OBD diagnostics · purchase protection

2016 Nissan Altima
Common Problems & Inspection Guide

Verify baseline vehicle system stability data. Learn what to check on the physical vehicle computer before signing a bill of sale.

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Platform Heritage

The Nissan Altima is a mid-size car manufactured by Nissan since 1992. It is an offshoot of the Nissan Bluebird line, which began in 1955. The Altima has historically been larger, more powerful, and more luxurious than the Nissan Sentra but less so than the Nissan Maxima. The first through fourth-generation cars were manufactured exclusively in the United States and officially sold in North and South America, along with the Middle East and Australia. For other markets, Nissan sold a related mid-size sedan called the Nissan Teana which was between the Altima and Maxima in terms of size. In 2013, the Teana became a rebadged version of the fifth-generation Altima. The name "Altima" was originally applied to a top trim line of the Nissan Leopard for the Japanese market in 1986, and then to the Nissan Laurel Altima mid-size car sold in Central America and the Caribbean before 1992. In 1992, Nissan discontinued the Stanza which was a Nissan Bluebird clone, replacing it with the US-built Altima, while remaining a compact car. The first Altima was produced in June 1992, as a 1993 model. All Altima models for the North American market were built in Smyrna, Tennessee, until June 2004, when Nissan's Canton, Mississippi plant also began producing the model to meet high demand.

Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jun 19, 2026

Key facts for this model year

544NHTSA owner complaints
4Safety recalls on file
151Top issue reports · Power Train
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you

~3.2k average monthly buyer searches in the US (google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026). Run a MotoMetrics scan for your VIN to see live repair exposure.

Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 19, 2026

System Defect Summaries & Field Data

Active safety recalls on file: 4 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 19, 2026)

Top NHTSA complaint categories

Recent recall summaries

Campaign 18V915000 · STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT · API record

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.

Campaign 17V040000 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · API record

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.

Campaign 16V244000 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · API record

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Campaign 20V315000 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · API record

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.

YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.

Search demand cross-check: ~3,190 avg monthly intent searches (source: google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026)

On-Site Nissan Altima Pre-Purchase Checklist

  1. Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
  2. Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
  3. Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
  4. Inspect systems related to POWER TRAIN (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  5. Inspect systems related to AIR BAGS (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  6. Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  7. Inspect systems related to EXTERIOR LIGHTING (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  8. Inspect systems related to POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  9. Confirm recall remedy completed for STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT (campaign 18V915000).
  10. Confirm recall remedy completed for LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH (campaign 17V040000).
  11. Confirm recall remedy completed for AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION (campaign 16V244000).
  12. Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Nissan Altima before signing the bill of sale.

Alternative Inferences & Cross-Shopping Matrix

Adjacent model years for this nameplate and equivalent footprints shoppers compare across brands.

Generational cohorts

2018 Nissan Altima 2019 Nissan Altima 2025 Nissan Altima

Class competitors

2015 Toyota Camry 2018 Honda Accord 2020 Chevrolet Malibu

Vehicle health varies wildly by individual history. Aggregate recall and complaint data cannot tell you whether the specific car on the lot had its monitors cleared or its odometer rolled back. Verify the physical or digital scan before you sign a bill of sale.

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