CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2016 Nissan Altima shows multiple problem trends, continuing the poor reputation of the 2013-2015 Altima, prompting us to give it our "Beware of the Clunker" badge.

Owners are complaining about transmission problems related to the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,753 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Nissan Altima accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2016 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #9

Aug 182023

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2016 Nissan Altima S. The airbag light is on without accident. I went four times to the Nissan dealer to fix the problem. They just told me it was a past code (B0020-13), cleared it the first three times, and told me the problem was on the driver-side airbag. But after a few months, the airbag light was still on again. I was told the problem was on the passenger side the last time. Ask me to replace the airbag module and seat back; the parts cost $3110, and the labor is $2600. It is ridiculous... The airbag is the car safety system; the parts have never been used before, so it should be okay if there is no accident.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #8

Nov 212022

Altima

  • miles
Yes. On 11/21/22 I took my client shopping it took 30 minutes to reach our destination. I unloaded her walker so she could enter the store while I parked my car. Upon parking the car I noticed two burn marks in the leather passenger seat that were not there previously and did not look any near what a cigarette burn would look like. Along with a bluish discoloration surrounding the burn marks including along seam closest to the burn marks. The heated seat function was being used at the time due to temps and clients age.10. Minutes prior to arriving at our destination the passenger asked me to turn off the seat heater on her side, which i did. As I stated it was after I helped her out of the passenger seat and parked the car that i noticed the large burn marks and discoloration. This could have caught fire and severely burned my client and/or caught my entire car on fire which I need for my job and only source of income A layman would be under the assumption that these seat heater would automatically shut off if they reached a certain temp. Now I have a 6 year old vehicle (which I kept clean and in good working order with a damaged leather front passenger seat due to some wiring defect that was not my fault

- Sullivan, IL, USA

problem #7

Mar 122021

Altima

  • 106,634 miles
I recently purchased this vehicle in February of this year. Upon driving a few times, the air bag sensor light appears and stays on my dash along with when I have a passenger in the car, the passenger air bag sensor does not turn off. It is now March and I still have the same issue. According to the carfax report I received when purchasing the vehicle, a maintenance check was conducted by the local Nissan dealer close to me in January, it only shows the current recall of a hood latch (20V315 - that apparently no part is available for). I was advised by a service repair representative that the air bag sensors under the passenger seat are broken and were not repaired during that maintenance check. I questioned as to why with no explanation given. I advised that this is a safety concern and should fall back under the recall from 2016 (16V244) with the service representative stating that it doesn't!! is it possible for this to be fixed under that recall or does a new recall have to be in effect?? looking out for the safety of myself and fellow passengers. Thank you from a very concerned vehicle owner.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #6

Apr 182019

Altima

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car seats dont work properly and wont adjust. Battery has to be replaced frequently. Car lights blinks on and off own its own. Car wint detect key. Car wont crank St times. Car makes sound as if its shutdowning. Sometimes the vehicle has.

- York, AL, USA

problem #5

Jul 062019

Altima

  • 70,143 miles
Brought my car to lia Nissan of saratoga NY June 29th 2018. The did a recall replacement of my passenger side airbag occupant sensor, since then, and before the year was out, the part has gone bad again. Brought to dealer, the service manager states that because I didn't bring it in before the year warrantied date, they need to charge me a $119 diagnostic fee. The part to replace the occupant sensor costs $45 retail. I do not feel I should be responsible to pay a fee for a part that is known to have multiple failures.

- Scotia, NY, USA

problem #4

May 082019

Altima

  • 55,000 miles
I noticed that the fron driver seat is loose. There is play room where it moves from one corner to the other. This wiggle is more noticeable when I brake and I take off from being on a stand still.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #3

Jun 122018

Altima

  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. While driving, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the driver's seat moved forward independently. The vehicle was taken to mossy Nissan el cajon (located at 1170 w main St, el cajon, ca 92020, (619) 588-0500) where it was diagnosed that the driver's seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, while driving, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact powered off the engine while in traffic. The vehicle was restarted after ten minutes and was able to drive normally. The failure recurred three times and was towed back to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle, but could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 34469085. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

- Spingvalle, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 082017

Altima

  • 21,000 miles
The plastic shroud that covers the bottom part of the driver seat has sharp edges, and sticks out to a point to where it cuts my calves when I enter and exit the car. I had the dealer correct the problem, however, the way they repositioned the plastic shroud now cuts into the seat itself. I informed Nissan about the problem of the shroud now cutting into my seat, and was told "there is noting else we can do about this..", so I guess I will have to pay for either a new driver side seat down the line, or have to pay to have it repaired.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #1

Nov 182016

Altima

  • miles
I recently purchased this vehicle and noticed that about a to 1 inch extra bump/projection of a vulnerable plastic under the drive seat caused bruises to the calf part of my leg. Attached are the pictures of the part I explained and slight bruise to my leg. This is not the first time I get into this bruise on my calf, but several times. However I am careful, it is hurting me. I would like to share with you for a possible action with Nissan and a remedy that would help to fix this in current vehicle as well as in future vehicles.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

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