OBD diagnostics · purchase protection

2019 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.

Connect Adapter & Check for Code Wipes

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 23, 2026

💡 What Consumer Forums Warn Buyers to Inspect in Person

Recurring patterns only — each item below appeared in multiple independent owner reports or forum snippets, not a single anecdote. Verify on a physical test drive and OBD scan.

  • "Cracked Windshield" (9 owner reports on CarComplaints.com)

    Refer back: View owner reports

Source: CarComplaints.com (public owner reports) · community-only, unverified · as of Jun 23, 2026

Key facts for this model year

221NHTSA owner complaints
7Safety recalls on file
27Top issue reports · Electrical System
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you

0 average monthly buyer searches in the US (google ads data · as of Jun 23, 2026). Run a MotoMetrics scan for your VIN to see live repair exposure.

Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 23, 2026

System Defect Summaries & Field Data

Active safety recalls on file: 7 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 23, 2026)

Top NHTSA complaint categories

Recent recall summaries

Campaign 21V169000 · TIRES · API record

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.

Campaign 19V316000 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · API record

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."

Campaign 18V922000 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · API record

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.

Campaign 19V235000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH · API record

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.

Campaign 19V654000 · BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · API record

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."

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

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 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  5. Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  6. Inspect systems related to ENGINE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  7. Inspect systems related to FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  8. Inspect systems related to VISIBILITY/WIPER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  9. Confirm recall remedy completed for TIRES (campaign 21V169000).
  10. Confirm recall remedy completed for FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP (campaign 19V316000).
  11. Confirm recall remedy completed for FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP (campaign 18V922000).
  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 2016 Nissan Altima 2025 Nissan Altima

Class competitors

2019 Toyota Camry 2019 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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