Used car safety, rank #167 of 181
Nissan Altima Safety Rating (2019-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2019-20 Nissan Altima, a midsize car, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2019-20 Nissan Altima has an IIHS driver death rate of 113 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize cars average of 58.1, which is 94% above the class average. That places it #167 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 9.9/100.
What the Nissan Altima death rate means
At 113 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Nissan Altima is 94% worse than the midsize cars average of 58.1. The 95% confidence interval is 75 to 151, entirely above the class average, so the gap is unlikely to be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 94 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Nissan Altima. It is no higher than the Nissan Altima's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest midsize cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Nissan Altima highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota Camry hybrid at a death rate of 19.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry hybrid | 2018-20 | 19 (0 to 38) | 58.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Fusion hybrid | 2019-20 | 25 (0 to 56) | 50.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Accord hybrid | 2018-20 | 45 (1 to 90) | 30.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Accord | 2018-20 | 46 (34 to 57) | 29.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2019-20 | 47 (24 to 69) | 29.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry | 2018-20 | 48 (38 to 59) | 28.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Fusion | 2019-20 | 67 (30 to 104) | 16.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Optima | 2019-20 | 80 (45 to 115) | 14.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Altima (this page) | 2019-20 | 113 (75 to 151) | 9.9 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize cars: 58.1 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Nissan Altima
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Nissan Altima we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Nissan Altima | No award | 39.1 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 9.9 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Nissan Altima
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
6 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering engine and engine cooling, back over prevention, tires, steering, visibility.
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Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.
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Tires
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge.
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Steering: linkages, tie rod assembly
Risk: A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021.
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Tires
Risk: Over cured tires can result in a sidewall break causing a sudden loss of air or the tread separating from the tire. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's tires to see if they are affected, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020.
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Visibility: glass, side/rear
Risk: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Nissan Altima: Common Questions
Is the Nissan Altima a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 113 per million registered vehicle years for the 2019-20 Nissan Altima, 94% above the class average (58.1 for midsize cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 9.9 out of 100 and rank #167 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Nissan Altima driver death rate?
113 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 75 to 151. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Nissan Altima died at a rate of 94 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2019-20 models.
How does the Nissan Altima compare with other midsize cars?
The midsize cars class averages 58.1 driver deaths per million; the Nissan Altima sits at 113. Among the 9 midsize cars compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota Camry hybrid with a death rate of 19.