Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Nissan Altima
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Nissan Altima has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 226 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V315000 Unintentional Release of Primary Hood Latch NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V654000 No Back-Up Camera Display Image/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Unknown or Other 60 complaints
- Service Brakes 48 complaints
- Electrical System 37 complaints
- Air Bags 36 complaints
- Power Train 24 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 15 complaints
Of the 226 complaints on file, 11 report a crash; across all 226 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Nissan Altima has an average reliability rating with 226 owner complaints and two recalls. The most frequent issues involve the service brakes, electrical system, and airbags. While the data is moderate in volume, indicating some reliability concerns, it doesn't suggest widespread or frequent failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 40,000–70,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $200–$1,000 | occasional |
| airbags | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Coolant system check
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Battery inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake pedal feels soft
- Electrical fuses blow frequently
- Airbag warning light illuminates
- Transmission shifts roughly
- Strange noises when steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Nissan Altima at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.