2016 Nissan Altima Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Altima most often describe transmission problems: shuddering, hesitation, and sudden loss of power around highway speeds or when pulling away from a stop. A second cluster involves the hood latch opening while driving, which many owners link to recall 20V315000, and a third covers headlights that gradually stop providing usable light. Smaller groups describe fuel gauge readings, air bag warning lights, and occasional no-start or stalling behavior.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT shudder, hesitation, and loss of power

   • 324 complaints (58%)
   • median 61,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (184 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,600 (median of 26 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the car shuddering or jerking, revving high without gaining speed, and sometimes losing all power while driving or while accelerating from a stop. Several say restarting the car restores normal operation temporarily. Complaints mention dealers or independent shops diagnosing CVT failure and recommending replacement, with some repairs done under warranty and others quoted as costly out-of-pocket work. Reported from under 10,000 miles up to about 140,000, with many between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and from a stop, watching for shudder or delayed engagement, and ask whether CVT fluid services and any TCM calibration updates were performed. A pre-purchase scan for stored transmission codes is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I come to as stop and then try to accelerate again the car will be real sluggish. It has delayed acceleration. If I'm on the freeway and stop and then try to accelerate it takes a long time so take off. I have almost crashed a few times due to this. If I shut the car off and turn it back on then it runs like normal. But if I stop and accelerate it does it again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327347, filed 2020-06, 105,550 miles

   “After stopping and going a decent amount (such as a drive thru) the car has a delay of shifting gears and starting to move after completely stopped. I am not sure what is wrong with my vehicle. The rpms will go significantly up before increasing speed. It will do this on slow or fast roads.”

   NHTSA complaint #11344107, filed 2020-08, 45,000 miles
2. 2
   Other or unknown

   Hood latch releases and hood opens while driving

   • 30 complaints (5%)
   • median 60,500 mi at 4.8 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the hood coming unlatched at road speed and flipping up into the windshield, sometimes shattering it. Several owners say they had received notice of recall 20V315000, and a few report the problem returning after the recall repair. Nissan's recall notice describes corrosion of the secondary hood latch as the concern when the primary latch is released. Mostly reported between about 36,000 and 121,000 miles, at highway and around-town speeds.

   Recall 20V315000

   What to check: Confirm recall 20V315000 was completed and ask for the repair record; then check that the secondary latch engages cleanly and that the latch mechanism is free of corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a recall on my hood latch that I received in the mail. . Due to this recall my hood opened while I was driving and shattered my windshield and messed up my hood and fenders. * (recall related incident) ts”

   NHTSA complaint #11341416, filed 2020-07, 83,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and a secondary hood latch was installed; however, the failure recurred, causing the windshield to crack with a malfunctioning unknown interior light. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11512362, filed 2023-03, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights dim or fail to light the road

   • 41 complaints (7%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe headlights that gradually stop lighting the road well even after bulb replacement, with owners saying the housing or internal assembly had to be replaced. Some report a headlight going fully inoperable. A service bulletin covers a warranty extension and inspection for halogen headlamps on these vehicles. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 165,000 miles, developing gradually over months.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check both headlights at night for dim or uneven output and inspect the lenses and housings; ask whether the halogen headlamp warranty extension applies and was used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlights are so dull that you can barely see three feet in front of you. Bulbs have been replaced but no help. After doing research there is something wrong with the reflective material behind the bulb and it fades over time. Very dangerous . Have to drive with brights on at night. My car started this about a year ago and has got progressively worse.”

   NHTSA complaint #11338708, filed 2020-07, 100,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight had become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with an internal headlight failure, and it was determined that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11755925, filed 2026-08, 165,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the CVT (test drive, fluid history, stored codes) matters most for this model year, and it is worth confirming both the hood latch and rear door cable recalls were completed. Records showing regular CVT fluid service and any software updates give a clearer picture of how the car was maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.