Car shoppers need to know the top three most severe 2018 Nissan Altima problems before looking to buy this car on the market. By knowing the concerns with the active safety start, push-button, and the rearview camera, drivers can stay safe on the road!
Three Worst 2018 Nissan Altima Problems
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Active Safety Start Malfunction $400
An active safety system works with the electrical components of your car to help prevent an accident.
In the 2018 Nissan Altima system, the system needs to stay active while you drive, consistently and constantly working to prevent the driver and car from getting into an unsafe driving scenario. Most active safety features are electronic and part of the electrical system of your car.
The electrical safety features that work to form the active safety system is as follows:
- Traction control
- Electronic stability control
- Braking systems
- Forward collision warning
- Lane switch and departure warning
- Adaptive cruise control
To give you an idea of why the safety system is important in your car, we will go over what each of these safety features does in your vehicle to help keep you safe and prevent any unsafe 2018 Nissan Altima problems.
Traction Control
Traction control is designed to detect if a tire loses pressure and grip with the road surface. If you are driving on wet and slippery terrain, this can cause the tire to continue spinning and not be able to grasp the surface. To keep in contact with the road at all times, the traction control system uses the anti-lock brake system sensors to detect if a wheel has locked during braking.
If you find that your vehicle’s traction control is not working correctly, this can cause some of the most severe 2018 Nissan Altima problems.
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic stability control is a mechanism that uses the automatic braking of each of your car’s four wheels to prevent the heading from changing too quickly, causing the wheels to excessively spin, or from not spinning enough, plowing out.
If you find the electronic stability control light appears on your dashboard, this means your vehicle is no under control. If this light stays on for an extended period of time, this means your ESC may be malfunctioning or deactivated, causing some of the most severe 2018 Nissan Altima problems.
ABS
The anti-lock brake system, or the anti-lock brake system, is designed to keep every person in the car as safe as possible. The anti-lock braking system keeps the wheels in motion while driving at highway speeds and keeps the tire traction on the street while accelerating, turning, braking, and cornering on slippery or wet surfaces.
If you are wondering why you should pay attention to the ABS light on the car, you need to know its importance in your car and how it works. The anti-lock brake system prevents the brakes from skidding, stopping, and allowing your car to slip around in wet conditions.
- Replacing your ABS hydraulic pump is between $1,821 and $1855, with the labor between $129 and $162 for 1-2 hours of work.
Forward Collision Warning
A forward-collision warning system, also known as the FCW system, is a safety technology that monitors and analyzes the vehicle’s speed, the speed of the vehicle in front of your car that you are operating, and the distance between the vehicles. If this system relies on the vehicle in front of you being too close to operate your vehicle properly, it will warn you of an impending accident.
If you find the forward collision warning is not working, this highly increases the risk of a crash and causes some of the safety 2018 Nissan Altima problems.
Lane Switch and Departure Warning
Lane Departure Warning, also known as LDW, ensures that drivers get an audible warning when their vehicle is approaching or crossing over lanes on the road when their turn signal has not been activated manually. In addition, the Altima uses the lane-keeping assist, a feature that provides automatic steering to keep the vehicle in the correct lane.
If the lane departure warning and switch feature does not work correctly, this can lead to frequent 2018 Nissan Altima problems.
- Blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning functions cost around $1,400 to fix. The blind spot systems themselves cost around $200 and $395 to repair the 2018 Nissan Altima problems with the safety system.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive cruise control is a safety system that automatically controls the acceleration, speed, and braking of the car you are driving. This feature is activated through a button on the steering wheel and can be immediately turned off by manually pressing on the brake pedal.
- Fixing a cruise control switch replacement costs between $157 and $171, with the labor costing between $55 and $70 for 1 hour of work to fix the 2018 Nissan Altima problems.
How to Avoid:
When doing a test drive of your 2018 Altima, be sure to test the brakes thoroughly to ensure there are no safety concerns regarding the braking system’s longevity. Also, check the safety mechanisms in your vehicle to ensure the parts have been inspected, analyzed, and replaced if needed in the past.
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Push to Start Malfunction: $180 to $400
The push-button is an easy way to turn your vehicle on and off. The push-button start is designed to work the same way as you would use a traditional and manual key in your car’s ignition. You can quickly turn on and off specific features by pressing the push-button start without holding it down and without having to place your foot on the brake.
However, the push-button start has caused some problems in recent years with various cars. This feature is known for especially causing some of the most frustrating 2018 Nissan Altima problems.
Some of the most common problems involve various manufactures struggling with ignition switch concerns and durability issues. There were reports of cars that were not properly placed in the Park position, therefore rolling away. In addition, engines were left running in garages because the driver did not know they had to shut off the engine manually.
