2019 Nissan Altima: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 230 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, brakes, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019- Owner complaints
- 230
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes reported
- 25
- 11 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Nissan Altima: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/4
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Altima is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Nissan Altima. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | FWD | 29 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 30–32 mpg |
- The 2019 Nissan Altima was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Altima that averages well under the EPA 29 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
False automatic emergency braking
16,000–47,124 miles
Door lock actuator failure
35,000–44,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Nissan Altima, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical443 crashes
Door locks stop responding to the key fob and interior switches, often one door at a time. Lock actuators have failed by 35,000 and 44,000 miles. Driver-assist faults are the other main theme. Forward collision warnings go offline, emergency braking fails to act before an impact, or the car brakes with nothing ahead. Three complaints involve crashes. Owners also report check engine lights that keep coming back and are tied to the mass air flow sensor. Others describe reduced-power messages with several warning lights at once, stalling, and a radio that changes volume or station by itself.
Brakes194 crashes
Automatic emergency braking stops the car hard with nothing ahead, in parking lots, on highways, and under bridges. Other reports describe the opposite: the brakes or AEB fail to stop the car, and rear-end crashes follow. Four complaints involve crashes, and two report injuries. Dealers often cannot reproduce the false braking. Fixes cited include reprogramming, a replaced radar, and a faulty sonar control unit. Failures appear at 16,000 and 24,000 miles. A separate fire-related report describes shaking, a burning-rubber smell, and weak braking traced to a faulty rear caliper.
Engine19No crashes
Power loss and stalling dominate. The engine malfunction, reduce power message usually appears with the check engine, traction, and collision lights. Some cars go into limp mode or shut off while driving or just after parking. Codes cited include P0087, P0101, and P0404, and mechanics also blame the grille shutter and the ECM. Many owners say their symptoms match the 2.0L VC-Turbo recall, but cars with the 2.5-liter engine are excluded from it. Recall disputes also appear, including a denied engine replacement after metal was reported in the oil pan.
Automatic emergency braking13No crashes
The car brakes hard with no vehicle or obstacle ahead. It can drop to 15 or 40 mph on open roads, under bridges, in parking garages, or while crossing railroad tracks. AEB or front radar warning lights come on now and then, then stay on, which disables the system and adaptive cruise control. Several reports describe near rear-end collisions. Dealers often cannot replicate the problem, blame earlier accident damage, or quote sensor and bracket repairs that warranty does not cover. Onset appears under 17K miles and again at 47,124 miles.
Wipers and visibility11No crashes
Washer fluid barely reaches the windshield. It hits only the bottom of the glass or the underside of the hood, so the windshield stays dirty at highway speed. Several owners report windshields cracking or shattering with no impact. One broke on the highway, and another cracked under light hand pressure. Other complaints cover a rearview mirror that pulls a chunk of glass loose when adjusted and a mirror that will not sit high enough. Owners also mention a weak anti-glare mirror and dashboard glare on the driver's side of the windshield.
Airbags86 crashes
Airbags fail to deploy in serious frontal crashes, including one at 45 mph and others with heavy front damage. Six of the 8 complaints involve crashes, and four people are reported injured. One report blames leg injuries on the deployment itself. Outside of crashes, the occupant detection sensor fails again and again, and the airbag warning light comes on at startup. Dealers charge for diagnosis and resets, and owners say extended warranties do not cover the repair. One sensor fault came back three times, with replacement quoted next.
Suspension82 crashes
Clunking, banging, and grinding noises from the front and rear are the main complaint. Different cases trace them to failed rear shocks, a bad axle, worn struts, or wheel bearings. Rear shocks failed inspection at 45,000 miles, and an axle failure appears around 60,000. Owners also report uneven tire wear and a traction control light during right turns. Two complaints involve crashes, including a front wheel that came loose at low speed at a little over 25000 miles. The 19-inch low-profile wheels draw complaints about a harsh ride.
