Nissan · Known Issues
2018 Nissan Altima Problems: 16 Known Issues
2018 model year · 6,720+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2018 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2018 model year · 6,720+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2018 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 6,720+ owner reports, the 2018 Nissan Altima has 16 documented known issues, with 6 rated critical. The most serious are CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder ($300-$5,000 repair), Steering Column Lock Failure ($400-$1,200 repair), Secondary Hood Latch Corrosion Allowing Hood to Fly Open at Speed (Recall 20V315, Multiple Campaigns), P0741 — Torque Converter Clutch Stuck Off from JATCO CVT Lockup/Valve Body Fault ($300-$4,500 repair), VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners ($1,200-$2,500 repair) and P0016 — Crank/Cam Position Correlation from Stretched Timing Chain & Worn Guides/Tensioner ($1,000-$2,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder with 4,500 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $60 to $5,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Nissan 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."
TIRES
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Nissan 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.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
TIRES
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima S grade vehicles equipped with Continental ProContact TX tires, size 215/60 R16 H, with TIN date code 3320 and Mold ID S-419149. The tires may have been over cured.
+ 5 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 6,720+ owner reports, the 2018 Nissan Altima has 16 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder, Steering Column Lock Failure, Secondary Hood Latch Corrosion Allowing Hood to Fly Open at Speed (Recall 20V315, Multiple Campaigns). Of these, 6 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2018 Nissan Altima has 16 known issues documented across 6,720+ owner reports. 6 issues are rated critical: CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder and Steering Column Lock Failure and Secondary Hood Latch Corrosion Allowing Hood to Fly Open at Speed (Recall 20V315, Multiple Campaigns) and P0741 — Torque Converter Clutch Stuck Off from JATCO CVT Lockup/Valve Body Fault and VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners and P0016 — Crank/Cam Position Correlation from Stretched Timing Chain & Worn Guides/Tensioner. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Nissan Altima issues range from $60 to $5,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder, typically costs $300-$5,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The CVT transmission is known for reliability issues including shuddering, jerking, and complete failure. Nissan extended the CVT warranty on some model years to 10 years/120,000 miles due to widespread problems. High-mileage CVTs are particularly at risk. Repairs typically run $300-$5,000. Severity: high.
The electronic steering column lock can malfunction, preventing the car from starting. The system fails to release the steering lock even with the correct key. This is a safety feature that can strand drivers. Repairs typically run $400-$1,200. Severity: high.
Recall 20V315000 covers certain 2013-2018 Altimas. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, the secondary latch may be corroded or contaminated and fail to engage, allowing the hood to open while driving. It follows earlier Altima hood-latch recalls whose remedies did… Severity: high.
The Altima's JATCO continuously variable transmission (RE0F10-series) uses a torque converter with a lockup (TCC) clutch, and P0741 sets when the TCM detects an rpm slip mismatch showing the lockup clutch is not engaging as commanded (stuck off). On Altima CVTs the code is common… Repairs typically run $300-$4,500. Severity: high.
On the 3.5L VQ35DE V6 the plastic secondary timing chain guides/tensioner shoes become brittle and break, and the secondary (cam) chain tensioners lose tension. This produces a loud rattle or whine from the front of the engine, most pronounced for the first few seconds of a cold… Repairs typically run $1,200-$2,500. Severity: high.
P0016 is one of the most well-documented Altima powertrain failures and is a hallmark of the 2.5L QR25DE (it also affects the 3.5L V6). The ECM sets P0016 when the camshaft (Bank 1, Sensor A) and crankshaft signals fall out of their expected relationship. On the Altima this is mo… Repairs typically run $1,000-$2,500. Severity: high.
The A/C compressor can fail, particularly on vehicles in hot climates. When the compressor fails internally, it can contaminate the A/C system with debris. Clutch failure is also common. Repairs typically run $500-$1,500. Severity: medium.
On the Altima's 2.5L QR25DE four-cylinder (and Bank 1 of the 3.5L V6), P0171 sets when the fuel-trim correction runs beyond about +25% because unmetered air is entering the engine downstream of the mass-air-flow (MAF) sensor. The two dominant Altima-specific culprits are (1) the… Repairs typically run $120-$600. Severity: medium.
A failed front ABS wheel speed sensor (or its corroded/damaged wiring) is a common cause of the simultaneous ABS, VDC (vehicle dynamic control), and SLIP warning lights on the Altima. Because the sensor feeds speed data to multiple modules, one bad sensor lights several warnings… Repairs typically run $80-$350. Severity: medium.
The 2.5L QR25DE four-cylinder is widely documented for repeated coil-on-plug ignition coil failures, with cylinders 1 and 4 (the end cylinders) failing most often. A failing coil triggers a single-cylinder misfire, rough idle, hesitation, and a flashing check engine light. Failur… Repairs typically run $60-$400. Severity: medium.
P0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold) is one of the most common check-engine codes on the 2.5L Altima. The integrated exhaust-manifold/catalyst on these cars loses efficiency as the substrate degrades, the downstream oxygen sensor begins tracking the upstream sensor,… Repairs typically run $300-$1,850. Severity: medium.
P0174 references Bank 2, which physically exists only on the Altima's 3.5L VQ35DE V6 (the inline-4 has no Bank 2), so this code points specifically at the V6 rear cylinder bank. It nearly always appears together with P0171, and that pairing is the diagnostic tell: a lean conditio… Repairs typically run $250-$800. Severity: medium.
Some Altima owners experience unexplained battery drain, resulting in a dead battery after sitting for a few days. Various electronic modules not going to sleep properly can cause excessive draw. The Intelligent Key system may also be a factor. Repairs typically run $100-$500. Severity: low.
On the Altima, P0128 sets when the ECM sees that engine coolant fails to reach its target operating temperature (roughly 180-200F) within the expected time/warm-up cycle. The overwhelming Altima-specific cause is a thermostat stuck open (or a thermostat that opens too early), whi… Repairs typically run $180-$550. Severity: low.
Owners report widespread clearcoat/paint peeling and flaking, with the hood and roof typically the worst-affected horizontal panels, sometimes coming off in large jagged strips. A class-action lawsuit (filed Nov 2023) alleges a defective/insufficient primer on 2017-present Nissan… Repairs typically run $300-$3,000. Severity: low.
After a loose/failed gas cap, the most common cause of EVAP leak codes (P0455 large leak, P0456 very small leak) on the Altima is a failed EVAP canister vent control valve mounted near the charcoal canister at the rear of the vehicle. The valve seal sticks or fails to seal, so th… Repairs typically run $60-$250. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.