2020 Nissan Altima Steering Problems

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11695757

Incident

Sep 13, 2025

The tire rod assembly disconnected and caused a near miss accident. The steering was no longer intact. The car had to be towed and repaired to the nearest auto repair shop.

NHTSA ID

11661391

Incident

Mar 8, 2025

While accelerating from a complete stop, the car stalled with tires, powertrain, and steering wheel all locked. For 15 seconds, the steering wheel, tires, and car was unable to be manipulated. During acceleration, the speed was less than 15mph when it came to an abrupt stop. Another car behind me almost hit me when my car came to a stop. Car was just serviced for another warranty issue a few months ago by Nissan dealership.

NHTSA ID

11604036

Incident

Jul 23, 2024

I bought a used (7,000 miles) 2020 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV. Bought the car January (18-19th) 2022. The same week I bought it I noticed a noise coming from the right side of the car. I would later come to find out it was a wheel bearing, which when not fixed can lead to some serious safety concerns. The wheel can potentially come off during driving! At high speeds in particular, that is dangerous. I am glad it did not happen to me, but it could have caused fatal accidents. Anytime I made turned my wheel to the right I heard a low droning/humming/vibrating noise from the opposite side. It was more pronounced with speed and depth of turn. These turns do not have to be very deep; most highways have curves in them, and this is when I would hear the noise. It usually began at speeds of 50-60mph, but as the issue became more pronounced over time (this took a whole year to resolve) this changed, and I was able to hear it from 30-40mph. Nissan did not want to warranty this at first, at multiple dealership locations. More time passed and I noticed the wheel bearing noise getting more and more pronounced. I brought it to another dealership that was not a Nissan dealership, and they said it’s clearly the wheel bearing. That’s the first time I had been told what this could possibly be. I brought it to the local Nissan dealership after this, so I could get this done under warranty. Remember, this has been happening since I bought the car, and I am at less than 17k mileage. I told them I was concerned about the wheel bearing and that I thought this was the issue, and it was more pronounced now than in the past. They said, "the car is fine" and that the noise it’s “normal.” I asked how a loud noise happening only conditionally and to only one side of the car was “normal”, and he had no reply for that. Months later the noise is became incredibly disturbing, and I spoke with the manager, and they finally fixed the wheel bearing under warranty.

NHTSA ID

11572340

Incident

Jan 22, 2022

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

Tie rod ball joint snapped and broke at 15mph causing vehichle to loose control and forced off-road into a fence post. No Collison warning or lane departure warning. I had the vehichle towed back to dealership Nissan Wesley chapel. I was in process of possibly purchasing vehichle. Couldn’t find financing for me so received a letter rescinding their transaction. My ins agency Esurance concluded it a tota loss. Never heard back from Nissan or my ins. agency on what caused it to break. Everytime I asked I was never given a response. I have several photos of vehichle and found a recall for tie rod and ball joint fasteners on same make and year. Would like some answers to this safety issue being if I was going faster I could have been killed. 2 days prior to accident began hearing clicking noise when going over speed bump. Took vehichle for private inspection and a vehicle system scan reported systems w/codes for intelligent cruise control/advanced driver assistance system and laser/radar.

NHTSA ID

11552353

Incident

Feb 9, 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

I brought this car last year of 2020 and I had my car for a year and a half and all of a sudden my drive train is making noise, to a point people on the street thinks it’s gum shots. My car already passed inspection way before this started. I took it back to the place I got it from they had no loaners I have to wait a week to come in I have to drive the car to work and I’m scared it’s gonna lock or break down on me my car should not be having these problems I have receipts of me taking car of my car to ensure nothing happens. Then all of a sudden my airbag lights come so if someone did hit me my airbags would not deploy.

NHTSA ID

11430304

Incident

Aug 19, 2021

I was driving home and my steering wheel locked up on me while my car was in motion. I eased on down the road thinking that it locked because of a safety warning, but it never unlocked. I eased my car onside the road and put it in park. While in park, the power steering light appeared on the dashboard. Once I turned my car off, the steering wheel was still locked. This risked my safety because I was not able to control my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11426991

