Sixth generation (L34)
2021 Nissan Altima
The most reported problem on the 2021 Nissan Altima is brake wear, with 21 complaints.
- 70owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 7involved a crash
- 41,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 10, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2021 Nissan Altima has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2021 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2021 Nissan Altima has 70 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, less than half the median of 145 for 2021 sedans on this site. Of the 11 Altima model years since 2014, it has the 8th 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 2020 and 2022
- Complaints ease off across these three model years. Counted per year on the road, the 2020 draws 26, the 2021 12 and the 2022 6.
- Top problem
- Brake wear leads with 21 of the 70 complaints (30%), ahead of phantom braking at 10. Too few of the brake wear reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 8 of the 70 complaints (11%) 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), 7 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 4 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 4 of 7, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 2 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 19, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 17 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: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 21 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
70 complaints is 2.7 times fewer than the median 2021 model on this site and 2.1 times fewer than the median 2021 sedan. Among the 9 Altima model years here it ranks 8th 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 2021 Nissan Altima
Nissan filed 109 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2021 Nissan Altima. 6 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.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 21 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.
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 3 bulletins · 10 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 ...
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
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 2 bulletins · 7 complaints
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.
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.
Complaints filed by year
19 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 2021 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 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 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.
All 2 recalls on the 2021 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 2021 Nissan Altima?
Brake wear, with 21 of the 70 complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 Nissan Altima problems start?
Of the 20 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 10,000 miles and half by about 41,000.
Is the 2021 Nissan Altima better or worse than the 2020 and 2022?
Counted per year on the road, the 2021 has fewer complaints than the 2020 and more complaints than the 2022: 12 a year against 26 and 6.
How many 2021 Nissan Altima complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
8 of them (11%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2021 Nissan Altima?
No recall on file for the 2021 Nissan Altima is on the same system as brake wear. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.