10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,692 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Nissan Altima brakes problems

brakes problem

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2018 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Dec 182019

Altima

  • 51,970 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A warning in the dash that says, 'front radar unavailable due to obstruction.' The vehicle does this while in motion. The vehicle has 52190 miles on it at this time. The warning will reset when turning off the car and restarting. There are no items obstructed. Nissan dealership stated very common and replacing a lot of them. $1200 is the cost of repair quoted and the service advisor knew that without looking it up. This has to do with the radar sensor that is used for the automatic emergency braking system.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #26

Dec 012019

Altima

  • 21,000 miles
Intermittent front radar. Warning message will appear stating "front radar unavailble due to obstruction" when there is not an obstruction, then the system deactivates the automatic emergency braking. After a few minutes, the "obstruction" is cleared and the system resumes functionality. This will repeat quite often. While I own a Nissan Altima, it appears this is an issue in the Nissan Sentra, as well.

- Gaffney, SC, USA

problem #25

Nov 212019

Altima

  • 45,000 miles
Front radar obstruction goes off. Recently it caused problems with my ABS to not work and disengage at times. Could be driving on an empty road and it will go off.

- Union Grove, WI, USA

problem #24

May 182018

Altima

  • 100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. While driving around a curve at 25 mph, the steering malfunctioned and it was difficult to control the vehicle. Also, the brakes malfunctioned without warning, loud squeaking noises were heard, and it was difficult to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to jackson Nissan (2400 seymour rd, jackson, mi 49201, (517) 788-8300) at least ten times since it was first leased in may of 2018. The dealer recently replaced the brake pads and power steering pump. The failures recurred and the contact was reluctant to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer sent the contact a settlement release and offered to pay $2,000. By signing the release, the contact would relieve the manufacturer of all legal responsibility if something went wrong. The failure mileage was 100.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #23

Nov 102019

Altima

  • 10,000 miles
While driving on the highway, during the morning, my car activated the brakes on its own, this is the second time this happens the first time I took it to the dealer and asked for the sensors to be removed, and kept it for a whole day and apparently nothing was done, secondly the (front radar obstruction) is becoming annoying. Another of the issues I encountered with this my Altima is the shifting, from 2nd to 3rd gear it feels as if the gears were stuck, also took it in the dealer and they said this could not be true because my Altima doesn't have a regular transmission it has a band, so I responded, you know more than me, just please make a note of my issue and I don't want to be stuck with a lemon, I am sure I'm not the only one that has encountered these issues

- Santa Paula, CA, USA

problem #22

Aug 202019

Altima

  • 42,961 miles
The forward collision warning component becomes 'unavailable' when there is nothing (no dirt or rain, snow) blocking the sensor. I keep the sensor wiped clean and on a nice sunny day, while vehicle is in motion on the highway, boulevard, residential streets. The sensor warning will tell me 'fcw unavailable' with the 'symbol' of two cars crashing. It goes on for a while then off then back on again. In the photo below, I'd just pulled over to take the picture of the symbol. (this was 08/20/19.10 days after my car purchase 08/10/19) at that time the symbol only is showing. I'd just turned off the boulevard from driving 40mph. Can't get a pic of message while car is in motion, of course. This is now a regular occurrence for the 3 months I've had my car. Taking into mechanic to get it checked end of November 2019. This warning occurs at various speeds.

- Rome, NY, USA

problem #21

Nov 062019

Altima

  • 47,540 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Automatic emergency breaking turns off constantly. When a truck towing a trailer passed me a light came on and a message flashed on the dash. It said that the radar was unavailable because of an obstruction. It happened again at an intersection. It seems to go off several times a day when it senses cars beside me, at intersections, turning... I made an appointment with Nissan service at jeff wyler kong"S Nissan in mason Ohio. They found dtc # C1A16 radar stain and C1B55-97 radar blockage. They reprogrammed the radar unit. It still didn?T work. They said the part needs to be replaced to the tune of $1637.86. We bought this car specifically for the aeb. We researched it?S reliability through consumer reports. I checked and there were no recalls. There were no accidents on the vehicle?S history report. I?D run a small general obd reader that did not show the code before buying. We are pretty mad to have extended ourselves to pay more for something that doesn?T work. I?ve called 1800nissan1 so we?ll see if they fix it. So far they?ve only told me it?S not covered, despite how many Nissan models and years are all having the same issue. We couldn?T see it bc they haven"T recalled it.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #20