Incident

Jul 27, 2021

AS A TRUE AND FAITHFUL CUSTOMER OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, I'M FINALLY THROWING IN THE TOWEL IN REGARDS TO MY RECENT 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA SR. WITH ONLY 7500 PRECIOUS MILES, THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER FIVE TIMES NOW, WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD. CONSTANT AND REOCCURRING ISSUE'S PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL SHAKING, WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCING NEVER COMPTED BY NISSAN OF BAYSHORE. I'VE BEEN SUFFERING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL INSTABILITY FROM WORK RELATED DUTIES, AND THIS WAS THE LAST THING I NEEDED. A VEHICLE THATS UNRELIABLE AND POTENTIALLY POORLY MANUFACTURED. I'M GOING ON MY SECOND WINDSHIELD WITHIN THREE MONTHS NOW, AND THIS TIME THEY WON'T WARRANT ANY REPAIR. SO I'M STUCK FOOTING THE BILL, EITHER WAY I'M PAYING. WHETHER IT'S MY INSURANCE RATES GOING UP, OR HAVING TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THAT'S INSANE NOW, COME ON! SEE IT FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS, THE VEHICLE IS UN-OPERABLE, AND UN-RELIABLE. AND DUE TO MY INJURIES, THIS DOESN'T PROVIDE RESONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MY DISABILITIES. I'LL HAVE TO CONFER WITH MY LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE, IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. UNLESS YOU CAN MAKE THINGS RIGHT BY ME, AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS TOGETHER LEGITIMATELY. NOT LIKE THE CHARADES, THAT GOES ON AT NISSAN OF BAYSHORE. BY FAR THE WORST EXPERIENCE I'VE EVER HAD WITH THE LEASE OF A NEW VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. I'M SURE ANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY BUSINESS, AND ACCEPT MY MONEY WITH NO PROBLEMS. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES FOR PUTTING ME THROUGH THIS CONTROVERSY. YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVES, CAN'T HANDLE THE SITUATION, JUST KEEP TAKING IT IN, AND WE'LL FIX IT! INSTEAD OF PROCRASTINATING, JUST REPLACE THE VEHICLE ALREADY, SO I CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH MY LIFE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND COOPERATION AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ID

11389572

Incident

Aug 25, 2020

DURING A SNOW STORM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN COLORADO MY 2020 NISSAN ALTIMA'S FORWARD COLLISION ADAS KICKED IN LOCKING UP MY BREAKS CAUSING ME TO SLIDE INTO A CURB AND NEARLY REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE ALSO CAUSING ALIGNMENT ISSUE'S AND PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACTION SYSTEM. DUE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. IT WAS ON A CITY STREET WHILE I WAS IN MOTION HOWEVER THE FORWARD COLLISION KICKED IN WAY EARLY AND SLAMMED THE BRAKES WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN COLD AND WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE IS A STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUE NEAR THE CARS SUSPENSION WHERE A ROD IS ROUNDED AT THE ENDS, BUT FLAT IN THE CENTER AND WHEN THE COLLISION WITH CURB HAPPENED IT BENT THAT BAR AT THE FLAT PART CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT ISSUE. THIS ACCIDENT ALSO CAUSED MY CAR TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND ABOUT 6 INCHES AND TO DRIVE STRAIGHT REQUIRED ME TO TAKE ONE WHOLE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND TURN MY STEERING WHEEL 90 DEGREES TO STAY STRAIGHT AND ON THE ROAD. THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THIS SYSTEM TO REACT AS IS DID AS IF IT DID NOT REACT I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND SPACE AND WOULDN'T HAVE WRECKED. THE SPEED LIMIT IN THE AREA IS 15MPH AND I WAS GOING NO MORE THAN 10MPH DUE TO THE SNOW AND FROZEN ROADS. THIS HAS GIVEN ME MIGRAINES AND I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY WRISTS, NECK, BACK AND RIBS DUE TO THE WHIPLASH CAUSED AS THE CAR ENDED UP SPEEDING UP HEADING INTO THE CRASH DUE TO THE ABRUPT HARD SLAM OF THE BRAKES CAUSED BY THE FORWARD COLLISION ON ICY ROADS. THE IMAGES ATTACHED ARE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11374757

Incident

Oct 25, 2020

Mileage

2,500 mi

I JUST PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE THROUGH NISSAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT ONLY HAS 2000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I HAD THE CAR MY CAR MAKES LIKE A CLICKING POPPING NOISE WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL WHILE HITTING BUMPS. SO I LOOKED AT REVIEWS AND PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT WITH THE 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THERE HAPPENING WITH THE 2020 TOO... I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND FEEL LIKE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALL BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT ONLY NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SITUATION.... IT FEELS LIKE MY WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF IT'S THAT LOUD...

NHTSA ID

11300306

Incident

Dec 10, 2019