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Reliability report · 2020 Nissan Altima · ~$1,950/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

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

By Russell, VinCanary founder · How these reports are built · Data updated July 2026

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

The short version

Status
Squawking. 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.
Biggest risk
VC-Turbo engine-bearing recall (25V437) — the must-verify (2.0L VC-Turbo)
First check
Run the VIN and confirm 25V437 (VC-Turbo engine bearings) is completed — the 2020 is the last Altima year in this fire-risk recall.

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

172

Federal complaints

6

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2020 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD (NHTSA VehicleId 14494)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

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.

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.
From the manufacturer’s own recall notice or service bulletin, in its words.

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).VERIFY BY VIN
  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).VERIFY BY VIN
  3. 20V570Rear window glass may not stay secured to the vehicle. Free back-window-glass replacement (2020 Altima, Maxima, Leaf).VERIFY BY VIN
  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).VERIFY BY VIN
  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).VERIFY BY VIN
  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).VERIFY BY VIN

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2020 Altima

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

32 MPG combined (28 city / 39 highway) for the FWD, 2.5L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 41532 (Altima).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 2.5L 29 MPG · FWD, 2.0L turbo 29 MPG.

$1,950/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Insurers lose about 45% more on this vehicle than on the average car. Higher collision losses tend to show up in what you pay for coverage.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Nissan Altima.
Other series: Nissan Altima 4WD 130, where 100 = average.

145 vs 100

45% above average

Theft

Stolen about 29% more often than the average vehicle. Worth pricing comprehensive coverage before you buy, not after.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report WT-22). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Nissan Altima.
Other series: Nissan Altima 4WD 67, where 100 = average.

129 vs 100

29% above average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Recall remedy (ECM reprogram)$0
Recall remedy$0
Recall remedy$0
Recall remedies$0
Recall remedy (camera)$0
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01Run the VIN and confirm 25V437 (VC-Turbo engine bearings) is completed — the 2020 is the last Altima year in this fire-risk recall.
  2. 02Confirm the steering tie-rod recall (21V138) shows completed and check for looseness or clunk in the steering.
  3. 03Verify the rear-glass (20V570) and tire recalls (21V169, 20V685), and check what tires are actually mounted.
  4. 04Test the backup camera in several lighting conditions (23V628) and the AEB/ADAS suite for false-braking on the drive.
  5. 05If a malfunction light is on with reduced fuel economy, ask about the Active Grille Shutter warranty extension (15 years/150,000 miles) by VIN.

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