Nov 062019

Altima

  • 29,778 miles
While driving a sensor light appears and reads obstruction unavailable and stays for several minutes before turning off this happens at least 5 to 6 times a week. Another problem im having is a knocking sound under driver feet while driving and turning I took it in to have it checked and the technician drove it heard the sound kept the car a whole day but said he couldn't find anything wrong but clearly there is a problem if he and I hear can hear the noise. When I picked the car up it still makes the same sound and I'm afraid while driving something may happen to the wheels. It sounds to me like this is a rotor problem. I've taken the car in twice regarding this same problem and it has not been fixed. Since purchasing this car it has been in service at least 10 times with different problems 3 times for brakes, one time for not being able to push brake to start two times for excessive wind noise from windows had front and back brakes replaced twice and now having to take it back to replace window seals and knocking noise that has not been fixed. Nissan really did a poor job building the particular car not even two years from purchase with several problems very unsatisfied customer

- Tuskegee, AL, USA

problem #19

Jun 302019

Altima

  • miles
The front collision radar sensor keeps going off and on. Took into dealer and said it was a very common problem and don't know why it is not recalled yet. The part is $1500 which is over 10% of the vehicle. This is a safety issue as I do not know when it is on or off. The the sensor goes off stay front sensor is unavailable due to obstruction and there is nothing there. It will turn off and on several times in a drive.

- Morrow, OH, USA

problem #18

Oct 012019

Altima

  • 45,500 miles
The front electronic braking system Feb intermittently goes out saying "front radar obstruction" every time I drive the car. If the car is turned off then back on it works normally but will happen again within an hour or so every time it's driven, no exceptions.

- Anna Maria, FL, USA

problem #17

Oct 172019

Altima

  • 19,575 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the vehicle, notification of "Feb: Unavailable front radar obstruction" comes on and stays illuminated for upwards of 5 to 10 minutes before turning off. This occurs when there are no vehicles in front of mine and no road hazards that would have triggered it to turn on. I feel that this is a big safety issue with the way the car is designed to stop when it detects a hazard. This started out randomly over this past summer and in the last week, has been a daily occurrence. When I spoke to the dealership about it, the soonest they had an opening to address it is a month away. No a happy camper, feels like they are not as concerned as I am with the safety of my vehicle. Brake switch failure less than one year of ownership of the vehicle. Unable to push the brake pedal in to start the vehicle. The only way to get the switch to release is to tap on it with a hammer. This issue has been occurring fairly regularly for the past week before I could get it to the dealership today. (is supposed to be fixed tomorrow??) at one point, the vehicle failed to start altogether. Popped the hood to jump start it, and noticed black powdery stuff on the top of the battery as though the batter had gotten too hot and boiled over possibly. The dealership test the battery and told me that my battery is fine and fully charged. This was after I had it on the charger for several hours yesterday so that it would start for me to take it to the dealership.

- Blanco, NM, USA

problem #16

Sep 202019

Altima

  • 30,100 miles
2018 Nissan Altima has a defective push start and braking system. Unable to start car with push start because it feels as if the brakes are stuck. Have to continously pump the break in a effort to get the brake to release in order to start the car.

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #15

Oct 172018

Altima

  • 1,500 miles
I was driving at 45 mph on a city street. The automatic braking system engaged when a gust of wind blew leaves in front of my car. Fortunately no cars were close behind me because it was as if I slammed on the brakes. Being triggered by leaves seems too sensitive.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #14

Sep 122019

Altima

  • miles
2018 Nissan Altima has a defective push start and braking system. Unable to start car with push start because it feels as if the brakes are stuck. Have to continously pump the break in a effort to get the brake to release in order to start the car. There is also an issue with the front radar sensors. I while in motion I randomly receive an audible alert and warning message saying that the front radar is unavailable due to obstruction yet there would nothing in front of the car.

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #13

Aug 062019

Altima

  • 42,000 miles
My 2018 Nissan Altima randomly throws out a message to the dash saying, "front radar unavailable due to obstruction" and this is accompanied by a warning beep, which causes a moment of panic. This occurs even on an open road with no other cars or obstructions present. This is an obvious safety concern since the braking system is disabled when this occurs. We went to the local dealer and they want $165 to diagnose problem and $1000 to fix it because we are out of warranty. We purchased the car second hand with 42K miles. They told us that this is a common problem as they see this all the time. We opened a case with Nissan (36978530) and was told they could not help us unless we spent the money to have the problem diagnosed. So, at this point, Nissan is not standing by their product and one of the major reasons we bought the car is not working. And, Nissan knows it!

