Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 14% | — |
| 2024 | 5 | 12% | 80,000 miles |
| 2022 | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2020 | 6 | 4% | 25,000 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% | 30,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2017 | 18 | 5% | 64,000 miles |
| 2016 | 29 | 5% | 32,000 miles |
| 2015 | 63 | 7% | 58,000 miles |
| 2014 | 52 | 5% | 55,000 miles |
| 2013 | 134 | 6% | 52,000 miles |
| 2012 | 33 | 8% | 50,000 miles |
| 2011 | 27 | 11% | 50,000 miles |
| 2010 | 30 | 8% | 62,000 miles |
| 2009 | 90 | 6% | 60,000 miles |
| 2008 | 312 | 30% | 65,000 miles |
| 2007 | 27 | 6% | 78,000 miles |
| 2006 | 221 | 27% | 100,000 miles |
| 2005 | 351 | 32% | 103,000 miles |
| 2004 | 42 | 15% | 114,000 miles |
| 2003 | 126 | 14% | 110,000 miles |
| 2002 | 128 | 12% | 100,000 miles |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% | 38,000 miles |
| 2000 | 5 | 3% | 185,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 5% | 160,000 miles |
| 1998 | 6 | 5% | 140,000 miles |
| 1997 | 8 | 7% | 169,000 miles |
| 1996 | 4 | 4% | — |
| 1995 | 4 | 2% | 42,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Altima. While driving for Uber, a customer alerted the contact of an abnormally strong odor in the rear seats of the vehicle. The contact later discovered that there was white mold inside the trunk of the vehicle and the spare tire compartment which was caused by the filament used to seal the liners in the trunk and rear seats. The contact was concerned about the health risk. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Yesterday at around 9:10 AM I was driving home southbound on the New Jersey Parkway around exit 89. It was a clear day. It was about 43 , the sun was out. I was doing the speed limit which was 65 mph. I heard a loud bang and then my moonroof spontaneously exploded and all of the glass fell on me and in the car, luckily I was not hurt. I leased this vehicle a little over two years ago. Ever since I have driven it, I have stated to the dealership in writing and on the phone that I feel it is not right and unsafe. I have had three Popped tires in under a year , granted they were from potholes, but I have been complaining about the tires. I have said repeatedly they don't feel right there is something wrong with them and they're not even safe for the road because if you hit anything, it immediately pops out the side wall. They are clearly too thin, and not safe for driving even locally. …
Tie rod ball joint snapped and broke at 15mph causing vehichle to loose control and forced off-road into a fence post. No Collison warning or lane departure warning. I had the vehichle towed back to dealership Nissan Wesley chapel. I was in process of possibly purchasing vehichle. Couldn't find financing for me so received a letter rescinding their transaction. My ins agency Esurance concluded it a tota loss. Never heard back from Nissan or my ins. agency on what caused it to break. Everytime I asked I was never given a response. I have several photos of vehichle and found a recall for tie rod and ball joint fasteners on same make and year. Would like some answers to this safety issue being if I was going faster I could have been killed. 2 days prior to accident began hearing clicking noise when going over speed bump. …
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the grille shutter needed to be replaced. The contact stated that she replaced the grille shutter herself. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. The VIN was unavailable.
I'm driving on expressway going southbound with no traffic & out of no where the hood jumps open, the result of that resulted in the windshield being cracked also the sunroof. The glass from sunroof came Shattered & hit me & my daughter forehead leaving glass inside the car. These was a traumatic experience, and actually my very first Nissan.
Back in the July I got into a rear end collision, the emergency braking should have kicked in but it did not. Since then, the emergency braking has applied multiple times in the open by itself with no cars ahead or in view. It makes me very nervous to drive this. It has happened both on city streets and the highway. I tried telling the Nissan dealership and they have no knowledge and are not willing to work with me for failure and damages.
The driver's side door lock actuator stopped working around June 2024. Haven't replaced it yet, but bought another part. Read where others are having same issue. Just in the last couple of weeks, around June 15th, 2025, my rear driver's side door actuator stopped working as well. I have to crfrawl in from the other side and unlock the doors. Safety issue since the doors do not lock or unlock.
Brought vehicle to peters Nissan in nashua n.h. On October 10th with 7,000 miles on it due to hearing a popping sound coming from the right front to hear the sound it would be turning the steering wheel and accelerating, go over bumps putting any kind of flex on that right front. Tech found out after calling tech line that I have structural damage to the right front strut tower and hood holder which came from factory like this. Stated that the body mounts where letting go and the welds have separated and explained that if one machine was not or out of calibration at the manufacture that this could be the problem but also that it could be other issues underline that we don't see. Fix is to bring to body shop to have structural pieces replaced. I was then also told that I could have continuous problems because it's structural. I did not feel safe in this vehicle. …
Related recalls (3)
Structure › Emergency › Escape/egress/exit
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019.
Structure
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 altima vehicles manufactured from April 7, 2010 through April 13, 2010. Some of the front side member assembly components May not have been welded to specification due to a tool maintenance error.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary repair free of charge. The safety recall began on May 13, 2010. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Structure › Body › Door
Nissan is recalling 225 my 2009 altima vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 214, "side impact protection." these vehicles May have been manufactured with an out-of-specification weld on the door assembly.
Remedy: All the affected vehicles have been brought back from the dealerships and remedied at the factory. No vehicles had been retailed.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Altima years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (351), 2008 (312), 2006 (221), 2013 (134) and 2002 (128) model years. Body complaints make up 32% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Nissan Altima body problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 18V-915 (escape/egress/exit, Dec 19, 2018); 10V-193 (structure, May 7, 2010); 09V-006 (door, Jan 9, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Altima body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (1,198 mentions), followed by the frame and members › underbody shields (44).
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.