Our research found that electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and steering problems are the top reported issues for this vehicle
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 seems to be what is causing the trouble with the electrical system, forward collision avoidance, steering, and other components.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2021 2022
Complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2020 Nissan Altima tell a horrifying story that highlights vehicle fires and crashes. In terms of numbers, it’s the electrical system that is most problematic. However, forward collision avoidance (FCA), steering, brakes, and other components and systems also have major issues. There are also comments that owners have shared with Lemberg Law that you can read at the bottom of this page.
When you see the complaints made by owners of the 2020 Altima, you will begin to realize the enormity of its problems. In addition to those already mentioned, airbags, backover prevention, the engine, equipment, fuel/propulsion system, lane departure, latches/locks/linkages, powertrain, seats, structure, suspension, tires, vehicle speed control, visibility, and wheels all have big issues. Sometimes these components are combined in single complaints. This is because it isn’t only one component or system that fails, sometimes two or three fail together. The results can be catastrophic.
Adding to complaints made by customers, there are also five recalls that have been issued for the 2020 Nissan Altima. These are problems that the automaker has acknowledged.
With a growing list of recalls, you might hope that Nissan is doing something about the major problems this vehicle has. For instance, with the many fires that owners are reporting, you might imagine there’d be an urgent safety recall because of electrical system failures. But, unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
More than a quarter of the complaints lodged with the NHTSA about the 2020 Altima are about the electrical system. Of these, 28% report vehicles catching fire. Other issues relate to the battery of the car, door actuators and keys, backup camera issues, the gas gauge not working, and more.
Fire has to be a car owner’s worst nightmare. In one case reported to the NHTSA is was because there was a death. This is what the complaint says: “Caught on fire, burst into flames within minutes of seeing smoke. My son barely got out before it blew up. His dog in the backseat unfortunately didn’t make it out. Would like (an) investigation on what could have caused this. Before someone else loses their life.”
While this complaint doesn’t identify the electrical system, others do. All those quoted below are listed as electrical system issues and sometimes other component problems too.
An owner from Arizona states that after her husband had parked in the driveway, “the vehicle alarm sounded persistently.” When he opened the front door he saw that the driver’s side of the cabin was in flames. He managed to extinguish the flames. Later, he found out “driver’s side of the cabin was in flames.” The manufacturer said, “The failure was a thermal event; however, the vehicle was not inspected.”
Another complaint states that their vehicle also caught on fire at home. Fire and police department personnel were on the scene and firefighters were “forced to pry open the trunk to stop (the) fire from spreading.”
An owner from Nevada states in a complaint, “My battery caught fire as I was driving, all of a sudden.”
An owner from California was also driving (on the freeway) when the Altima caught alight. “In a matter of minutes, the whole car was engulfed in flames. The fire department said it was an electrical fire near the battery and the firewall on the driver side.”
Another Californian owner was driving on the freeway when the car lost power. He turned the car off and checked all the fluids to make sure they were at proper levels and found no issue. Then, he started the car again and it started smoking. He opened the hood and realized that an electric fire had started. He tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher … but “2 minutes later the whole car was in flames.”
In Texas, an owner who had parked his car and turned off the engine suddenly realized that there was white smoke in the cabin. He got out of the Altima and saw flames and smoke coming from under the steering wheel. He called the fire department and they extinguished the flames.
Most of the steering problems describe various peculiar noises. These include clicking, grinding, and popping sounds. There are also reports of the steering wheel shaking, loss of power steering, and the tie rod ball joint failing. Several complaints also report vehicles crashing.
One complaint states that the ball joint snapped and broke at 15 mph causing the driver to lose control and be forced off-road into a fence post. There was no collision warning or lane departure warning. The vehicle was declared a total loss. The driver had been in the process of buying the Altima but still pursued investigations. “I have several photos of (the) vehicle and found a recall for (the) tie rod and ball joint fasteners on (the) same make and year. I would like some answers to this safety issue being if I was going faster I could have been killed. Two days prior to (the) accident I began hearing a clicking noise when going over speed bumps.” He took the vehicle for a private inspection. A vehicle system scan reported systems w/codes for intelligent cruise control/advanced driver assistance system and laser/radar.
