Recalls
6campaigns
2 tire · 1 engine · 1 rear camera
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
179filed
Owner reports, 2016–2025 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 4★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 5★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
32mpg combined
$2,041/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
2.5 L 4-cyl· CVT
5 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (6)
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2020 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 ↗Listed for 2020 Nissan Altima. Not checked against your VIN.
Engine Failure
Engine and engine cooling · engine · hard parts internal/mechanical
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
- Consequence
- Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.
68.9% repairedof 443,899 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 25V437000
Listed for 2020 Nissan Altima. Not checked against your VIN.
Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111
Back over prevention · sensing system · camera
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
69.7% repairedof 153,376 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 23V628000
Listed for 2020 Nissan Altima. Not checked against your VIN.
Tire Failure may Cause Sudden Air Loss
Tires
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.
97.7% repairedof 36,141 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V169000
Listed for 2020 Nissan Altima. Not checked against your VIN.
Tie Rod Ball Joint Fastener Not Tightened Properly
Steering · linkages · tie rod assembly
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
- Consequence
- A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.
97.3% repairedof 2,407 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V138000
Listed for 2020 Nissan Altima. Not checked against your VIN.
Over Cured Tires Can Fail
Tires
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima S grade vehicles equipped with Continental ProContact TX tires, size 215/60 R16 H, with TIN date code 3320 and Mold ID S-419149. The tires may have been over cured.
- Consequence
- Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-8677669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC765.
94.5% repairedof 2,214 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 20V685000
Listed for 2020 Nissan Altima. Not checked against your VIN.
Rear Window Glass May Separate
Visibility · glass, side/rear
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
- Consequence
- Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
84% repairedof 150 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 20V570000
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 (179)
179 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
16involved a crash
7involved a fire
15injuries reported
1deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 179 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 45 | 25.1% |
| Engine | 36 | 20.1% |
| Unknown or other | 35 | 19.6% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 29 | 16.2% |
| Steering | 20 | 11.2% |
| Service brakes | 18 | 10.1% |
| Power train | 17 | 9.5% |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 5.6% |
| Air bags | 9 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 3.9% |
How 2020 compares with other Altima years
Best and worst Altima years →2016553
2017391
2018226
2019232
2020179
202170
202230
202329
202441
20257
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 553 | 4 |
| 2017 | 391 | 3 |
| 2018 | 226 | 2 |
| 2019 | 232 | 7 |
| 2020 | 179 | 6 |
| 2021 | 70 | 2 |
| 2022 | 30 | 0 |
| 2023 | 29 | 0 |
| 2024 | 41 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 |
This year (2020)Other yearsStill collecting reports
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
Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 4★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 4★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 9.2%★★★★★
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Nissan Altima 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 32 mpg combined
32
mpg combined
28
city
39
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,100
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 278 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
$2,041per year
$170per month
469gallons a year
Miles ÷ 32 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 | 28 / 39 / 32 | $2,100 | 278 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 37 / 31 | $2,150 | 288 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 35 / 30 | $2,250 | 300 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | $2,300 | 307 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 29 | $2,300 | 311 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 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
2020 Nissan Altima FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns: 25V437000 (engine), 23V628000 (rear camera), 21V169000 (tire), 21V138000 (steering), 20V685000 (tire), 20V570000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Nissan Altima problems?
Owners filed 179 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (45), Engine (36), Unknown or other (35) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Nissan Altima get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 28 city, 39 highway and 32 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2020 Nissan Altima get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Nissan Altima 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (9.2% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Altima compare with other years?
Among the 2016–2021 Nissan Altima model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (70) and the 2016 the most (553). The 2020 drew 179. 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.
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