Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Nissan Altima. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Unintentional Release of Primary Hood Latch
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
No Back-Up Camera Display Image/FMVSS 111
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (226)
226 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 226 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 60 | 26.5% |
| Service brakes | 49 | 21.7% |
| Electrical system | 37 | 16.4% |
| Air bags | 36 | 15.9% |
| Power train | 24 | 10.6% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 15 | 6.6% |
| Engine | 14 | 6.2% |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 5.8% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 12 | 5.3% |
| Steering | 12 | 5.3% |
How 2018 compares with other Altima years
Best and worst Altima years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1,114 | 8 |
| 2015 | 954 | 10 |
| 2016 | 553 | 4 |
| 2017 | 391 | 3 |
| 2018 | 226 | 2 |
| 2019 | 232 | 7 |
| 2020 | 179 | 6 |
| 2021 | 70 | 2 |
| 2022 | 30 | 0 |
| 2023 | 29 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Nissan Altima 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 31 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,150
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 287 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 31 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 38 / 31 | $2,150 | 287 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S7 CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 37 / 30 | $2,250 | 296 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S7 CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 347 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 Altima for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Nissan Altima FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 20V315000 (latch), 19V654000 (rear camera). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Nissan Altima problems?
Owners filed 226 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (60), Service brakes (49), Electrical system (37) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Nissan Altima get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 27 city, 38 highway and 31 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Nissan Altima get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Nissan Altima 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.3% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 Altima compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 Nissan Altima model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (70) and the 2014 the most (1,114). The 2018 drew 226. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.