2020 Nissan Altima Problems and Top Complaints – Is Your Car A Lemon?

The 2020 Nissan Altima is meant to be a reliable and cost-effective sedan. The new models claim to have the “tech that helps you be there.” However, the technology is exactly what is causing the trouble with the electrical system and service brakes.

Click on other model year to view more problems:  2018    2019

Problems with the Electrical System

With a properly working electrical system, customers have access to the latest technology needed to enjoy the road. However, the Altima suffers from many defects.

Here is just one NHTSA complaint. “The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving in Reverse that automatic electronic braking activated although no objects were present behind the vehicle. Additionally, while switching to the Reverse the message indicating an object was behind the vehicle was displayed. While driving the vehicle hesitated and vibrated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The blind spot monitoring system also experienced intermittent failures. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who indicated the crash avoidance system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 3,000.”

It turns out that the electrical system problems go far beyond what one would expect. Even Service Bulletin #NTB20-046 talks about how the speaker volume knob adjusts the sound erratically. The communications talks about how rotating the knob changes the sound too much at once. There are several points to make here. First, does anyone even know how to use a volume knob anymore? Secondly, if this car has the “tech that helps you be there,” why is it still using old-school knobs?

Problems with the Service Brakes

It might not seem that the braking system and technology would go hand in hand, but they do. In today’s modern vehicle, there are many driver-assist technologies that affect the brakes – either for good or bad.

Here’s what one NHTSA complaint points out. “The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that upon approaching a stop light, he attempted to stop the vehicle but the brake pedal failed without warning. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floorboard but to no avail; due to the brake failure, he bumped into the vehicle in front of him at 5 mph. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. No injuries were reported due to the failure and a police report was not filed. The contact was able to resume normal driving after the accident. The contact stated that the Forward Emergency Braking System failed without warning which caused the accident. [Dealer] was notified of the failure and informed him to bring the vehicle in for inspection; the vehicle had yet to be inspected. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 260.”

No car’s braking system should fail after just 260 miles. However, Nissan has nothing to say about the braking system. Instead, they continue to claim that it’s designed to get owners “there.” Where is “there?” Is it back to the service department after just a couple hundred miles?

Your Lemon Law Legal Rights

Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work aid your lemon at no cost to you. The law makes Nissan pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.