my personal Altima has not been inspected or fixed by anyone, just a day to day experience of having to check my backseat before getting in to make sure no one is in the back of my car because the doors do not lock. It's been since about February that the car doors locking mechanism will not engage on two of my car doors, even if you press the lock/unlock switch inside of the door, the lock/unlock button on the key fob, nor the button on the outside of the door handle.
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 not mine specifically. I'm not sure why that is but it's an issue I'm not willing to pay out of my pocket knowing that it's been a year to model issue in the past. I would like this recall to be put in place and me be able to get it repaired free of charge seeing that it's an obvious danger while backing up and the fact I did not personally damage it.
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 situation. I've researched this and many owners of like vehicle have had this complaint and reported it, but appears that Nissan has ignored it. When my repairs are done it isn't inexpensive. Please please please!!! Look into this. Please and thank you. Tempe dodge chrysler and jeep Tempe Az is where the repairs are done. Jon [phone] service department
Electrical complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2021 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2021 Nissan Altima, 30% of the model year's 70 complaints. The component named most often is instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Nissan Altima electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2021 Nissan Altima, though it has 2 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 2021 Nissan Altima electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 17,000 miles, and 100% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to electrical 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.