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2020 Nissan Altima problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2020 Nissan Altima are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).
Does the 2020 Nissan Altima have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 56 of 168 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Nissan Altima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (36). For comparison, the 2019 scores 32% and the 2021 scores 14%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Nissan Altima years
Of the 13 Nissan Altima years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2016 (65%), the best the 2021 (14%). By volume, the 2020 drew 179 complaints (56 drivetrain), against 232 for the 2019 and 70 for the 2021.
Nissan Altima years to avoid and best years →
2010 Altima problems · 2011 Altima problems · 2012 Altima problems · 2013 Altima problems · 2014 Altima problems · 2015 Altima problems · 2016 Altima problems · 2017 Altima problems · 2018 Altima problems · 2019 Altima problems · 2020 · 2021 Altima problems · 2023 Altima problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Nissan Altima
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Nissan Altima said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Nissan Altima engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Nissan Altima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Nissan Altima? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 Nissan Altima
Does the 2020 Nissan Altima have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 56 of 168 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Nissan Altima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Nissan Altima?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Nissan Altima is electrical system: 45 of 179 complaints (25%) name it, followed by engine (36) and forward collision avoidance (29). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 33% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Nissan Altima reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Nissan Altima years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Nissan Altima?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Nissan Altima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 25V437000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Nissan Altima years are better?
Among the Nissan Altima years we track, the 2021 (14%), the 2018 (21%) and the 2023 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-altima
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.