Comprehensive guide to Nissan Altima lemon law claims, common defects, NHTSA recalls, and your legal rights as an owner.
Model years covered: 2013-2024
The Nissan Altima has long been a popular choice for midsize sedan buyers, offering a blend of affordability, comfort, and fuel efficiency. However, despite its widespread appeal, certain model years—particularly those spanning the 5th and 6th generations (2013-2024)—have been plagued by persistent mechanical and electrical defects. These recurring issues have led to numerous recalls, technical service bulletins (TSBs), and class-action lawsuits, making the Altima a frequent subject of lemon law claims nationwide.
The most notorious defect affecting the Nissan Altima is the premature failure of its Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Owners of 2013-2018 models frequently report severe shuddering, hesitation, stalling, and complete transmission failure, often requiring costly replacements. Beyond the transmission, newer models (2018-2022) have faced significant safety concerns regarding the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system, which can activate unexpectedly, as well as widespread infotainment and backup camera failures.
If you own or lease a 2013-2024 Nissan Altima that has spent an unreasonable amount of time in the repair shop or has undergone multiple unsuccessful repair attempts for the same issue, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon. Under state and federal lemon laws, consumers are protected from bearing the financial burden of defective vehicles. Depending on your state's specific statutes, you could be entitled to a full vehicle repurchase (buyback), a replacement vehicle, or a substantial cash settlement, with the manufacturer covering all legal fees.
Total recalls: 15
The 2013-2024 Nissan Altima has been subject to several significant safety recalls. One of the most critical early recalls (14V-053) affected 2013 models for improperly tightened transverse-link bolts, which could loosen and cause a loss of steering control. This same recall also addressed a secondary hood latch defect that could allow the hood to open while driving.
In more recent years, the Altima has faced recalls related to its electrical and safety systems. A major recall affected 2019-2020 models for backup cameras that failed to display an image when the vehicle was shifted into reverse, violating federal safety standards. Additionally, nearly 350,000 Altimas from the 2015-2017 model years were recalled due to an improper rear door latch, where lowering a rear window could accidentally unlatch and open the door.
Other notable recalls include issues with the passenger airbag occupant classification system (OCS) in 2013-2016 models, which could fail to deploy the airbag in a crash, and a recall for 2016-2017 models involving a potential leak in the anti-lock brake (ABS) actuator pump that could result in an under-hood fire.
View all Nissan recalls and NHTSA safety alerts
The Nissan Altima has accumulated hundreds of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) between 2013 and 2024, addressing a wide range of non-recall defects. A significant portion of these TSBs focus on the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), providing dealerships with diagnostic procedures for shuddering, hesitation, and software updates for the Transmission Control Module (TCM).
Other notable TSBs address electrical and infotainment issues, particularly in the 2019-2024 models. These include software updates to resolve NissanConnect system freezing, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity drops, and erratic behavior from the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) sensors.
Additionally, TSBs have been issued for suspension noises, such as clicking or popping from the front axles during acceleration, and interior build quality issues like cracking sun visors and rattling trim panels.
The Nissan Altima has been the subject of significant litigation, most notably regarding its Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). In the class-action lawsuit Gann, et al. v. Nissan North America Inc. (Case No. 3:18-cv-00966), plaintiffs alleged that 2013-2016 Altimas suffered from defective CVTs that caused shuddering, hesitation, and premature failure. Nissan agreed to a settlement in 2020, which provided an extended warranty of 24 months or 24,000 miles (up to 84 months/84,000 miles total), reimbursement for out-of-pocket transmission repairs, and a $1,000 voucher for owners who experienced multiple failures.
Another major class-action settlement involved the 2013-2018 Nissan Altima's halogen headlamps. The lawsuit claimed a defect caused the interior reflecting surface of the headlamp to deteriorate, resulting in dangerously dim low beam headlights. The settlement provided owners with replacement headlamps and reimbursement for previous out-of-pocket replacements.
Additionally, Nissan has faced litigation over its Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems in newer models, with plaintiffs alleging the system falsely detects obstacles and triggers sudden, unintended braking, creating a severe safety hazard. While some of these cases are ongoing, many owners have successfully pursued individual lemon law claims for this defect, resulting in vehicle buybacks and cash settlements.
While there isn't a traditional safety recall for the CVT, Nissan settled a class-action lawsuit (Falk v. Nissan) that extended the transmission warranty to 84 months or 84,000 miles for many 2013-2016 Altima models. If your vehicle is outside this window, you may still have a valid lemon law claim if the issue was documented during the warranty period.
Unexpected activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system is a known safety defect in newer Altimas. You should immediately report the issue to an authorized Nissan dealer for diagnosis. If the dealer cannot fix the sensor or software issue after multiple attempts, your vehicle may qualify for a lemon law buyback.
In most states, a vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if it has been in the shop for the same defect 3 to 4 times, or if it has been out of service for a total of 30 days or more within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles. However, for severe safety defects like steering or brake failure, only 2 repair attempts may be required.
Yes, in many states like California, you can file a lemon law claim for a used or Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Nissan Altima as long as the vehicle was still covered by the manufacturer's original warranty or a CPO warranty when the defects were first reported and repaired.
If your Altima qualifies as a lemon, you are typically entitled to a vehicle repurchase (buyback), a replacement vehicle of equal value, or a 'cash and keep' settlement where you retain the vehicle but receive financial compensation for its diminished value. The manufacturer is also responsible for paying your attorney's fees.