Nissan Altima Maintenance Schedule, 2019-2026: 6th generation (L34)

Model years on this page: 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Nissan Altima 2019-2026 at a glance

6th generation (L34) - VC-Turbo era (2019-2024)

2.5L 4-cylinder PR25DD (approx. 188 hp) or 2.0L VC-Turbo KR20DDET (248 hp/273 lb-ft, world-first production variable-compression-ratio engine, SR VC-Turbo/Platinum VC-Turbo trims) - both on the Xtronic CVT

Oil: 0W-20 (PR25DD) / 5W-30 Ester (KR20DDET) - the two engines do NOT share an oil spec. Oil changes: 10,000 mi/12 months (PR25DD) / 7,500 mi (KR20DDET).

Full platform redesign for 2019, launching Nissan's VC-Turbo variable-compression engine in a production car for the first time worldwide
PR25DD and KR20DDET have different oil types, capacities, and change intervals - confirm engine before buying fluids
Spark plugs are a 105,000-mile interval on BOTH engines - the 60,000-mile turbo interval reported elsewhere is not supported by Nissan's own maintenance tables
KR20DDET VC-Turbo and its SR VC-Turbo/Platinum VC-Turbo trims were offered every year of this span, 2019 through 2024

6th generation (L34) - post-turbo (2025-2026)

2.5L 4-cylinder PR25DD (approx. 188 hp) - the only engine offered; the 2.0L VC-Turbo KR20DDET and its SR VC-Turbo/Platinum VC-Turbo trims were dropped entirely for 2025

Oil: 0W-20 (PR25DD only). Oil changes: 10,000 mi or 12 months (PR25DD).

KR20DDET VC-Turbo dropped entirely starting with the 2025 model year - PR25DD 2.5L is the only engine for the Altima's final two model years
Every 2025-2026 Altima follows the identical maintenance schedule, since only one engine/trim combination remains
Nissan added a new SV Special Edition trim package in place of the discontinued turbo option
2026 is the Altima's confirmed final model year, offered in a streamlined two-trim SV/SR lineup before the Sentra becomes Nissan's sole remaining US sedan

Quick specs - Nissan Altima 2019-2026

Engine	2019: 2.5L 4-cylinder PR25DD (approx. 188 hp) standard; 2.0L 4-cylinder VC-Turbo KR20DDET (248 hp/273 lb-ft, world-first variable compression ratio production engine) on SR VC-Turbo/Platinum VC-Turbo trims 2020-2023: 2.5L 4-cylinder PR25DD (approx. 188 hp) standard; 2.0L VC-Turbo KR20DDET (248 hp/273 lb-ft) on SR VC-Turbo/Platinum VC-Turbo trims 2024: 2.5L 4-cylinder PR25DD (approx. 188 hp) standard; 2.0L VC-Turbo KR20DDET (248 hp/273 lb-ft) on SR VC-Turbo/Platinum VC-Turbo trims - final year for the turbo 2025: 2.5L 4-cylinder PR25DD (approx. 188 hp) - the only engine offered; the KR20DDET 2.0L VC-Turbo was dropped from the lineup entirely for 2025 2026: 2.5L 4-cylinder PR25DD (approx. 188 hp) - the only engine offered
Oil type	2019: PR25DD: 0W-20 (Genuine Nissan Motor Oil 0W-20 SN or equivalent synthetic 0W-20 GF-5 SN) - KR20DDET: 5W-30 Ester (Genuine Nissan Motor Oil Ester 5W-30 SN or equivalent synthetic 5W-30 GF-5 SN) 2020-2024: PR25DD: 0W-20 - KR20DDET: 5W-30 Ester 2025-2026: PR25DD: 0W-20
Oil capacity	2019: PR25DD: 5-3/8 qt (5.1 L) with filter, 5-1/8 qt (4.8 L) without - KR20DDET: 5 qt (4.7 L) with filter, 4-7/8 qt (4.6 L) without 2020-2024: PR25DD: 5-3/8 qt (5.1 L) with filter - KR20DDET: 5 qt (4.7 L) with filter 2025-2026: PR25DD: 5-3/8 qt (5.1 L) with filter
Transmission	Xtronic CVT (both PR25DD I4 and KR20DDET VC-Turbo)
Transmission fluid	Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 - same fluid spec as 5th gen, do not substitute

Nissan Altima 2019-2026 maintenance schedule

Each model year's source document is named under "by model year" below. A row or service that only some years have names those years.

