VinCanary

Reliability report · 2020 Nissan Altima · Updated July 2026

Quieter than the launch year, but still inside the VC-Turbo engine-bearing recall — verify it before you buy.

The 2020 continues the gen-6 improvement — 172 complaints, down from 223 in 2019 — but it shares the launch year's most serious item: recall 25V437, the VC-Turbo engine-bearing defect that covers 2019–2020 Altimas. That's the one open recall on this year with real teeth. The 2020 also picks up a steering tie-rod recall and a rear-glass recall.

The complaint mix is shifting away from drivetrain toward engine-cooling and electronics: overheating reports, AEB false-braking, and camera faults. Nearly every issue on this year has a free remedy. The 2020 to buy is the one where the engine-bearing reprogram, the tie-rod fix, and the camera-harness recall are all documented complete.

Evidence: 172 NHTSA complaints · 6 recall campaigns · 7 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Squawking

What that means: 172 federal complaints, down from the 2019, but the 2020 is the last Altima year covered by the 25V437 VC-Turbo engine-bearing recall — the one open campaign with fire risk. A clean, recall-complete 2020 is a settling-down car; an unverified VC-Turbo one carries the year's real hazard.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

This status assumes the riskiest common powertrain — see the Altima engine guide.

172

Federal complaints

6

Recalls

$0

Recall remedy (ECM reprogram)

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

VC-Turbo engine-bearing recall (25V437) — the must-verify

major
  • 2.0L VC-Turbo

The 2020 is the last Altima year in recall 25V437: the VC-Turbo (a variable-compression turbo engine) can have defective engine bearings that lead to engine failure, and a bearing failure can breach the block and discharge hot oil with fire risk. The federal remedy is a free ECM (engine control module) reprogram, with owner letters mailed April 2026. The 2020 complaint file carries the matching signals — overheating and reduced power. This is the single most important thing to verify on a 2020; confirm 25V437 by VIN and treat any reduced-power or overheat warning as a symptom, not a fluke.

What to check

Pink and cleanServiced. Proceed.

Dark brownDamage underway.

This is a 2.0L VC-Turbo problem. The 2.5L QR25DE + Jatco CVT and 2.5L PR25DD + Xtronic CVT don’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

Recall remedy (ECM reprogram)

$0

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Nissan Altima · NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (25V437 engine-bearing, tie-rod, rear-glass, tire, camera recalls; grille-shutter warranty extension)

Tie-rod ball-joint recall (21V138)major

Recall 21V138 covers 2020–2021 Altimas whose tie-rod ball-joint fastener may not have been tightened properly — the ball joint could detach from the steering knuckle and cause a loss of steering control. The free fix tightens or replaces the left and right fasteners. This is a steering-safety item; verify it's closed by VIN before the test drive, and note any looseness or clunk in the steering.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Nissan Altima · NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (25V437 engine-bearing, tie-rod, rear-glass, tire, camera recalls; grille-shutter warranty extension)

$0

Recall remedy

Rear-window glass recall (20V570)moderate

Recall 20V570 (2020 Altima, Maxima, and Leaf) covers rear window glass that may not stay properly secured to the vehicle — glass that separates in motion is a crash risk. The remedy is a free replacement of the back window glass. It's a straightforward fix; confirm completion by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Nissan Altima · NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (25V437 engine-bearing, tie-rod, rear-glass, tire, camera recalls; grille-shutter warranty extension)

$0

Recall remedy

Continental tire recalls (21V169 and 20V685)moderate

Two tire recalls touch the 2020. 21V169 (2019–2020 Altima and some Titans) and 20V685 (2020 Altima S grade with specific Continental ProContact TX tires) both cover over-cured tires that can suffer a sidewall break or tread separation. Dealers inspect and replace affected tires free. If the original tires are long replaced this is moot — but verify the VIN and check what's mounted now.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Nissan Altima · NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (25V437 engine-bearing, tie-rod, rear-glass, tire, camera recalls; grille-shutter warranty extension)

$0

Recall remedies

Backup-camera harness recall (23V628) and AEB false-brakingmoderate

Recall 23V628 (2019–2021 Altima) covers camera-harness damage that distorts or loses the rear image — a free inspect/replace or re-route-and-tape. Separately, automatic emergency braking (AEB — the obstacle-braking system) can false-trigger across gen-6 Altimas; the class-action-era dealer fix is a healthy battery plus clean radar sensors and a software or ECM update. Test the camera in varied lighting and the ADAS suite on the drive; run the VIN for 23V628.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Nissan Altima · NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (25V437 engine-bearing, tie-rod, rear-glass, tire, camera recalls; grille-shutter warranty extension) · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (6th-gen Altima)

$0

Recall remedy (camera)

Active Grille Shutter warranty extensionminor

Not a recall, but worth knowing: Nissan extended the emission warranty on the 2019–2020 Altima's Active Grille Shutter to 15 years/150,000 miles. The shaft connecting the shutter motor to the louvers can twist or crack, sticking the shutter closed and lighting the malfunction indicator (DTC P059F/P159F) with reduced fuel efficiency — no safety or drivability effect. Owners were notified in December 2023; a MIL-on car may qualify for a free replacement. Ask the dealer to check by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (25V437 engine-bearing, tie-rod, rear-glass, tire, camera recalls; grille-shutter warranty extension)

A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
7 mechanic & owner sources

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Open recalls

Free fixes at any Nissan dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 25V437VC-Turbo (1.5L/2.0L variable-compression) engine bearings may fail, risking engine failure and fire. Free ECM reprogram; owner letters mailed April 2026 (2019–2020 Altima, 2021–2024 Rogue, Infiniti QX50/QX55).open
  2. 21V138Tie-rod ball-joint fastener may be loose; the ball joint can detach from the steering knuckle and cause loss of steering. Free tighten/replace (2020–2021 Altima).open
  3. 20V570Rear window glass may not stay secured to the vehicle. Free back-window-glass replacement (2020 Altima, Maxima, Leaf).open
  4. 21V169Certain Continental tires may be over-cured, risking a sidewall break or tread separation. Free inspection and replacement as needed (2019–2020 Altima, 2018–2021 Titan).open
  5. 20V685Certain Continental ProContact TX tires on Altima S grade may be over-cured, risking a sidewall break or tread separation. Free inspection and replacement (2020 Altima S).open
  6. 23V628Backup-camera harness damage can distort or lose the rear image. Free inspect/replace or re-route and tape (2019–2021 Altima, 2020–2021 Sentra).open

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