Furthermore, some of the other 2018 Nissan Altima problems that occur with the push to start malfunction involve the key fob being misplaced. Then the driver was unable to start their vehicle.
Troubleshooting Push Button Malfunction
If you are suffering from these 2018 Nissan Altima problems regarding the push button malfunction, you can take a few troubleshooting steps to diagnose and fix the issue.
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Hold the Key to the Button
First, most car start button systems work by way of near-field communication technology. This means that the key fob has to be close to the button in order for the car to turn on. The near-field technology requires the key to be close to the receiver in the steering column for it to operate. A low battery in the fob can prevent the vehicle from turning on if the key is too far away and out of reach in some designs.
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Charge the Key Fob
Sine cars feature a small compartment in the dashboard or the center console between the front seats that allow you to store the key in between uses. These cubbies also have charging points, which means that you can leave the key fob and ensure it does not succumb to a dead battery – one of the main causes of the 2018 Nissan Altima problems that cause the push button malfunction.
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Open the Fob and Find the Key
Just like many things in life, a backup plan is a good option. For your electronic key fob, having a manual key is also a great option when you potentially lose your electrical choice or have a dead battery/. There are many automakers that provide a physical key inside the remote fob to start the car’s battery in case of an emergency.
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Call Support for your 2018 Nissan Altima
If you find the 2018 Nissan Altima problems have not been solved by t4hse troubleshooting tips for your push button malfunction, then you may need to call your manufacturer or local mechanic.
How to Avoid
To avoid the 2018 Nissan Altima problems regarding the push button malfunction, car shoppers need to ensure that the push to start is functioning properly when pushed repeatedly. Even though it may work the first time you press it, you need to push the button constantly to ensure the electrical system does not glitch.
3. Electrical Issues with Backup Camera $790 to $900
The Nissan Altima is known for the electrical system’s issues, especially the infotainment system and the backup camera. Owners of the 2018 Altima re[ort intermittent issues with the backup camera can cause unsafe driving conditions. These 2018 Nissan Altima problems ultimately lead to the permanent failure of the backup camera.
- The issue is linked to a faulty head unit on the Nissan Altima. The cost to fix this issue comes to between $300 and $1,100 to replace the head unit on the Altima.
How to Avoid:
When running your car through a test drive at a dealership or from your private seller, make sure the backup camera works properly and shows an accurate picture of the exterior of the vehicle.
2018 Nissan Altima Reliability
When deciding if the 2018 Nissan Altima problems make this a reliable car and a smart purchase as a car owner, you need to know the positives and negatives of this model year, the ranking and reliability scores, and how this car stacks up to the competition.
The positives of the 2018 Altima are as follows:
- Ergonomic and comfortable front seats
- The ride is smooth and quiet for a relaxing and enjoyable time
- Great fuel economy that provides an impressive miles-per-gallon on the highway and the city
- Excellent safety scores to keep you protected on the road
The negatives of the Altima include the following issues which have contributed to the reported 2018 Nissan Altima problems:
- Dated infotainment interior with small screens that are hard to see
- Non-agile handling and lackluster base four-cylinder engine
- Dull interior styling and materials
Combining the positives and negatives of the 2018 Altima. This car came in the#11 spot for the 2018 Affordable Midsize Cars category compared to the competition. However, this v model year came in an unimpressive #88 spots from the Used Midsize CArs under $15k spot.
The Car US News Scorecard ranked this vehicle as an 8 out of 10 overall, with the critics’ rating coming to 8.2 out of 10, the performance 7.6, the interior 7.8, the total cost of ownership 8.9, the safety 9.8 out of 10, and the reliability rating coming to 3 out of 5 from JD Power.
How safe is the 2018 Nissan Altima?
The 2018 Altima received a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety due to its high score in every crash test. The emergency braking in this car earned a favorable 5 out of 6 points for the front crash prevention, with the headlight rating warning the second-highest ranking of Acceptable.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2018 Altima a 5-star rating out of 5. The standard safety features in the 2018 Altima which can help prevent some of the reported 2018 Nissan Altima problems include a forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera.
2018 Nissan Altima vs. 2018 Honda Accord
The 2018 Honda Accord is one of the top options compared to other similar cars in the midsize car category.
- The positives of the Accord include the roomy and spacious interior, more legroom in the rear seats, large cargo area in the trunk for holding gear, ample safety features come with the standard model, high-tech safety features, road departure mitigation, and traffic sign recognition.
- The only negative of the Accord includes the higher base price.
When comparing the Altima vs. the Accord, the 2018 Nissan Altima problems make the 2018 Honda Accord a better choice for car shoppers on the market.
The Bottom Line
Drivers need to be aware of the top three most concerning 2018 Nissan Altima problems before purchasing this vehicle!