2021 Nissan Altima reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan Altima from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 106
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 17 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 11 reported crashes · 5 injuries · 3 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#4,008
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Nissan median
-116
median 222 across 220 Nissan records
Vs 2019-2023
-133
median 240 complaints in 444 records
Top component share
16%
Electrical System: 17 complaints
What owners report fails — 2021 Nissan Altima
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 17
- SERVICE BRAKES 16
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11
- STEERING 6
2 recalls on record for the 2021 Nissan Altima
- NHTSA 23V628000 · 2023 · BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CA A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a cr
- NHTSA 21V138000 · 2021 · STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 Nissan Altima
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2021 Nissan Altima units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Nissan Altima reliable?
NHTSA has 106 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 Nissan Altima and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (17 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 Nissan Altima units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Altima?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (17), forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking (17), service brakes (16), unknown or other (11). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2021 Nissan Altima?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2021 Nissan Altima. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.