Is the 2020 Nissan Altima reliable?

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

How many complaints and recalls does the 2020 Nissan Altima have?

The 2020 Nissan Altima has 172 federal complaints and 6 recalls in the NHTSA data (updated July 2026).

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Altima?

Known issues, ranked by the cost of ignoring them: VC-Turbo engine-bearing recall (25V437) — the must-verify; Tie-rod ball-joint recall (21V138); Rear-window glass recall (20V570); Continental tire recalls (21V169 and 20V685); Backup-camera harness recall (23V628) and AEB false-braking; Active Grille Shutter warranty extension.

What should I check before buying a used 2020 Nissan Altima?

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

2020 Nissan Altima Problems & Reliability — What 172 Owners Report

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Open recalls

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

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

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 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?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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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

01Run the VIN and confirm 25V437 (VC-Turbo engine bearings) is completed — the 2020 is the last Altima year in this fire-risk recall.
02Confirm the steering tie-rod recall (21V138) shows completed and check for looseness or clunk in the steering.
03Verify the rear-glass (20V570) and tire recalls (21V169, 20V685), and check what tires are actually mounted.
04Test the backup camera in several lighting conditions (23V628) and the AEB/ADAS suite for false-braking on the drive.
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.

Own one already?

The canary watches your VIN — new recalls and the mileage where known issues start.

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vincanary.com/nissan/altima/2020

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

Federal crash tests

01Known issues