Steering32 crashes
The wheel locks up or stops responding while driving, sometimes on a straight road at low speed. Two of the three complaints end in crashes that totaled the car, and one involves an injury. In one of those crashes, the brakes and emergency braking also did not act. The remaining report covers random automatic braking after the car flags a blocked front sensor. The dealer blamed a sensor bent in an accident that the owner says never happened. The count is small, but the outcomes are severe.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Altima owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
My back doors do not lock with the FOB. I have to manually unlock and lock my rear doors. My driver side door is starting to not work as well. This is a major safety issue that Nissan seems to not care about. My car only has 35,000 miles on it.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2022
I changed the Air Mass Flow sensor and it’s still showing the check engine light on my dash board and giving me the same code after replacing it brand new. My brakes sound horrible after replacing both sets of brakes, front and back. The Foward Collision Warning sensor did not respond in a timely matter, resulting in a minor fender bender.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
Adaptive Cruise control and Forward Collision warning has failed. The cruise control will not engage. The Electronic braking system has malfunctioned and this has somehow disabled the cruise control on the vehicle. The car will still brake. I understand that this has been known issue with Nissan but they are not willing to repair it.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
car constantly is breaking saying there are cars in front of me when there are not, especially going under bridges. the light flashes 90% of the time warning me. i have cleaned off the sensor and it still does it and brakes me when i should not be braking
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
Ice deposits forming in the engine EGR valve preventing the EGR valve from properly functioning. This results in a "limp home mode" where the engine power output is severely reduced. Ice deposits physically verified by dealer. this condition routinely happens when parked outdoors in temps below 0F. When effected the car cannot reach highway speeds. Problem resolved by completely warming up the engine followed by an engine restart to clear the ECM error.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
Check Engine Light "P0087" "Fuel Rail/System Pressure-Too Low" Engine Stall Message- Its a recall out already just not for all 2019 Nissan Altima whixh it should be
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
Numerous times since I purchased this car used, the auto brake assist will go off unexpectedly when going under bridges… it almost caused me to loose control of my car numerous times. In addition. The malfunction warning light will randomly turn on even on beautiful sunny days with car being clean.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
The forward collision warning malfunctions and a warning light is displayed. This used to be an intermittent problem which now occurs every time I drive the vehicle. This is an important safety feature in the vehicle.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2021
How the 2019 compares with other Altima years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 has the most owner complaints of the 8 Altima years we cover, about 3.2 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical4414
- Brakes196
- Engine193
- Automatic emergency braking131
- Wipers and visibility111
- Airbags86
Where the 2019 fits in the Altima's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the first model year of the Altima's sixth generation (2019–2023). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Nissan fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Nissan updated the Altima for 2023, so a 2019 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2023 (not on a 2019)
- Redesigned front fascia with new LED headlights
- New user interface for standard 12.3-inch touchscreen
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recalls to confirm (7)
Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V437000EngineJun 2025
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
23V628000Backup cameraSep 2023
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.".
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
21V169000Wheels and tiresMar 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.
19V654000Backup cameraSep 2019
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
19V316000Fuel systemApr 2019
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Altima vehicles equipped with front wheel drive (FWD) and 2.5 liter engines. The fuel pump lock ring may not be fully engaged, possibly causing fuel to leak. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity.".
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly. If the lock ring is disengaged, dealers will tighten the ring to specification. If the lock ring is detached, dealers will replace the fuel pump. Both remedies will be completed free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
19V235000Exterior lightsMar 2019
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Nissan Altima vehicles. The brake switch bracket may be in the incorrect location, which may cause the brake switch to remain on.
Risk: If the brake switch remains in the ON position, the brake lights will remain illuminated when the brakes are not being pressed, which may confuse other drivers. Additionally, the transmission shift lever may be moved out of the Park position without the brake pedal being pressed, allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install a new brake pedal as needed, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
18V922000Fuel systemDec 2018
Nissan North America, Inc (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Altima vehicles. The retainer clip connecting the low pressure fuel tube to the high pressure fuel pump may not have been locked into position.
Risk: If the retainer clip is unlocked, the fuel tube may shift and cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire. If the fuel tube fully disconnects, the engine can stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan has notified owners, and dealers will route the fuel hose into the holding clip and lock the retainer clip into place, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Also looking at these instead of a Altima?
Cars shoppers compare with the Nissan Altima, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
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