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #12

Aug 162019

Altima

  • 11,996 miles
The car will not start if the break is somehow "stuck". you have to pump on the breaks to release it for the car to start. If the car does start, the breaks may be stuck when I come to a complete stop at which time the car can't drive faster than 5 mph and sometimes the car just stays in one spot. I have two other Nissan cars and I have experienced the same problem. I truly believe that Nissan has issues with the break system. This is dangerous for people driving on the road with this problem. The dealer is not wanting to fix this problem until their computer generates a code. On my other two cars, the problem got really bad before their system was able to duplicate the problem. People can be stranded if their car doesn't start or get into an accident if the car can't move after a complete stop.

- La Puente, CA, USA

problem #11

Jul 252019

Altima

  • 25,000 miles
I have 2018 Nissan Altima sr special edition with about 25,000 miles on it. For the past few months the indicator front radar unavailable due to obstruction has been going off constantly. Last night when I was coming home from work on a major highway the indicator came up and shortly after the blinking yellow indicator of a car came up and started breaking by itself, twice. The first time I was traveling about 75 mph and the drivers assistant started breaking. There was not a car in front of me or around me at all. I pulled over immediately and saw nothing in the way of the sensor. The second time it happened probably about 10 miles from the first time it happened. Then, I turned off the 'drivers assistants'. this could have been a very bad accident if there was another car around me at the time. I took my car in this morning to the dealership I bought the car from. The service girl who I deal with every time I go to the dealership for service. Got my car right in and found out the sensor was bad and it needed to be replaced and got me into a loaner vehicle because I needed to go to work and couldn't wait. I'll be picking up my car tomorrow and hoping this won't happen again!! Nissan you should issue a recall on the matter right away. Obviously by reading other consumers issue they are the same as mine and that is why I am writing this review!

- Long Branch, NJ, USA

problem #10

Jun 032019

Altima

  • 24,000 miles
I drive a black 2018 Nissan Altima sr special edition. My car currently has 24,000 miles on it. As I was driving down the street my automatic braking system was activated and my car slowed down and tried to stop on its own. I understand that the purpose of the ABS is to assist drivers in safely stopping the vehicle when they are to close to an object and/or another car in front of them. However there was no car in front of me when this occurred. It is now happening consistently and I'm afraid to drive it, especially with my two year old son in the car. This could be very dangerous and potentially fatal if it happens at the wrong time!!!

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #9

Jun 142019

Altima

  • 18,989 miles
I bought my 2018 Nissan Altima sr midnight edition around October 2018. When I reached about 8,500 miles the cars front radar sensor went off, and my Altima would say front radar unavailable due to obstruction, and this would go on and off the whole week. I called the dealer and they told me to come and we'll take a look at it. That week I went to the dealership and they told me that it's cover by warranty and that the front radar sensor needs to be recalibrated. Waited the whole day for them to fix it. When I left the dealership 10 miles out the front radar went off again, and I was fuming that my new car is doing this. I called back and told the that the sensor is doing the same thing again. They told me that they will order and new sensor for you and will fix it when the part arrives. Two weeks later the dealership never called or emiled me. I call them up and they said that the part is here and to bring the car in anytime. So I go in to the dealership and they changed the part. Day 1 was good no issues. Day 2 was good no issues. Day 3 the cars ABS system kicks in and brings my car to a full stop for no reason what so ever. There was no car in front of me, no pedestrians nothing. The weather was a clear sunny day and I driving in manhattan with a client in my car going 25 mph. The whole car was shaking I heard the tire skid and the whole car was shaking, I got soo scared. The car behind me almost hit me and the guy comes out his car arguing with me on why I stoped suddenly for no reason. I told him it wasn't me the car stoped on it's own, but he didn't believe me and gave me a couple cuss words. I was in rage, and scared at the same time. I called the dealership again and told them the issues, they told me come in and we'll look at it for you. Im so angry because I could have been in an accident form the same thing that is supposed to prevent an accident.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #8

Jun 092019

Altima

  • 14,500 miles
The aeb (automatic emergency braking) system malfunctions continuously. I get a warning (front senors unavailable due to obstruction) but there is no obstruction. This shuts off the safety system that was designed to sense and stop the vehicle in an emergency. Many, many other Nissan owners are having this same issue and Nissan is failing to do a recall and fix it. Just as the system alerted me while driving yesterday, it then quickly shut off saying there was an obstruction. It was not adverse weather conditions and nothing was covering the front of the car. I stopped in time. I have an appointment this week with the Nissan dealer, but with this being a marketed as a safety feature, and included as part of the safety ratings systems by the government, it should be a recall by Nissan. I purchased the car because of the safety system and ratings.

- St Joseph, MI, USA

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