2016 Nissan Altima MPG
EPA ratings for the 2016 Nissan Altima run from 22–27 mpg in town to 31–39 on the highway, or 26–31 combined, depending on which of its 3 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 31 mpg combined. At the other end, the 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive manages 26 mpg combined, 5 mpg less. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2015 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altima | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 39 | 31 | Regular · 287 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima SR | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Regular · 296 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Regular · 352 g CO₂/mi |
2016 Nissan Altima fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2016 Nissan Altima costs about $2,110 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (31 mpg combined), or roughly 14 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (26 mpg combined) comes to about $2,510 a year, $410 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2016 Nissan Altima specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2016 Nissan Altima: 2.5 L 4-cyl and 3.5 L 6-cyl. It came with a CVT, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Midsize Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 3.5 L | 6 | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2016 Nissan Altima problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 554 owner complaints about the 2016 Nissan Altima.
Power train is the most-reported area (30% of component mentions), followed by engine (11%) and air bags (9%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 50 complaints a year: fewer than the 2015 (79 a year) and more than the 2017 (39 a year).
That ranks 6th of 17 Nissan Altima model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 554, 28 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 17 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 235 | 30% |
| Engine | 86 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 81 | 10% |
| Air bags | 71 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 65 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 42 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 42 | 5% |
| Structure | 29 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 22 | 3% |
| Steering | 16 | 2% |
| Suspension | 12 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 1% |
| Seats | 10 | 1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 1% |
| Wheels | 7 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 6 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 5 | <1% |
| Visibility | 4 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 3 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | <1% |
| Equipment | 1 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 1 | <1% |
| Tires | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
To recap: •Nissan manufactured defective transmissions. •Nissan granted me a warranty extension with a fleeting expiration date (2023) to shift the cost away from them. •In 2020, Nissan performed work on my car. …
I am writing to formally request a recall for my 2016 Nissan Altima due to a known issue with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). …
There is an active recall for the generic 2016 Nissan Altima OCS sensor, but it does not apply to my specific VIN apparently. …
2016 Nissan Altima recalls
The 2016 Nissan Altima has been the subject of 4 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 20V315000 from May 2020, concerns latches/locks/linkages.
Latches/locks/linkages account for 3 of the 4 campaigns, more than any other area.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Altima years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V315000 | May 28, 2020 | Latches/locks/linkages | 2013–2018 |
| 18V915000 | December 19, 2018 | Structure, Latches/locks/linkages | 2015–2017 |
| 17V040000 | January 18, 2017 | Latches/locks/linkages | 2015–2017 |
| 16V244000 | April 26, 2016 | Air bags | 2013–2016 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2016 Nissan Altima; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Nissan Altimas can be compared fairly. Among other 2016 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2016 Hyundai Elantra (31 mpg), 2016 Chevy Malibu (30 mpg) and 2016 Honda Accord (30 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 31 | 2,313 | 164 | 12 |
| 2014 | 31 | 1,114 | 85 | 8 |
| 2015 | 31 | 955 | 79 | 10 |
| 2016 | 31 | 554 | 50 | 4 |
| 2017 | 31 | 393 | 39 | 3 |
| 2018 | 31 | 226 | 25 | 2 |
| 2019 | 32 | 233 | 29 | 7 |
Every Nissan Altima model year compared →
Similar 2016 models
FAQ
Is the 2016 Altima a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2016 Nissan Altima has 50 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (6th most of 17 model years), 4 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 31 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2016 Altima problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are power train (235), engine (86) and air bags (71). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2016 Altima have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Altima get?
The EPA rates the versions at 26–31 mpg combined (22–27 city, 31–39 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Altima per year?
About $2,110 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,510 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).