Nissan Altima Recalls by Year [2026]: CVT Issues, NHTSA Recalls & Class Actions

Quick Summary

Most of the financial damage to Altima owners has come from Jatco CVT failures (2013-2018 5th-gen), addressed via Nissan's extended warranty and class settlement rather than a formal NHTSA recall. Hood latch (14V-643) and Takata (16V-061 family) are the marquee federal recalls.

Major Nissan Altima Recalls by Year

Year(s)	NHTSA #	Defect Summary	Vehicles	Severity
2002-2006	16V-061	Takata passenger airbag inflator rupture risk.	Included in 3.5M cohort	Critical
2013-2015	14V-643	Secondary hood latch may corrode and fail to engage.	~625,000	High
2013-2014	13V-487	Brake transmission shift interlock can disengage shifter from Park.	~226,000	High
2013-2018	CVT Class Action / Warranty Extension	Jatco JF015E/JF016E/JF017E CVT failure: shuddering, slipping, overheating.	Estimated 1M+	High
2015-2017	16V-684	Passenger occupant classification system may fail, deactivating airbag.	~3.2M (multi-model)	High
2019-2020	20V-016	Backup camera image may not display properly.	~1.3M (multi-model)	Medium
2019-2021	22V-130	Improperly tightened steering wheel bolt may allow wheel separation.	~150,000	High
2022-2024	24V-XXX (brake)	Brake fluid reservoir cap may not seal; brake fluid loss possible.	~36,000	Medium

Data sourced from NHTSA recall database (nhtsa.gov/recalls). Always verify with your VIN before purchase or repair.

How to Check Your VIN for Open Recalls

Recalls are tied to specific VINs, not just model years. Run yours through these free tools before you buy, sell, or schedule a repair:

NHTSA VIN Lookup - nhtsa.gov/recalls. Enter your 17-character VIN; shows every open federal safety recall.
Manufacturer site - Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Stellantis, and Nissan all run their own recall portals. These sometimes list service campaigns and TSBs that NHTSA does not.
Dealer service department - Open recall work is free for the life of the vehicle. No appointment fee, no parts fee.

Use our free VIN decoder to pull build info, or run a free AI diagnosis if you already have symptoms.

Class Actions & Legal References

Altima class actions:

Falk v. Nissan North America (N.D. Cal.) and consolidated CVT actions - resolved with extended powertrain warranty up to 84 months / 84,000 miles on affected CVTs.
In re Nissan CVT Litigation - broader class settlement covering Altima, Sentra, Versa, Maxima, Pathfinder, Rogue.
In re Takata Airbag MDL 2599 - Altima inflator coverage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan CVT covered by a recall?

Not by NHTSA. Coverage comes from class action settlements and Nissan's extended warranty, typically 84 months / 84,000 miles for affected model years.

Which Altima years have the worst CVT failures?

2013-2016 are the highest-risk model years. 2017-2018 saw incremental Jatco improvements. 2019+ on the new platform have been more reliable.

Will a dealer still replace my failed Altima CVT?

Only if you're within the extended warranty period and have documented service records. Out-of-period CVT replacements typically run $3,500-5,000.

How do I check Altima recalls by VIN?

Use nhtsa.gov/recalls or nissanusa.com/recalls.

Are Altima Takata inflator recalls still being repaired free?

Yes, free for life at any Nissan dealer.

Which Altima year is the safest used buy?

2019-2020 6th-gen Altima 2.5L is widely considered the safest used pick, with the most refined CVT and the bulk of recalls already addressed.

Nissan Altima Recalls by Year: NHTSA Recalls & CVT Class Action History