Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 14% | — |
| 2024 | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2023 | 11 | 37% | — |
| 2022 | 7 | 23% | — |
| 2021 | 21 | 30% | 17,000 miles |
| 2020 | 42 | 26% | 21,000 miles |
| 2019 | 58 | 25% | 21,000 miles |
| 2018 | 37 | 16% | 32,000 miles |
| 2017 | 27 | 7% | 29,000 miles |
| 2016 | 41 | 7% | 34,000 miles |
| 2015 | 56 | 6% | 35,000 miles |
| 2014 | 71 | 6% | 32,000 miles |
| 2013 | 159 | 7% | 40,000 miles |
| 2012 | 44 | 10% | 47,000 miles |
| 2011 | 32 | 13% | 35,000 miles |
| 2010 | 74 | 19% | 47,000 miles |
| 2009 | 466 | 30% | 78,000 miles |
| 2008 | 90 | 9% | 76,000 miles |
| 2007 | 37 | 8% | 73,000 miles |
| 2006 | 72 | 9% | 95,000 miles |
| 2005 | 97 | 9% | 70,000 miles |
| 2004 | 32 | 12% | 54,000 miles |
| 2003 | 89 | 10% | 68,000 miles |
| 2002 | 77 | 7% | 60,000 miles |
| 2001 | 19 | 12% | 54,000 miles |
| 2000 | 25 | 16% | 96,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 5% | 89,000 miles |
| 1998 | 15 | 12% | 70,000 miles |
| 1997 | 14 | 13% | 140,000 miles |
| 1996 | 11 | 12% | — |
| 1995 | 16 | 9% | 176,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
MY 2024 Nissan Altima, with approximately 13,000 miles stalled while driving in 10 degree Fahrenheit weather with snow on the road. My speed was around 45 MPH. The vehicle immediately stalled and all the lights on the dashboard went on. The warning flashed something about an engine error. The brakes seized up while in snowy weather and with cars very close behind me. Easily could have caused an accident and was a pretty scary event. The car is maintained well and have very low mileage and is taken care of well. I slowed down and then another error screen popped up saying to immediately take care for service. While I was attempted to slow down with brake pedal super hard to push; I attempted to put car in neutral with my hazard lights on by now. Car started again while I was coasting about 20 mph, with engine light showing. …
While driving, the auto spontaneously without warning has a near catastrophic failure of all systems (e.g. anti-lock brakes, emissions, control, automatic windows etc.) All warning icon lights are on the driver's front video are displayed while a central scrolling message reports all the major systems malfunctioning (as mentioned above). The auto immediately decelerates and now can no longer go faster than 20 mph. This has twice caused the car behind me to nearly read end me. When pressing on the gas pedal (which feels like pushing down on mashed potatoes) you can not affect acceleration. At any pressure the car accelerates on its own very slowly until it reaches maximum speed. It takes about 30 - 45 seconds to go from 0-20 mph. According to invoice of the repairs the "Channel Can Gateway Internal" is faulty. Yet they have failed three times to fix it. …
My car has 33,214 miles on it. For no reason the alternator DIED ON IT. There was no warning on the dash of the vehicle. So the computer inside the vehicle did not give a warning that the electrical system for the alternator had died or that the battery had died. There's no corrosion. There's no shorts. I checked the fuses myself. This car has two sets of fuses one leads to the battery. The other one is for the infotainment center inside the vehicle. It's not been tampered with. So there's an issue with the computer system and how it registers errors to the dash of the vehicle also. That is a software issue. Whenever there is an issue with the engine, the computer system is supposed to register that to take it to get service or whatever. No warning ever came. An alternator is supposed to last 100,000 miles or better on a vehicle. So I'm stranded. …
This vehicle was purchased used with 10,000 miles. Since purchase we have been experience with the battery and electrical system not functioning properly. The car is not driven much, but is started daily and run for 10 minutes when it is functioning. The car shuts down and it is necessary for us to have USAA or AAA start it, they have told us there is an electrical system problem. The car was taken to Colonial Nissan dealership in Feasterville, PA for PA state inspection and to resolve this problem. We were told "the car is not driven enough and there is no problem". The car is driven a few miles daily and has shut down again. I have contacted Nissan and they said they would get back to me to resolve this problem. I contacted them on 6/20/25 and they have not gotten back to me. …
A warning indicator comes on and flashes in my Nissan Altima 2022 I've called told them and I had a electrical short and sparked and smoke came out of my air vents and I told and told them some thing was wrong with my car if it has to do with ace line and dash why did it smoke and caught a fire in my ace dash and. I just put it out my self and no response to get my vehicle replacement under my manufacturing warranty
I've had my battery and alternator checked and both are good. Multiple times now my car has either not started until it gets a jump. Took it to a shop and was told its electrical issues. I was at my a football game for my kids out of state and my car would not start after having it off for over an hour,me n my kids were stuck for 3 hours before they got someone out to jump start the car. I take it to another shop tomorrow for additional testing. No lights have appeared and no warning before it happens.
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.
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system › Software
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Electrical system › Software
Nissan is recalling 204,361 my 2007-2008 altima, altima hybrid, 350z, 350z roadster, my 2008 altima coupe, rogue, my 2009 murano, and Infiniti my 2007-2008 g35 sedan, my 2008 g37 coupe and ex35 passenger vehicles equipped with continental automotive systems' occupant classification system (ocs) control units.
Remedy: Dealers will test the signal between the ocs and acu systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed.
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
On certain passenger vehicles that have had the body control module (BCM) replaced during service at a dealership, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) May have been inadvertently deactivated due to an issue with the dealer service software.
Remedy: Dealers will check the TPMS function and reactivate it if necessary. The recall began on January 18, 2008. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Altima years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (466), 2013 (159), 2005 (97), 2008 (90) and 2003 (89) model years. Electrical complaints make up 30% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Nissan Altima electrical problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 14V-138 (software, Mar 25, 2014); 08V-521 (software, Oct 7, 2008); 07V-599 (module, Dec 28, 2007). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Altima electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition (46 mentions), followed by the 12v/24v/48v battery (24).
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.