2016 Nissan Altima · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 61owner reports
- 66,689median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Jun 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
320 of the 553 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 61 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 61 reports
Stalling on other Altima years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Altima
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure. Closed jul 18, 2025, led to recall 25V-437.
Engine compartment fire. Closed jun 27, 2007, led to recall 07V-267.
Engine stall - crank position sensor. Closed jul 18, 2006, led to recall 06V-242.
Engine compartment fires. Closed mar 25, 2003, led to recall 03V-084.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 39,400 and 84,000 miles, from the 39 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My daughter was driving down the road and came to a 2-wayy stop. Went to pull out and the car stalled and started shuddering. On down the road leaving a red light it did the same thing and not wanting to really go.”
Filed Jun 16, 2026
“The ASCD Switch failed while traveling > 60mph. The car lost all acceleration down to ~ 5 MPH. The car lost power to the steering.”
Filed Jul 21, 2023
“When you are driving down the road and come to a stop the car will stall and not go like it is not shifting! The check engine light comes on sometimes sometimes it donât. It may get up to 40 mph when this happens sometimes it might not go at all!”
Filed Aug 1, 2022
“The car stalls out when driving. Gas is engaged but car will not move. Jerks, bumps. Within a few seconds, car resumes movements but jerks.”
Filed Mar 9, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 61 reports involved a crash and 4 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 85 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 70 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 40 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 37 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 31 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 26 reports