Another owner states that during a code scan on the vehicle, the intelligent driver assistance system referred to the OEM repair manual for code description repair. The next day the vehicle crashed at 15 mph due to loss of control. The tie rod broke causing the car to crash. The tire was also detached.
An owner from Florida was probably lucky not to crash. He states that he heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by a dealer with hub bearing and tie rod failure.
Forward collision avoidance problems are common and they tend to recur. For example, an owner from Ohio states that on multiple occasions an orange light comes on and then the Altima stops or slows down. It’s random, the complaint states. There is nothing in front or behind the Altima and it happens day and night — “and it stops itself while driving.” Six visits to the dealership have achieved nothing. “It is scary getting into the vehicle every time because I wonder, will it happen today? And what if someone is behind me? That could cause a major accident with injuries.”
An owner from Ohio states. “I’ve taken my car for repair service 4 times due to a malfunction warning and front driving aids off warning. They replaced (the) speed sensor as well as CV axle as well as a hub and bearing and it still is not driving right. It has almost caused me accidents with my children in the car to where I pulled over and cried (because) I was scared to continue driving. They cannot figure out the problem.”
Another owner states, “The forward collision warning light comes on saying there’s a malfunction. It stays on for a couple of days, and then it goes away and comes back again a couple of days later.”
In the same vein, another complaint states, “ I just recently had my brakes done and the ABS light came on, along with the brake light. Then the rear and front automatic emergency braking sensor lights came on as well. My independent repair shop did a diagnostic and said it was a faulty ABS pump.”
Do you think you’ve bought a lemon? If so, please call the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out a contact form immediately. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of lemon owners. If you have a lemon on your hands, we can help you get rid of it. It’s not going to cost you anything because the law makes Nissan pay legal fees.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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My 2020 Altima’s front camera malfunctioned out of the blue one day. No front collision warning or lane departure warnings as a result. $1500 to replace a camera I never damaged. Why do I have to foot the bill for faulty electronics?
I just leased my Nissan Altima, and got in an accident by my quarter panel, no air bags and now that I’m having it worked on the airbags say 2x airbags off, it started up two times before being towed after collision and everything seemed to be in working order besides the hazard horn. It’s being worked on and they have checked every solution and cause given for the brake being stiff and locked up it won’t start but has power battery is good has malfunction warning and collision warning stuck on and gives the code U0100 meaning bad battery but the battery is at 100% the ecm and pcm seem to be fine. it’s a almost new car 2020 Nissan Altima Sedan CVT awd 2.5L 4 cylinder. So there is a lot of problems here during accident no warnings or collision lights popped up no sensor detection happened or auto braking occurred. I am extremely upset I just started leasing this car and now I have to pay off something impossible to even get fixed from a pretty minor collision might I add but definitely should’ve had airbags deployed with where struck.
I bought my brand new Nissan Altima turbo and 2020 it is a 20/20 it is now 2022 and I’ve had two brand new motors put in it new brakes recalled tires that I’ve already replaced and a new battery they said went had a bad cell which is now giving me problems again not wanting to start properly unbelievable absolutely not happy worst vehicle I’ve ever owned
after getting a 2020 nissan altima i was so hurt to see my seats are not real leather,front seat start tear apart look so bad i didnot think all time they put in make this cars very bad seats they install, i hate i brought it now no help from nissan. my next car will be with someone who care about their product, I gave them a 0 if could give less i would.
I have a 2019 Nissan Altima that I’ve only had less than a year. Since I’ve had it I’ve replaced the battery at Nissan. The battery will fail at least once a month leaving me stranded. I’ve paid over $300 in diagnostic fees for Nissan to tell me nothing is wrong. But you can bet the battery will fail and once jumped off it does fine until it happens again. It’s favorite warning when this happens is headlight system error but Nissan swears nothing is wrong with my car.