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Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2020, owners filed an average of 1,498 complaints per model year about the Ford Fusion and 725 about the Nissan Altima.

Side by side

Ford FusionNissan Altima
Model years compared2006-20202006-2020
Owner complaints22,46810,880
Complaints per model year1,498725
Recalls4640
Years to avoid2010201120122008200920132014
Best years200620182019201820192020
Most common problemSteeringTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-42 mpg combined (2020)29-32 mpg combined (2020)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Fusion: 7302006 Nissan Altima: 82420062007 Ford Fusion: 1,0642007 Nissan Altima: 4712008 Ford Fusion: 1,3532008 Nissan Altima: 1,03120082009 Ford Fusion: 1,0232009 Nissan Altima: 1,5472010 Ford Fusion: 5,1312010 Nissan Altima: 38120102011 Ford Fusion: 2,7962011 Nissan Altima: 2422012 Ford Fusion: 2,5192012 Nissan Altima: 42620122013 Ford Fusion: 1,7932013 Nissan Altima: 2,3152014 Ford Fusion: 1,3372014 Nissan Altima: 1,11420142015 Ford Fusion: 9972015 Nissan Altima: 9562016 Ford Fusion: 1,6622016 Nissan Altima: 55520162017 Ford Fusion: 1,1162017 Nissan Altima: 3952018 Ford Fusion: 4452018 Nissan Altima: 22620182019 Ford Fusion: 3162019 Nissan Altima: 2352020 Ford Fusion: 1862020 Nissan Altima: 1622020
Ford FusionNissan Altima

Problems compared

FusionAltima
Steering5,7811,238
Engine3,9621,337
Airbags3,5311,579
Transmission3,1441,901
Brakes2,690539
Electrical1,6691,309
Lights1811,132

Questions about the Ford Fusion vs Nissan Altima

Which is more reliable, the Ford Fusion or the Nissan Altima?

Between 2006 and 2020, the Ford Fusion has 3 years to avoid and the Nissan Altima 4. The Ford Fusion has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Nissan Altima drew fewer complaints per model year (725 vs 1,498), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Fusion or the Nissan Altima?

From 2006 to 2020, the Ford Fusion was covered by 46 recalls and the Nissan Altima by 40.

What years of the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima should you avoid?

Ford Fusion: 2010, 2011 and 2012. Nissan Altima: 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014.

More midsize cars comparisons

Honda Accord vs Toyota CamryNissan Altima vs Toyota CamryHyundai Sonata vs Toyota CamryChevrolet Malibu vs Toyota CamryFord Fusion vs Toyota CamryKia Optima vs Toyota CamryMazda MAZDA6 vs Toyota CamrySubaru Legacy vs Toyota CamryToyota Camry vs Volkswagen PassatHonda Accord vs Nissan AltimaHonda Accord vs Hyundai SonataChevrolet Malibu vs Honda AccordFord Fusion vs Honda AccordHonda Accord vs Kia OptimaHonda Accord vs Mazda MAZDA6Honda Accord vs Subaru LegacyHonda Accord vs Volkswagen PassatHyundai Sonata vs Nissan AltimaChevrolet Malibu vs Nissan AltimaKia Optima vs Nissan AltimaMazda MAZDA6 vs Nissan AltimaNissan Altima vs Subaru LegacyNissan Altima vs Volkswagen PassatChevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Sonata

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