2020 Nissan Altima Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the auto-braking system unexpectedly activated, and there was a grinding sound coming from the brakes; however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The ABS warning light was illuminated. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the brakes suddenly activated, and the instrument panel illuminated with a vertical yellow light. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and waited for a while before restarting the vehicle to continue driving. The failure reoccurred the following morning while driving 35 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over, turned off, and restarted to continue driving. The failure had occurred approximately 5 times. The contact stated that with the cruise control set to co-pilot, the steering and lane assist features failed to operate as intended, advising the contact to manually steer the vehicle. The failure became more persistent. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11750330

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

Mileage

120,000 mi

I was leaving for work, backing out of the driveway, and the brakes just locked up out of no where. I’ve done this multiple times and the brakes have never done this. I tried pulling up and trying again, turning the car off and back on, and backing a different way out of the driveway. It kept locking up on me and nothing was in the way. My husband had to eventually take me to work. The automatic braking system failed. I’m not sure if it is available for inspection upon request. At the time, my safety or anyone else’s safety was not at risk. I just worry about if it happens while I’m driving on the road. That could defiantly not only put me at risk but also other drivers. No the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer. It just happened this morning. The vehicle has not been inspected. No warning lamps. It did pop up the car with the 3 blocks in front of it on the screen like I’ve seen before, prior to failure, but not the warning about the automatic braking system.

NHTSA ID

11735973

Incident

May 6, 2026

THE VEHICLE HAS ACTIVATED A FALSE AEB ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN AND THEY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE NO ISSUES. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS AND IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR, NEARLY CAUSING A TRAFFIC COLLISION. TWICE THIS YEAR, THE VEHICLE MADE A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HWY AND TOOK A MINUTE BEFORE I COULD RESUME DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11687718

Incident

Sep 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the message "Engine Malfunction" was displayed, and the check engine, traction control, and Forward Collision Avoidance warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the mass air flow sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred days later. The vehicle was then taken to an independent machinic where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the battery was replaced three additional times by several independent mechanics; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11673595

Incident

Jan 15, 2023

Mileage

60,000 mi

Car phantom brakes. There are multiple cases of it online where people are complaining when the front emergency brake warning light comes up at times and the car brakes automatically in empty highways. This happens fairly often

NHTSA ID

11622190

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

I noticed a month ago I was driving and both the rear and front emergency braking lights came on in my dashboard but the car never actually began to brake. Fast forward to today when I was backing in to park my car and the emergency brake engaged and I could not back in. Nothing was around me, I wipe off the sensor and it still would not let me back in. I had to turn off the emergency brake system just to back up my car.

NHTSA ID

11604116

Incident

Jul 23, 2024

This has been happening multiple times since December 25th, 2023. Presently, it's in the shop for the 6th time. This orange light comes on and then right after the vehicle just stops or slows down. Nothing is in front of or behind me. It's random...happens at night or anytime during the day and it stops itself while driving. It has been taken to the dealership 6 times since December and the problem has not been remedied. It is scary getting into the vehicle every time because I wonder, will it happen today? And what if someone is behind me? That could cause a major accident with injuries.

NHTSA ID

11587593

Incident

May 8, 2024

AEB system malfunction for front end. Will not allow cruise control to be used because of it.

NHTSA ID

11575606

Incident

Feb 23, 2024

Front crash warning malfunction on my dash

NHTSA ID

11574172

Incident

Jan 14, 2024

1. Power steering cuts off while driving. Occurs intermittently -- once every two weeks or so. I am guessing that the intermittent nature of this is why more have not reported it. Warning lights show on dash indicating ABS, etc. but codes disappear when car is turned off and back on. Yes, you can inspect this. We bought a BlueDriver OBDII with an app because we couldn't capture this and the dealer couldn't recreate the problem. I have the records of the codes. We were able to get the vehicle to the dealer while still running and they are fixing it by replacing the ABS computer (at significant cost). 2. Sudden loss of power steering could result in a major accident -- especially in emergency situations, at higher speeds or if the driver was weaker/smaller. My wife drives this car, and it was a major shock when this happened. Fortunately, she was moving less than 30 mph when this happened -- and she was not trying to avoid an accident. 3. The problem has been reconfirmed by Regal Nissan Service at this time. [XXX] See above for description of how hard it was to capture this condition. 4. The component has been deemed unworking. I believe that the dealer is just replacing it, however, vs, in-depth diagnosing at the corporate level. 5. The warning lights come on at the same time the power steering stops. There is absolutely no pre-warning. We have no idea if the ABS system also stops working because conditions were dry, speed was low, no slamming on of brakes -- but I am guessing that the ABS also wouldn't work. That's a guess. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11559839

