Sixth generation (L34)
2020 Nissan Altima
The most reported problem on the 2020 Nissan Altima is false collision warning, with 19 complaints.
- 179owner complaints
- 6recalls
- 16involved a crash
- 35,000median miles at failure
Newest report Aug 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2020 Nissan Altima has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2020 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2020 Nissan Altima has 179 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 201 for 2020 sedans on this site. Of the 11 Altima model years since 2014, it has the 7th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2019 and 2021
- At 26 complaints for each year on the road, the 2020 runs close to the 2019 (29) and 2.2 times the 2021 (12).
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. False collision warning has 19 complaints and brake wear has 18, out of 179 in all. Too few of the false collision warning reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 23 of the 179 complaints (13%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 16 reports mention a crash, 7 mention a fire and 15 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 5 of 16, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 6 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 37, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 21 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out, 19 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
179 complaints is 1.2 times fewer than the median 2020 model on this site and about the median for a 2020 sedan. Among the 9 Altima model years here it ranks 7th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2020 Nissan Altima
Nissan filed 148 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2020 Nissan Altima. 23 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 6 bulletins · 15 complaints
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the ...
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
4 more on this problem
RAB WARNING LIGHT ON IN INSTRUMENT PANEL AND/OR DTC B2724-23 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states an RAB warning light in the instrument panelâs information display is ON (Figure 1), AND/OR DTC B2724-23 (SONAR CONTROL UNIT - SONAR ECU INTERNAL FAILURE [UNDER VOLTAGE]) is stored.
2019-2020 ALTIMA; VOLUME KNOB DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states the speaker volume does not change or changes erratically when rotating the volume knob. ACTION 1. Rotate the volume knob rapidly two times, for a total of 60-seconds, to remove contaminate build-up. 2.
ALTIMA, KICKS AND VERSA SEDAN; MIL ON WITH DTC B26FE IF YOU CONFIRM ï· A âKey System Errorâ message is displayed on the combination meter, And ï· DTC B26FE (IPDM - KEY SYSTEM ERROR) is stored in the BCM. ACTION 1.
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored And OCS zero point reset cannot be performed And The following screen displays: ACTION 1.
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 3 bulletins · 12 complaints
FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states they have experienced false activation and/or unexpected braking of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, AND There are no related DTCs stored.
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING
1 more on this problem
REAR AUTOMATIC BRAKING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND/OR DTC C1B56-04 AND/OR C1B56-97 STORED IN THE ADAS CONTROL UNIT
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 1 bulletin · 11 complaints
DTC P17F0, P17F1, P0776, P2813 AND/OR P0841 STORED IN THE TCM IF YOU CONFIRM One or more of the following DTCs are stored: P0776, P2813, P0841, P17F0, P17F1 HINT: ï· If DTCs other than those listed above are stored, this bulletin does not apply.
Windshield cracks or distorts 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
WINDSHIELD CRACKING
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE
Airbag warning light or recall 2 bulletins · 9 complaints
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed,
DTC B00A0-00 STORED
Check engine light or misfire 8 bulletins · 7 complaints
DTC P0404 STORED IN THE ECM AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 32°F IF YOU CONFIRM DTC P0404 (EGR A CONTROL) is stored in the ECM at temperatures below 32°F. ACTION 1. Confirm the current ECM part number. 2. Reprogram the ECM, if applicable.
SERVICE INFORMATION FOR FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE WITH DTCS STORED IN ECM SERVICE INFORMATION If a fuel level sensor has been diagnosed as sending an incorrect level signal, and one or more of the following DTCs are stored in the ECM, do not replace the entire âFuel Level Sensor Unit, Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump Assemblyâ (fuel pump assembly).
6 more on this problem
DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING
EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION
MIL ON WITH DTC P062F AND/OR P0603 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is ON and DTC P062F (EEPROM) and/or P0603 (ECM BACK UP/CIRCUIT) is stored, And The customer stated the vehicle was recently started after sitting for an extended period of time (i.e., the battery voltage was low while attempting to start the engine).
MIL ON WITH P0101 STORED
ALTIMA WITH PR25DD ENGINE; DTC P0015 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC P0015 (B camshaft position B1) is stored NOTE: The MIL may or may not be ON. And Diagnosis has determined the exhaust valve timing control solenoid valve is the cause.
MIL ON WITH P0101 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is ON and DTC P0101 (MAF SEN/CIRCUIT-B1) is stored in the ECM, AND There are no drivability concerns.
Brake warning light stays on 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
WARNING LIGHT ON WITH DTC C111F STORED AS CRNT IN THE ABS IF YOU CONFIRM DTC C111F (G-SENSOR) is stored as âCRNTâ in the ABS Actuator and Electric Unit (Control Unit). IMPORTANT: Do not replace the ABS control unit unless instructed to do so.
Complaints filed by year
37 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure. Closed jul 18, 2025, led to recall 25V-437.
NHTSA summary
Hertz/vehicles rented with open recalls. Open.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2020 Nissan Altima
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima S grade vehicles equipped with Continental ProContact TX tires, size 215/60 R16 H, with TIN date code 3320 and Mold ID S-419149. The tires may have been over cured.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-8677669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC765.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
All 6 recalls on the 2020 Nissan Altima, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2020 Nissan Altima?
False collision warning, with 19 of the 179 complaints.
At what mileage do 2020 Nissan Altima problems start?
Of the 58 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 11,000 miles and half by about 35,000.
Is the 2020 Nissan Altima better or worse than the 2019 and 2021?
Counted per year on the road, the 2020 has about as many complaints as the 2019 and more complaints than the 2021: 26 a year against 29 and 12.
How many 2020 Nissan Altima complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
23 of them (13%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for false collision warning on the 2020 Nissan Altima?
No recall on file for the 2020 Nissan Altima is on the same system as false collision warning. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.