Is the Nissan Altima reliable? Here’s What Consumer Reports Say – Jalopnik

If you’re in the market for a Nissan Altima, you might be wondering if the midsize sedan is reliable, and rightly so. The car generally offers good fuel economy and a hugely spacious and comfortable cabin, but never seemed to gain the same level of consumer appreciation as its rivals. It’s been cited as one of the least satisfying cars to own, and based on online comments, a big part of the reason why people aren’t completely sold on it is the reliability issues. In fact, there has been a lot of discussion in recent years about Nissan eliminating the Altima completely due to slow sales. But we felt it deserved a fair shake, so we turned to Consumer Reports (CR) to determine whether the unreliability concerns are justified or overblown.

Consumer ReportsA review of the 2025 Nissan Altima shows that the midsize car has average predicted reliability and scores below average for owner satisfaction. Yet the score still manages to stay ahead of the 2022, 2020 and 2015 Altima models, all of which also earned average reliability ratings. The 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014 and 2013 Altima versions fared worse and were among the least reliable models in more than a decade with below-average ratings. No reliability ratings are available for the 2021 and 2024 Altima.

2013 suffers from the outcry for being the worst model year for the Nissan Altima in terms of reliability. Owners of that version have reported faults in the transmission and air conditioning systems, as well as the electrical and infotainment systems. The same issues also affect the 2014 Altima, but to a lesser extent.

Although Consumer Reports’ ratings show that Nissan Altimas aren’t the best when it comes to reliability, the 2018 and 2023 models appear to have done very well. The two cars score well above average in these reliability studies, with the 2023 model ranking as the highest-rated version of the car. Based on its performance that year, the Altima took the top spot in the CR rankings alongside the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which performed equally well in reliability ratings. In third place was the Honda Accord, with a reliability score just slightly lower than the Altima. The Hyundai Sonata and non-hybrid Toyota Camry earned above-average ratings, but still finished well below the Altima.

However, these Altima models are not perfect. The 2023 Altima, for example, received a few complaints on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, with many of those complaints focusing on the car unexpectedly turning off while driving. Some owners have found that this problem often occurs when the alternator or battery stops working properly; simply replacing the battery may solve the problem. Others believe that the problem arises because the car has not been driven for a long time. For the 2018 Altima, the transmission is often a major problem area, as owners often reported the CVT shaking when shifting or not even engaging.

If you choose the Nissan Altima, the 2023 Altima may be worth considering. Despite the potential battery issues, it is a more modern car and has received a major update that has revamped the design and interior.