Incident

Dec 4, 2023

The forward collision warning light comes on saying their is a malfunction. It stays on for a couple of days, and then it goes away and comes back again a couple of days later. I had my sister husband hook up a diagnostic scanner on the car, and he said that it displayed no error codes for the problem. I believe this should be a safety recall because i noticed a lot of people driving the 2020 nissan altima have the same problem as me.

NHTSA ID

11528246

Incident

May 4, 2023

Problemas en los frenos

NHTSA ID

11519544

Incident

Feb 14, 2023

When making a routine right-hand turn, the steering system failed. Driver had an unresponsive vehicle which crashed into a bridge rail. Driver was taken for medical attention. No warning lights prior to the crash. Vehicle has only been serviced by the dealer Nissan Peacock of Houston since purchased in December of 2019. A vehicle recall (NHTSA Campaign ID: 21V138000) was issued for this year, make, and model, but not for this particular VIN. This recall was for the tie rod ball joint fasteners.

NHTSA ID

11511403

Incident

Mar 10, 2023

When braking there is a popping noise coming from the front of the car. And the Foward Braking light comes on for 5-10 mins of driving time then goes off

NHTSA ID

11441648

Incident

Nov 19, 2021

CAR SLAMMING ON BRAKES WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLE IS AROUND GAS GUAGE START TO READ WRONG

NHTSA ID

11398406

Incident

Feb 24, 2021

Mileage

18,125 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD BUT TO NO AVAIL; DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, HE BUMPED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM AT 5 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED DUE TO THE FAILURE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL DRIVING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. CONCORD NISSAN (1290 CONCORD AVE, CONCORD, CA 94520) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION; THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260.

NHTSA ID

11340732

Incident

Jul 16, 2020

Mileage

260 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONTACT STATED SHORTLY AFTER THEY PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLE THEY NOTICED THE HOOD OF THEIR VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALIGN PROPERLY. CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SPECIALIST WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITH A BUMP STOP NOD. HOWEVER, VEHICLE'S HOOD BECAME LOOSE AND BEGAN TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE. CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE' S REMOTE START BUTTON BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. ALSO, WHEN THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, OR WHENEVER, THEY ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEY NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO BRAKE AND HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD SUDDENLY ACTIVATE OR THE BRAKES, THEMSELVES, WOULD PREMATURELY ACTIVATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP (COGGIN NISSAN ON ATLANTIC IN JACKSONVILLE ADDRESS: 10600 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246 PHONE: (904) 747-3915) WHO INFORMED THEM THAT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND THE SHUTTER GRILL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE'S SHUTTER GRILL WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE DAYS AFTER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR RIGHT LEG, BOTH ARMS AND HEAD. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE A SUPPLEMENTARY AID, AS WELL AS, OPENED A CASE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,619. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED ON 01/19/2020 WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM PREMATURELY ENGAGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND THE TIRES BEGAN SPINNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A CRASH.*JS CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING SHE WAS CUTOFF BY ANOTHER CAR. WHILE BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP H

NHTSA ID

11322402

Incident

Mar 31, 2020

Mileage

1,619 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC BRAKING ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH NO OBJECTS WERE PRESENT BEHIND THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE SWITCHING TO THE REVERSE THE MESSAGE INDICATING AN OBJECT WAS BEHIND THE VEHICLE WAS DISPLAYED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND VIBRATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM ALSO EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (METRO NISSAN OF MONTCLAIR (9440 AOTPEX ST. MONTCLAIR, CA) WHO INDICATED THE CRASH AVOIDANCE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11307037

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

Mileage

3,000 mi