Is the 2018 Nissan Altima a bad year?
226 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Nissan Altima are in line with other Altima years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
3th quietest of 20 Altima years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Altima owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 35,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 49 (22%) | 16k–44k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 37 (16%) | 20k–52k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 36 (16%) | 30k–69k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 14 (6%) | 35k–99k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 24 (11%) | 47k–82k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 11 (5%) | 47k–75k miles · ahead | — |
| Collision avoidance | 15 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 12 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 12 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 35,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 226 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 5 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
14 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2018 Nissan Altima: 2
If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time. Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 88
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Nissan Altima. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
DTC P17F0 or P17F1 stored in the TCM
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
DTC P17F0, P17F1, P0776, P2813, P1715, and/or P0841 stored
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Neighbouring years
2017 Altima: 393 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2019 Altima: 234 complaints, keep it.
Every Nissan Altima year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Altima years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Nissan Altima a bad year?
226 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years. At 35,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Altima?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (49), electrical system (37), air bags (36), engine (14), transmission and drivetrain (24).
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Altima have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Latches and locks (NHTSA 20V-315), Backup camera (NHTSA 19V-654). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.