2020 Nissan Altima Reliability: What To Know Before Investing In Your Purchase
2020 Nissan Altima by Mr.choppers - CC-BY-SA-4.0
The Altima has been part of Nissan’s vehicle lineup since 1992. It’s a midsize sedan that competes head-to-head with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and has a reputation for being an efficient daily driver. The 2020 model year is part of the sixth generation and offers a spacious interior, sleek design, and good fuel economy. Wondering about the 2020 Nissan Altima’s reliability is only natural if you’re shopping for a family sedan.
We’ll answer these questions by exploring ratings from review organizations, including Consumer Reports. Further, we’ll look at repair costs for the 2020 Nissan Altima and then focus on trouble areas that owners have experienced. Lastly, although recalls aren’t always connected to dependability, we’ve included an overview of what’s affected the 2020 Altima.
2020 Nissan Altima Reliability: Ratings
According to Consumer Reports, the 2020 Nissan Altima scores a 2 out of 5 in terms of reliability, meaning it has below-average reliability based on data about historic ownership experience. The bad news continues as the organization ranked the 2020 Altima seventh (out of seven) for reliability among similar same-year vehicles. The most common issues involved the drivetrain, suspension, and steering.
In contrast, the 2020 Altima scored 81 (out of 100) under J.D. Power’s quality and reliability assessment. This is the same “great” ranking as the 2020 Honda Accord and better than the same-year Toyota Camry (rated 79). J.D. Power rates vehicle quality and reliability by measuring new models’ defects, malfunctions, and flaws. The ratings cover the entire vehicle, including the engine, transmission, electronics, and more. A higher score means owners experienced fewer issues with their cars.
Carcomplaints.com’s low number of owner reports is also encouraging. However, it’s unknown if the modest number of complaints is due to the 2020 Altima still being relatively new or if the build quality is rock solid. There are a handful of reports related to the windows or windshield; mechanically-related issues are even less common.
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While RepairPal doesn’t have a specific ranking for the 2020 Altima, the outfit applies a 4.0 out of 5.0 score to all Altimas, an above-average ranking. RepairPal places the Altima at 11th out of 24 midsize cars for reliability.
A look at consumer feedback on the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) website shows that owners give the 2020 Nissan Altima a 4.1 out of 5.0 for reliability. This ranking is identical to the 2020 Toyota Camry, although the 2020 Honda Accord received a 4.5.
The 2020 Nissan Altima has received mixed reliability reviews. Consumer Reports ranked it near the bottom, but J.D. Power and Altima owners gave it above-average scores. So, while these overall assessments are inconsistent, we don’t see any reason to avoid the 2020 Altima as a used car purchase. However, getting a pre-purchase inspection is always advisable before buying any used vehicle. No automobile, especially one with many miles on the odometer, is perfect.
2020 Nissan Altima Reliability: Maintenance & Repair
RepairPal provides helpful information on estimated maintenance and repair costs for vehicles. According to the company’s data, the Nissan Altima has average ownership costs compared to other cars.
Estimates for the total yearly cost for maintenance and repairs on the Altima are $483. This factors in expenses for scheduled maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations, as well as expected repair costs for common issues like brake pad replacements and engine work. This total yearly estimate puts the Altima below the $526 average for midsize cars and the $652 average for all vehicles.
When looking at repair frequency, Nissan Altima owners bring their cars into the shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.3 times per year, consistent with other vehicles in this class. This occurs 0.4 times a year for all vehicles.
The Nissan Altima has an average likelihood of needing major repairs compared to similar vehicles. RepairPal data shows that 12% of Altima repairs are categorized as severe issues. This rate matches the average across all midsize sedan models. It also aligns with the 12% average probability of severe vehicle repairs in general. So, owners of the Altima face an average chance that a repair will be a substantial and costly fix rather than a minor issue.
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2020 Nissan Altima Reliability: Trouble Areas
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) catalogs vehicle owner complaints for most models sold in the U.S. There are 89 reports about the 2020 Nissan Altima as of this writing. Most issues involve:
- Steering
- Brakes
- Electrical System
- Engine
- Forward Collision Avoidance (a driver-assist feature)
- Other areas (including suspension, structure, fuel/propulsion, and airbags)
In terms of the most severe and most common problems, troubles with the steering, electrical system, and brakes are what to worry about. These are key target areas for any pre-purchase inspection.
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2020 Nissan Altima Reliability: Recalls
While every vehicle recall should be given prompt attention, to date, there have been no recalls for the 2020 Nissan Altima that have had an impact on overall reliability. These troubles deal with the failure of a specific component. For instance, a bad tire won’t affect the dependability of a car’s mechanical systems.
Here’s a summary of the current recalls for the 2020 Nissan Altima. You can check the recall status of any vehicle by visiting the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Rearview Camera Issue (NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V628000, September 8, 2023): This recall was issued because the rearview camera may not properly display an image, increasing the crash risk.
- Tire Failure Risk (NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V169000, March 11, 2021): This recall concerns over-cured tires that may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation. Such issues could lead to tread/belt loss, increasing the risk of a crash due to loss of vehicle control.
- Tie Rod Ball Joint Fastener Issue (NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V138000, March 4, 2021): A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, significantly increasing the crash risk.
- Over-Cured Tires Can Fail (NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V685000, November 5, 2020): Similar to the March 11, 2021 recall, this one also addresses the issue of over-cured tires that can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire.
- Rear Window Glass Separation (NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V570000, September 22, 2020): This recall was issued because the rear window glass may separate from the vehicle, increasing the crash risk.
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