If you’re in the market for a well-appointed midsize sedan with plenty of space for a family of five, the 2020 Nissan Altima is a must-see. And with five trims to choose from, there’s probably an Altima out there for you.
How reliable is the 2020 Nissan Altima?
The 2020 Nissan Altima has great reliability ratings from owners and experts alike. According to J.D. Power, the 2020 Altima also receives a 79/100 rating for “Quality & Reliability.”
- Owner Reviews: 4.56 stars
- Expert Review: 4.4/5
Reliability is a must when you’re shopping for a new-to-you vehicle, which is why we’ve compiled all kinds of information on the 2020 Altima‘s reliability below — including recall notifications from the NHTSA and real owner feedback.
More about the Nissan Altima
As of November of 2020, the Nissan Altima is in its sixth generation of production. This midsize sedan offers seating for five, plus a generous 15.43 cubic feet of dedicated cargo space behind its rear row of seats.
For 2020, the Altima also receives some new features that include standard driver-safety aids on the SR trim and above. Meanwhile, the range-topping Platinum trim now offers memory functions for its mirrors.
Available in five trim configurations, every 2020 Altima comes standard with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine at 188 horsepower. Craving more power? A turbocharged 2.0L at 248 horsepower is available on SR and Platinum models.
It is worth noting, however, that sticking with the standard four-cylinder engine also means having the freedom to opt for all-wheel drive, which is not something you can find every day in a midsize sedan.
The 2020 Altima is generously equipped inside and out, with standard equipment that includes:
- push-button start
- an eight-inch touchscreen display
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Bluetooth® phone and audio connectivity
According to the U.S. News & World Report, the 2020 Altima receives an “about average” reliability rating. This model also comes with a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a limited three-year, 36,000-mile warranty.
2020 Nissan Altima Recalls & Complaints
An online search for 2020 Altima problems and recalls doesn’t yield very many results, which is reassuring for potential buyers. Still, as of November 2020, there is one open recall (plus some consumer complaints) on this model.
Rear Window Glass Recall
You should never have to worry about your car’s glass not being properly secured. Unfortunately, for up to 150 Nissan vehicles (including some 2020 Altima models), this may be an issue.
On vehicles affected by this recall, it was found that the rear window glass may not have been properly secured during assembly. As a result, the window glass can separate from the vehicle.
If this happens while the vehicle is in motion, this can be alarming to drivers and other motorists and may increase the risk of a crash.
Nissan is addressing this recall by offering to replace the back window glass on all recalled vehicles at no charge.
Problems with Automatic Emergency Braking
Source: NHTSA Complaints and VehicleHistory.com Reviews
While more vehicles these days are equipped with automatic emergency braking systems, these features are not always fail-proof. And based on some NHTSA complaints and VehicleHistory reviews, this may be the case with the 2020 Altima.
In one complaint (ID number 11340732) filed with the NHTSA in July of 2020, the owner of a 2020 Altima reports that the car’s automatic braking system failed to engage and caused an accident with just 260 miles on the odometer.
In another NHTSA complaint filed in April of 2020, a 2020 Altima owner reports the opposite problem. In this case, the braking system engaged without reason and caused a rear-end collision.
This seems to line up with a VehicleHistory review posted by Arnold Noriega in July of 2020, which alleges that the car has triggered the automatic emergency brakes on multiple occasions for seemingly no reason.
This reviewer claims that the issue has almost caused two accidents and also caused him to crash into a curb.
Power Steering Failure
Source: VehicleHistory.com Review
You should always be able to rely on your car’s power steering system to handle tight turns and curves. Unfortunately, a review posted by Karie Okerstrom in May of 2020 suggests that this may not be the case.
This 2020 Altima owner reports that the power steering on her vehicle has gone out twice, despite the fact that the car has just 630 miles on it.
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