Nissan Altima
2021 Nissan Altima
S, SV, SR, SL and Platinum, with the SR also available with the 2.0L VC-Turbo. All-wheel drive is optional on S, SV, SR and SL with the 2.5L, which is unusual in this class. The VC-Turbo is front-wheel drive only.
Overview
The 2021 Altima is the third year of the sixth-generation car that arrived for 2019. For 2021 Nissan made Safety Shield 360 standard across the range — automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning and high beam assist — and added a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay on SV and above.
Two things make this car unusual for a mid-size sedan. All-wheel drive is available with the standard 2.5L, which almost nothing else in the segment offers at this price. And the optional VC-Turbo is a genuinely novel engine that physically varies its compression ratio between roughly 8:1 and 14:1 using a multi-link mechanism instead of a conventional connecting rod.
- Every 2021 Altima uses Nissan's Xtronic CVT. There is no conventional automatic option, and the CVT is the defining long-term question for this car.
- The 2.5L is the sensible choice — 188 hp, roughly 32 mpg combined, and a far simpler engine than the VC-Turbo.
- The VC-Turbo is fascinating and complex. It is a low-volume engine with a mechanism nothing else uses, which matters when you think about independent repair 100,000 miles from now.
- Rear seat space, ride comfort and highway fuel economy are the Altima's genuine strengths.
Reliability & running costs
A good car with one unresolved reputational overhang. The body, interior, brakes and 2.5L engine give very little trouble, and the Altima is comfortable and cheap to run. The Xtronic CVT is better than its predecessors but remains the expensive failure point, and replacement cost is high enough relative to the car's value that it can total a high-mileage example. Fluid discipline is the difference between a 200,000-mile Altima and a 110,000-mile one.
- Reliability score
- 3.0 / 5
- Maintenance + repairs, per year
- $500–$900 per year, maintenance and repairs
Recalls
Nissan has issued safety recalls covering various sixth-generation Altima build ranges. Because coverage is defined by production date rather than model year alone, check your specific VIN on the NHTSA recall database rather than relying on a model-level summary. Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer regardless of mileage or how many owners the car has had, and it is worth re-checking annually since new campaigns are issued long after a model year ends.
Known issues on the 2021 Nissan Altima
Reported by owners of this model year specifically — not generic advice.
- HighTypically 60,000–110,000 milesXtronic CVT Shudder, Hesitation and OverheatingA judder at 20–40 mph, a delay when accelerating from a stop, or a sudden loss of power in hot weather or on long climbs as the transmission protects itself.Typical fix $200–$5,000 fluid service at the low end; replacement at the high end
- ModerateTypically 20,000–50,000 milesPremature Battery Failure and No-CrankThe car will not crank after a few days parked, or a cluster of unrelated warning lights appears when voltage sags. Commonly reported across this generation.Typical fix $200–$550 battery plus diagnosis
- LowTypically Any mileageNissanConnect Screen Freezing and Camera FaultsThe center display locks up, reboots, or loses the reversing and around-view camera image while the rest of the system works.Typical fix $0–$1,200 usually free; head unit replacement at the top
- ModerateTypically Any mileageAutomatic Emergency Braking Activating Without CauseThe forward collision system brakes hard or throws a warning when nothing is in the road — most often reported near overpasses, metal plates, guardrails or in heavy rain.Typical fix $0–$450 cleaning free; camera recalibration at the top
Engines offered
| Engine | Layout | Output | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| PR25DD2.5L | Inline-4 | 188 hp | gasoline |
| KR20DDET VC-Turbo2.0L variable-compression turbo | Inline-4 | 236 hp | gasoline |
Service schedule
What this vehicle needs and roughly when.
5,000 miles / 6 months
- Engine oil and filter — 0W-20 full synthetic
- Rotate tires
- Inspect brake pads, rotors and lines
- Inspect all fluid levels and check for leaks
15,000 miles
- Replace cabin air filter
- Inspect drive belt and tensioner
- Inspect steering linkage, suspension and driveshaft boots
- Inspect exhaust system
30,000 miles
- Replace engine air filter
- Optional early CVT fluid drain and fill with genuine Nissan NS-3 — earlier than Nissan's own schedule, which lists inspection at 10,000 miles or 12 months and replacement at 60,000 miles or 72 months
- Replace brake fluid (every 2 years)
- Inspect CVT cooler lines for restriction or seepage
60,000 miles
- CVT fluid replacement with NS-3 — this is Nissan's own published replacement point for the 2021 Altima, 60,000 miles or 72 months
- Inspect PCV valve and crankcase ventilation hoses
- Inspect wheel bearings and CV joints
- Inspect brake caliper slide pins and lubricate
105,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs on the 2.5L
- Replace engine coolant (Nissan long-life blue), then every 60,000 miles
- Replace serpentine belt if cracked or glazed
- Inspect motor and transmission mounts
120,000 miles
- Third CVT fluid service
- Inspect water pump and thermostat
- Full front-end inspection: ball joints, tie rods, struts
- Consider intake valve cleaning on the direct-injected 2.5L
Codes this vehicle sets most often
Where the same code has a vehicle-specific root cause.
- P0420
On the 2.5L PR25DD this is worth investigating before you buy a converter, because a lazy downstream oxygen sensor produces the same code for a fraction of the price. Also check for exhaust leaks at the flex pipe — a small leak upstream of the rear sensor lets in oxygen and mimics a failed converter exactly. Read the P0420 guide.
- P0300
The 2.5L is direct-injected without port injectors, so intake valve carbon builds up over time and shows as a cold-start random misfire that clears as the engine warms. Check plugs and coils first, but if they are fine and the misfire pattern is cold-only, carbon is the likely answer. Read the P0300 guide.
- P0455
Nissan's evap monitor runs after the vehicle has been sitting with a partially full tank, so this often appears on the first start of the day. Start with the fuel cap seal, then have the evap canister vent valve checked — it is located under the vehicle at the rear and is exposed to road salt in northern states. Read the P0455 guide.