Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, airbags, and electrical. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2022 Nissan Altima: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/1
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
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.
These years share the 2022's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2022 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 |
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Nissan Altima, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The car brakes hard on its own with nothing ahead. Drivers report the automatic emergency brake engaging on highways, surface streets, and parking ramps, with near rear-end collisions and minor whiplash. Some also see false obstruction warnings from the sensors. Repeat dealer visits often fail to fix it, and one car sat out of service for over 30 days. One crash report describes the car not stopping in a driveway. A separate report describes smoke from a rear wheel after brake service, traced to the driver's side rear caliper at 55,000 miles.
Every complaint here involves a crash with injury. Two reports describe a sudden flood of dash warning lights and chimes at highway speed, then the car pulling hard left into a median wall while the steering wheel would not turn. A U0100 code is cited, and the car was totaled. A third report says the driver's front air bag did not fully deploy in a crash with no warning light. The complaints also describe slow handling of the loss by the manufacturer.
Electrical shorts can produce sparks and smoke from the air vents. One fire report describes a flashing warning indicator before the dash caught fire, with no warranty replacement offered. Other faults include a horn that stops working and an interior light fuse that keeps blowing every few months, which kept one car from passing state inspection after the warranty ran out. Another car simply died while driving through a parking lot and went back to the dealer for service.
The engine shuts off while driving, stays off for about 5 seconds, then restarts. Every dash warning light comes on at startup, and some days the car will not start at all. A new battery does not fix it, which points owners toward an electrical fault rather than the battery. The other complaint names the BCM as the problem. A stall in traffic carries obvious loss-of-power risk.
Excerpts from complaints Altima owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I was driving along I55 at 65-70 mph when my car had multiple lights come on the dash w d started ringing. My car then shot left into the median wall. It spun at least twice hitting the wall and stopping facing southbound in the northbound lanes. The vehicle is currently at the ins inspection lot. The code was u0100. ECM/PCM ‘A” DTC. I was injured in the accident and concerned about safety of others
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
A warning indicator comes on and flashes in my Nissan Altima 2022 I've called told them and I had a electrical short and sparked and smoke came out of my air vents and I told and told them some thing was wrong with my car if it has to do with ace line and dash why did it smoke and caught a fire in my ace dash and. I just put it out my self and no response to get my vehicle replacement under my manufacturing warranty
Filed with NHTSA, January 2023
I purchased my 2022 Altima in June 2022. I didn’t encounter any problems until 5/2024. My horn stopped working for no apparent reason, the interior fuse that controls the light inside my car keeps blowing out every few months. My manufacturer warranty has expired. This is a hazard. Due to these issue I am not able to get an Inspection sticker and not able to use my horn. Can someone call me to help assist!!!
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
My car constantly turns off mid drive and then turns back on , also all the lights on my dash pop up eveytime I start the car so I’m pretty sure it’s an electric issue sometimes it’s doesn’t start I have to play with the battery little bit and I’ve had it tested even bought a new one so ik it’s not the battery it’s electric, it frequently turns off for like 5 seconds while I’m driving and then turns back on
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 ranks seventh for owner complaints among 8 Altima years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2022 is the fourth model year of the Altima's sixth generation (2019–2023).
Nissan updated the Altima for 2023, so a 2022 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2023 (not on a 2022)
Cars shoppers compare with the Nissan Altima, with their own 2022 checklists.
2022 owner complaints, side by side
