2016 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 09/08/2026

86Engine complaints

15.6%Of all 553 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN232 · 42%

ENGINE86 · 15.6%

Unspecified / other81 · 14.6%

AIR BAGS69 · 12.5%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL64 · 11.6%

Share of the 553 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Nissan Altima overview page.

What owners report

“ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. MUST DISCONNECT BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR STATIONARY”NHTSA complaint 11172682 — filed 01/28/2019

“WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD DECREASE IN SPEED AND ACTED IF IT WANTED TO STALL.I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP…”NHTSA complaint 11164391 — filed 01/01/2019

“NOV 2017, ALTIMA HAD 18,173 MILES, NOT ONE YEAR OLD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVE IT. TOOK IT TO DEALER IN…”NHTSA complaint 11138950 — filed 10/08/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Nissan Altima have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Nissan Altima: 86 of 553 complaints on file (15.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Nissan Altima have in total?

553 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 28 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 32 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 09/08/2026.