How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Altima have?

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Nissan Altima model year. Whether one car had the recall work done depends on that car, so check its VIN with NHTSA.

What is the WhipWorthy verdict on the 2021 Nissan Altima?

Worthy. Fewer owner complaints than a typical year. The verdict weighs this year against the other years of the Altima, from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

1995: 193 owner complaints, Worthy

Our take: worth a look. Owners filed fewer complaints than in a typical year of this model.

Year verdict

Worthy

0.2× a typical year

Fewer owner complaints than a typical year. Still get it inspected.

Confidence: High

Based on 71 complaints in its first 6 years and 10 months vs about 288 typical across 8 other model years.

Past 100,000 miles

Not judged

Too young to judge at high mileage. Most 2021 cars have not reached 100,000 miles yet, so their problems past it have not shown up.

How the dial was counted

Year verdict: Typical year: 288 complaints, the median of 8 nearby years. Each counted over its first 6 years and 10 months from January 2020; this one had 71.

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WhipWorthy sticker

2021 Nissan Altima

Complaints71From owners
Loading owner complaints
Recalls2On file
Loading recalls
Crash5 out of 5 starsBest of 2 versions
Loading crash ratings
MPG32Combined, EPA
Loading fuel economy

Complaints are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for how many were sold.

Compare this car Every Altima year

Car report

Park this car in My Garage and see its recalls at a glance.Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Value signals

We do not price cars.

These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.

Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
Fuel: $2,000 a year.The EPA’s estimate for 15,000 miles a year, 55% in town, at its fuel prices. Each version
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
Have the VIN? Check it is this car, and see its open recalls at NHTSA.
VIN
On the dash at the base of the windshield, or on the driver’s door sticker.

What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

The full record

Tap to open

What owners complain about

71 complaints; the part named most is the driver assist and cameras

Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Nov 10, 2021 to Oct 28, 2026. 15% name a part that is usually costly to fix.

Owners reported 7 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries in these complaints.

Driver assist and cameras25 · 35%
Electrical22 · 31%
Brakes21 · 30%

What one owner wrote about the driver assist and cameras

My car is supposed to have an automatic braking system/collision detection. Two cars in front of me slammed on their brakes and the car in front of me slammed on his brake, and I didn't have enough time to react. I totalled my car, but my car is supposed to have a safety feature that automatically brakes. The faulty automatic braking didn't engage as it…

Filed Jul 8, 2026NHTSA complaint 11749014Crash reported1 of 18 owner quotes

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12 more parts, and 18 owner quotes

Every part owners name for the 2021 Nissan Altima, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Engine, Transmission and drivetrain, Body and frame.

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SourceOwner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Nissan Altima. NHTSA, checked Nov 1, 2026.

Seller kit

Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points

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Walk up to the seller ready

Questions to ask the seller of a 2021 Nissan Altima, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.

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Write your offer

A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email

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Send the seller a fair offer

Type the asking price and your own offer for the 2021 Nissan Altima, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.

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When problems show up

Too few complaints give a mileage

Too few complaints mention a mileage to show a pattern. 22 complaints of 71 gave one, and a part needs at least 15.

SourceMileage from owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Nissan Altima. NHTSA, checked Nov 1, 2026.

Will it outlast the loan?

The month of your loan each problem zone lands in

Not enough owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Altima mention a mileage to lay against a loan. Have a mechanic look it over all the same.

Recalls

2 recalls on file

Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.

Driver assist and cameras
Sep 8, 2023 · Recall 23V628000
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."
What can happen
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
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.
Steering
Mar 4, 2021 · Recall 21V138000
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.
What can happen
A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix
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.

SourceRecalls listed by NHTSA for the 2021 Nissan Altima. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Crash ratings

5 of 5 stars overall, the best of 2 versions tested

NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight.

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR AWD
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
9.2% chance of a rollover in a one car crash, by NHTSA's estimate.
Stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Standard
Lane departure warning
Standard
2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD
Overall
Front
Side

NHTSA investigations: 2

SourceNHTSA crash ratings for the 2021 Nissan Altima. NHTSA, checked Nov 1, 2026.

Fuel economy

32 mpg combined, across 1 version

The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in.

Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
Altima · Front wheel drive · Regular gas
City
28 mpg
Highway
39 mpg
Combined
32 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,000
This one on fueleconomy.gov

SourceEPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov. EPA, checked Oct 30, 2026.

True cost to own

The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years

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What it really costs to own

What the 2021 Nissan Altima costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.

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Every year of the Altima

23 Worthy, 5 Maybe, 3 Pass, of 32 years on file

Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.

Best and worst years of the Altima

NHTSA did not answer for 4 years, so the chart may be missing some.

SourceNHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Altima. NHTSA, checked Nov 1, 2026.

Before you buy this one

5 checks, with a close look at the driver assist and cameras

Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.

Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 2 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the driver assist and cameras. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the driver assist and cameras first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the driver assist and cameras.
Try the cameras, sensors and every driver assist feature the car has.

Going to see it? Take the checklist52 checks with the bad signs to look for, saved on your phone.

Check this exact car

The verdict is about the model year. These checks are about the one in front of you. Most are free or a few dollars.

VIN for these checks

Copy it, then paste it into each check. Nothing is sent until you open one.

Official checks on this VIN

Open recallsFree
NHTSA
Safety recalls on this VIN that are not fixed yet, from the last 15 years.
A recall already fixed does not show.
Check recalls at NHTSAnhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Theft and total lossFree
NICB VINCheck
Whether an insurer reported it stolen and not found, or wrote it off as a total loss.
Only insurer records. Five checks a day.
Open NICB VINChecknicb.org (opens in a new tab)
Title brandsA few dollars
NMVTIS, the federal title system
Salvage, flood, junk and rebuilt brands from any state, and the last miles on the title.
No repairs, service or recalls. Sold by approved sellers listed on the site.
See the approved sellersvehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov (opens in a new tab)
Title statusVaries by state
The state motor vehicle office
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a lien.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
Find your state’s officeusa.gov (opens in a new tab)

What a paid report adds

A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:

Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.

It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.

Red flags in a history

Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.

Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.

Model year	Owner complaints	Verdict
1995	193	Worthy
1996	109	Worthy
1997	117	Worthy
1998	128	Worthy
1999	100	Worthy
2000	181	Worthy
2001	174	Worthy
2002	1063	Pass
2003	883	Maybe
2004	276	Worthy
2005	1091	Worthy
2006	824	Worthy
2007	498	Worthy
2008	1031	Maybe
2009	1547	Maybe
2010	381	Worthy
2011	242	Worthy
2012	426	Worthy
2013	2314	Pass
2014	1113	Pass
2015	955	Maybe
2016	555	Maybe
2017	393	Worthy
2018	226	Worthy
2019	234	Worthy
2020	182	Worthy
2021	71	Worthy
2022	20	Worthy
2023	30	Worthy
2024	41	Worthy
2025	7	Worthy
2026	1	Not judged

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Driver assist and cameras

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR AWD

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD

Fuel economy

Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Altima

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Red flags in a history

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Add WhipWorthy to this device

Send feedback

Driver assist and cameras

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR AWD

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD

The verdict on the 2021 Nissan Altima

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Driver assist and cameras

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR AWD

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD

Fuel economy

Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Altima

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Driver assist and cameras

What can happen

The fix

Steering

What can happen

The fix

Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR AWD

2021 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD