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EnginePart report

2018 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

Complaints
14about this part
Share
6%of 226 total for the year
Median mileage
22,228miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the engine of the 2018 Nissan Altima, 6% of the 226 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 22,228 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“While driving on the highway, during the morning, my car activated the brakes on its own, this is the second time this happens the first time I took it to the dealer and asked for the sensors to be removed, and kept it for a whole day and apparently nothing was done, secondly the (front radar obstruction) is becoming annoying. …”

NHTSA complaint #11280707, filed 2019-11, 10,000 miles

“The vehicle is frequently not recognizing that the brake is depressed. The brakes work fine but with the car not recognizing the brake is depressed, it will not start (as it is a push button start and the brake needs to be depressed for the car to start). Also because of it not recognizing that the brake is depressed, it occasionally will not shift out of park. Additionally because the vehicle does not recognize that the brake is depressed, the brake lights do not work which is a huge safety issue as other vehicles do not know that the car is braking. …”

NHTSA complaint #11299156, filed 2020-01, 34,455 miles

“First thing in the morning the car makes a rattling noise when cold and smell of fumes coming thru car vents. Took car in Jan. 30, dealership bent heat shield. Bought car back Feb. 20 for now clicking noise was told heating shield needs to be replaced! This had to be preexisting and this car was sold to me in this condition! Now I have to pay over $1,000.00 that I don't have?!?”

NHTSA complaint #11508380, filed 2023-02

“While operating my 2018 Nissan Altima on September 19, 2026, at approximately 9:20 a.m., during daytime highway traffic, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of propulsion, leaving me entirely immobilized on a highway ramp with no ability to accelerate or move out of danger. I was stranded in an extremely hazardous location with vehicles, including large commercial trucks, traveling nearby at highway speeds. I feared for my life because I had no way to move my vehicle to safety or protect myself from a potential collision. …”

NHTSA complaint #11768824, filed 2026-10

“The problem of delayed acceleration. The problem occurs when the vehicle does not seem to accelerate for a short period of time. When I'm at a stop. and I depresses the pedal. The vehicle does not rev. It does not do anything for a few seconds. Even with increased force on the pedal, the vehicle does not move. The second concern is that, once it does move, it does so significantly with a jolt. This means that, after a few seconds of not functioning, the vehicle will suddenly accelerate quickly. This can create an increased risk of an accident.”

NHTSA complaint #11444956, filed 2021-12

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2024512%
2023620%
2022723%
202169%
20203720%
20194821%
2018146%
20173910%
20168616%
2015667%
2014777%
20131587%
20126816%
20113615%
20105013%
20091077%
2008545%
2007317%
200616620%
200514113%
20043011%
200311713%
2002929%
200174%
200043%
199711%
199422%

Other parts of the 2018 Nissan Altima

Other or unknown
60 complaints
Brakes
49 complaints
Electrical system
37 complaints
Air bags
36 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
24 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
15 complaints
Exterior lighting
13 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
12 complaints
Steering
12 complaints
Electronic stability control
11 complaints
Vehicle speed control
11 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Nissan Altima

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology