Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 4% | 2,000 miles |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% | 45,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% | 45,000 miles |
| 2018 | 12 | 5% | 59,000 miles |
| 2017 | 14 | 4% | 78,000 miles |
| 2016 | 22 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2015 | 44 | 5% | 77,000 miles |
| 2014 | 31 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2013 | 60 | 3% | 57,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% | 22,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 1% | 50,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 0% | 42,000 miles |
| 2008 | 7 | 1% | 77,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% | 50,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 0% | 106,000 miles |
| 2005 | 7 | 1% | 30,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2003 | 4 | 0% | 108,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 0% | 86,000 miles |
| 1998 | 3 | 2% | 43,000 miles |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1995 | 4 | 2% | 105,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact rented a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the driver's side door was locked and failed to open with the door handle or the key fob. The contact was able to exit the vehicle through the passenger's side window. The contact was also unable to open the door from the outside. The contact had to use the key to unlock the door. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
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 unlocked and opened while driving. This is a big concern for me as a mom who has a son driving this car, the entire reason was that the safety ratings were good on this AWD full size 2021 vehicle. We bought it certified pre-owned from the Nissan dealership 2 years ago (2024) and after 1 year, both locks stopped working unless locked manually. The actuators should now have stopped working with a car only 4 years old at the time. Now is it 5 years old, still very new, and the safety issues I've read others have had is very concerning. …
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the hood latch inadvertently unlatched, and the hood raised up and fell onto the windshield and cracked the windshield. The contact was able to drive a short distance to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the windshield was replaced. The contact stated that she was informed by the Insurance provider that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the contact never received the recall notification letter. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
While driving at regular road speeds, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic safety component failure. The primary hood latch disengaged, and the secondary safety backup latch failed to catch or secure the hood. This caused the hood to violently slam completely open against the front windshield without warning, instantly and totally obscuring forward vision while the vehicle was in motion. This failure created an immediate, extreme crash risk for the vehicle occupants and other drivers on the road. Prior to the incident, there were absolutely no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or audible symptoms indicating a problem with either latch mechanism. The failed latch mechanism and the damaged vehicle have been safely preserved and are fully available for a complete inspection upon request. …
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linnkages) for the hood latch and was taken to the dealer, who completed the remedy on June 3, 2025. After the remedy had been completed, while decelerating and coming to a stop at approximately 20 MPH, the hood of the vehicle suddenly lifted, hitting the windshield, causing it to fracture in many places, with some pieces of glass completely detaching. The rear-view mirror had detached as a result. The contact received many cuts from the glass. The contact contacted the police and later filed a police report. The vehicle was towed to a friend's home. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who had not diagnosed the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 242,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine maintenance, it was discovered that the hood could not be opened. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who confirmed that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA recall campaign number 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, no repairs were performed. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 78,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, the hood latch assembly failed to secure causing damage to the windshield. As a result, he lost visibility and crashed into a guardrail. There were no warning lights illuminated. A police report was not filed. There were no reported injuries. The air bags did not deploy. The contact closed the hood and secured it closed using a rope he had in the vehicle. The vehicle was still drivable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who sent an inspector, and informed him the additional repairs were at his expense. The manufacturer was unsure if the vehicle was going to be repaired free of charge or at the contacts expense. …
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the hood unlatched, opened, and struck the windshield. The contact stated that the windshield was cracked and was partially broken with shattered pieces falling off. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. The contact stated upon attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact's friends arrived at the scene and assisted the contact in jumpstarting the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the hood was severely bent and would not properly close. The vehicle was then taken to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. A case was opened. …
Related recalls (6)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owner's Manual addendum card with instructions on how to…
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Remedy: These vehicles were previously included in recalls 14V-565 and 15V-116, however the previous remedy plan may not have been performed consistently to remove the safety risk.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel.
Show 1 more recall
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to February 28, 2013. In the affected vehicles, interference between the hood inner panel and the secondary latch lever, in combination with debris and corrosion, may cause the secondary hood latch to bind…
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel.
NHTSA investigations
Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Altima years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (60), 2015 (44), 2014 (31), 2016 (22) and 2017 (14) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Nissan Altima door lock & latch problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 26V-023 (latch, Jan 20, 2026); 20V-315 (latch, May 28, 2020); 17V-040 (latch, Jan 18, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Altima door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hood › latch (90 mentions), followed by the doors › latch (23).
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.