Is the 2018 Nissan Altima a good car?
An honest AI verdict — reliability, common problems, and real cost to own.
B7.5/10
The 2018 Nissan Altima SL is a reasonable choice if you prioritize fuel economy and comfort. However, be attentive to transmission health.
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Pros
- Fuel efficient for its class
- Comfortable seating and interior
- Good standard safety features
Cons
- Mediocre handling
- CVT can be problematic
- Interior material quality could be better
Ownership at a glance
Fuel economy
27 mpg
Maintenance cost
$1,000/yr
Expected lifespan
200,000 miles
Common problems to watch for
- CVT transmission problems
- AC compressor issues
- Fuel pump failure
CarsJudge exclusive data
Active recalls (2)
The 2018 Nissan Altima has 2 NHTSA recalls on record. Most recent: Back Over Prevention — Sensing System — Camera (campaign 19V654000). All recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
- Latches/Locks/Linkages — Hood — Latch — Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch m…
- 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 Vers…
Recall data: NHTSA. Owner costs & MPG: anonymized aggregates from CarsJudge users who track this vehicle. Updated 2026-07-05.
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This AI-generated assessment is general guidance only, not a substitute for a professional inspection. Always inspect a used vehicle before purchase.