2019 Nissan Altima: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
232 NHTSA owner complaints · 7 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The 2013–2015 Altima is the centre of Nissan's continuously variable transmission problem. The fifth-generation car launched with a Jatco CVT that overheated, shuddered, went into limp mode and, at worst, failed outright; the 2013 model year carries more than 2,300 complaints and scores 23. Read the full note on the model page. 2019 specifically: 232 complaints on record, score 68/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Nissan's CVT problem: the Altima, Sentra, Rogue and Pathfinder years to avoid, including 2019 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 232 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 33.14
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Back up camera did occasionally did work properly. Some time the image went dark, other time the picture changed. It cost me $674 to have the unit replaced and software updated at the dealer. Was told that the Altima has had recalls for this issue, my car was not part of the list. When the dealer ordered the camera they where on backorder.
Active grille shutter failed with DTC P059F, covered under Nissan warranty extension PC989 (15 years/150,000 miles). Vehicle at 64,867 miles. Campbell Nissan of [XXX] denied warranty coverage citing outside influence from debris. However, dealer removed the debris and shutter still does not function, proving debris was not the cause. Tech video shows electronic connection to grille shutter motor — motor did not react…
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with internal engine failure. The contact was informed that there was oil leaking onto the spark plugs. The contact was informed tha…
Recalls: 7 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 23V628000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. |
| 21V169000 | Tires | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. |
| 19V654000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. |
| 19V316000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Altima vehicles equipped with front wheel drive (FWD) and 2.5 liter engines. |
| 18V922000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Nissan North America, Inc (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Altima vehicles. The retainer clip connecting the low pressure fuel tube to the high pressure fuel pump may not have been locked into position. |
| 19V235000 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Nissan Altima vehicles. |
| 25V437000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 32 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,050
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System58 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other49 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine48 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Forward Collision Avoidance41 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Service Brakes29 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Visibility/Wiper14 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
Other Nissan Altima years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Nissan Altima?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (58 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2019 Nissan Altima a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 68/100, computed from 232 NHTSA complaints and 7 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Nissan Altima's most common problem?
58 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 Nissan Altima sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2019 Nissan Altima cost to run per year?
About $4,329 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $21,645 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2019 Nissan Altima have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Nissan Altima, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 08/09/2023. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2019 Nissan Altima really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 232 complaints, 7 recalls on record
- 232 NHTSA complaints on record (33.1/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (29.8/yr)
- 7 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems