Free VIN Check
2021 Nissan Altima
Enter your VIN below for an instant free decode with NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and owner complaints.
2021 Nissan Altima — Safety Summary
The 2021 Nissan Altima has 2 NHTSA safety recalls and 70 owner complaints on record. Transport Canada separately lists 2 Canadian recalls for this model. The most frequently reported complaint area is service brakes,forward collision avoidance. It earned an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5. Based on this public data we rate its risk profile as medium. Enter your VIN above to confirm which of these apply to your exact vehicle, then get the Smart Buyer Report for a buyer analysis of this model's reliability, common issues by mileage, and a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
Should you buy the 2021 Nissan Altima in Canada?
The 2021 Nissan Altima shows a moderate amount of recall or complaint activity in public data. It can still be a solid choice, but it is worth checking a few specific areas before you commit.
The best next step is to run the exact VIN and, if the car still looks promising, get a Smart Buyer Report for a model-specific reliability read and an inspection checklist before you visit the seller.
What owners complain about most
The complaint categories reported most often for the 2021 Nissan Altima, based on owner reports in the public NHTSA data.
Complaint patterns suggest where to look — they are not proof any specific vehicle has that issue. Treat them as inspection prompts.
What to check before buying a used 2021 Nissan Altima
- Owners report service brakes,forward collision avoidance concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report electrical system concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report forward collision avoidance concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report engine concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Confirm any open recall work was completed by running the exact VIN.
Canadian ownership considerations
General things worth checking on a used Altima in the Canadian climate — winter, road salt, and cold-weather wear.
- Road salt causes corrosion on rocker panels, brake lines, and subframe points — inspect the undercarriage on salt-belt cars.
- Confirm the heater, defroster, and rear demister work before winter.
- Check battery health and cold-start behaviour for reliable winter starting.
- Look for uneven tire wear that can hint at suspension or alignment issues on rougher winter roads.
Pre-purchase inspection priorities
- Bring a qualified mechanic or book an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Check the undercarriage for rust and corrosion, especially on salt-belt vehicles.
- Confirm all open recalls have been repaired using the VIN.
- Review maintenance records and look for gaps in servicing.
- Test all winter-critical systems: heater, defroster, battery, and (if equipped) AWD/4WD.
Want a buyer-focused summary for this VIN?
The free VIN Check helps you screen the vehicle. The Smart Buyer Report adds buyer risk scoring, inspection guidance, and a buyer-focused summary for this specific VIN.
Unlock the full buyer reportNHTSA Safety Ratings
Government crash test results
NHTSA Recalls
2 recall(s) for this year/model
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
04/03/2021Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
08/09/2023Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.
Transport Canada Recalls
2 Canadian recall(s) from the official Transport Canada database
Steering
2021-03-05Issue: On certain vehicles, the steering tie rod nut may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the tie rod could become loose and separate from the steering knuckle. This could result in a loss of steering control. Safety Risk: A loss of steering control could create a risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail and instruct you take your vehicle to a dealer to re-tighten the nut on the left and right steering tie rods. If the nut is missing, a new nut and washer will be installed.
Visual System
2023-09-11Issue: On certain vehicles, the rearview camera wiring harness could be damaged by movement and vibrations. If this happens, the rearview camera image may not display correctly or may not display at all. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when reversing. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail and advise you to bring your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the rearview camera wiring harness, apply a protective tape, and reroute it. If the wiring is damaged, the rearview camera and wiring harness will be replaced.
Contains information sourced from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database, licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Data is provided "as is" from Transport Canada's monthly release and may not reflect real-time updates. Transport Canada does not endorse this service. Always confirm open recalls with the manufacturer or Transport Canada before purchase.
Owner Complaints
70 complaint(s) filed with NHTSA
Top complaint categories:
Want the full picture?
The free data above comes from public NHTSA records. The Smart Buyer Report adds buyer analysis for this exact model — reliability score, common problems by mileage, real maintenance costs in CAD, a pre-purchase inspection checklist, a market value estimate, and Canadian notes on rust, winter, and fuel.
Compare Related Vehicles
Data disclaimer:Vehicle history information on CarHistoryReport.ca is compiled from publicly available government sources, primarily the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Reports may not include all incidents, recalls, or issues related to a specific vehicle. Data is provided "as-is" without warranty of completeness or accuracy. Always obtain a professional pre-purchase inspection before buying any used vehicle. CarHistoryReport.ca is not liable for purchasing decisions made based on report contents.