Interval	Service
Every 10,000 mi or 12 months (PR25DD 2.5L - Standard Maintenance)	Oil & filter change Multi-point inspection under severe-duty conditions
Every 5,000 mi (PR25DD 2.5L)	Tire rotation - a shorter, independent interval from the 10,000-mi PR25DD oil change
Every 7,500 mi (KR20DDET 2.0L VC-Turbo - Standard Maintenance) (2019-2024 only)	Oil & filter change - KR20DDET turbo engine requires 5W-30 Ester oil (see the oilType field for the full PR25DD-vs-KR20DDET comparison) Tire rotation - same interval as the oil change on this engine
Every 15,000 mi (PR25DD 2.5L)	Replace cabin (in-cabin microfilter) air filter
Every 11,250 mi (KR20DDET 2.0L VC-Turbo) (2019-2024 only)	Replace cabin (in-cabin microfilter) air filter - shorter interval than PR25DD, proportional to the turbo's shorter oil-change cycle
Every 20,000 mi or 24 months (PR25DD)	Replace brake fluid
Every 15,000 mi (KR20DDET VC-Turbo - shorter interval than PR25DD) (2019-2024 only)	Replace brake fluid
Every 30,000 mi	Replace engine air filter
Every 10,000 mi (PR25DD 2.5L)	Inspect CVT fluid condition - change if deteriorated
Every 7,500 mi (KR20DDET 2.0L VC-Turbo) (2019-2024 only)	Inspect CVT fluid condition - change if deteriorated (matches this engine's own oil-change cadence)
Every 60,000 mi (severe use: short trips, hot stop-and-go traffic, extensive idling or low-speed driving, dusty or rough/muddy/salted roads, or a car-top carrier) (2021-2026 only)	Replace CVT fluid (Genuine NISSAN NS-3) - at 60,000 and 120,000 mi on the severe-use schedule
Every 60,000 mi (2019-2020 - severe duty: car-top carrier, or rough/muddy roads) (2019-2020 only)	Have the CVT fluid inspected for deterioration and changed if necessary - if the inspection is not done, change (not just inspect) the CVT fluid
Every 105,000 mi	Replace spark plugs (iridium-tipped) - PR25DD (the only engine offered) (2025-2026 only) Replace spark plugs (iridium-tipped) - PR25DD or KR20DDET, same interval on both engines (2019-2024 only)
First at 105,000 mi/84 months, then every 75,000 mi/60 months	Coolant flush and refill - Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)

When to replace each part - Nissan Altima 2019-2026

The schedule above is organized by mileage. This is the same information organized by part, for when you already know what you are replacing and just need the interval.

Spark plugs	Iridium-tipped, replace every 105,000 mi on BOTH PR25DD and KR20DDET (2020 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual) - not 60,000 mi on the turbo, despite this being commonly repeated online
Engine air filter	Every 30,000 mi (2020 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual - same for both PR25DD and KR20DDET)
Tires	Rotate at every oil-change interval per the maintenance schedule; wheel nut torque 83 ft-lb (113 N-m) - confirmed identical in both the 2013 and 2020 owner's manuals
Battery	Test annually after 3 years; typical service life 3-5 years (general guidance, not an Altima-specific OEM figure)

OEM-spec parts for the Nissan Altima 2019-2026

Part	Fitment note	Buy
Nissan Genuine NS-3 CVT Fluid 999MP-NS300P (5 qt)	Genuine NS-3 only, all Altima years 2013-2026 - Nissan warns other CVT fluids will damage the transmission	Check price on Amazon Compare NS-3 CVT fluid for the Nissan Altima on Amazon
Nissan Genuine Blue Long Life Coolant 999MP-L25500P 50/50 (1 gal)	Pre-diluted 50/50 - do not mix with other coolant types	Check price on Amazon Compare coolant for the Nissan Altima on Amazon
Iridium-tipped spark plugs (confirm application at the parts counter)	105,000-mile interval on every Altima engine (QR25DE, VQ35DE, PR25DD, KR20DDET) - confirm the exact plug for your engine	Check price on Amazon

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Nissan Altima 2019-2026 torque specs

Lug nut	83 ft-lbs (113 Nm)
Oil drain plug	22-29 ft-lbs (29-39 Nm)

Torque specs via WhatSizeBolt.

How to reset the oil life / maintenance light - Nissan Altima

Vehicle information display (steering-wheel arrow buttons)

Ignition ON, engine off (no need to start the engine).
Use the steering-wheel arrow buttons to open the vehicle information display Settings.
Navigate to Maintenance, then Oil Control System.
Select the reset option - do this only after the oil change is actually completed, since selecting it tells the car the service was done.

Factory Reset (clears all maintenance reminders, not just oil)

From the same vehicle information display Settings menu, a "Factory Reset" option also resets the Oil Control System to its initial value alongside every other maintenance reminder - use the Oil Control System-specific reset above unless you actually want to clear everything at once.

Nissan Altima by model year

Each model year's own record: the manual its schedule comes from, and what NHTSA and the EPA list for that year.

2019 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2019 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual and Maintenance Information

Recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2019 Nissan Altima:

Campaign	Report date	Component
25V437000	2025-06-27	engine and engine cooling
23V628000	2023-09-08	back over prevention
21V169000	2021-03-11	tires
19V654000	2019-09-12	back over prevention
19V316000	2019-04-18	fuel system, gasoline
19V235000	2019-03-25	exterior lighting
18V922000	2018-12-20	fuel system, gasoline

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 232 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

electrical system: 58
engine: 48
forward collision avoidance: 41

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2019:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.0 L 4 cyl turbo	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

2020 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2020 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2020 Nissan Altima:

Campaign	Report date	Component
25V437000	2025-06-27	engine and engine cooling
23V628000	2023-09-08	back over prevention
21V169000	2021-03-11	tires
21V138000	2021-03-04	steering
20V685000	2020-11-05	tires
20V570000	2020-09-22	visibility

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 179 owner complaints on file for the 2020 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

electrical system: 45
engine: 36
forward collision avoidance: 29

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2020:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.0 L 4 cyl turbo	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

2021 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2021 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual and Maintenance Information

Recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Nissan Altima:

Campaign	Report date	Component
23V628000	2023-09-08	back over prevention
21V138000	2021-03-04	steering

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 70 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

forward collision avoidance: 22
electrical system: 21
service brakes: 18

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2021:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.0 L 4 cyl turbo	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

2022 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2022 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual and Maintenance Information

Recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2022 Nissan Altima.

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 20 owner complaints on file for the 2022 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

forward collision avoidance: 7
electrical system: 5
engine: 5

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2022:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.0 L 4 cyl turbo	Auto (AV-S8)	Gasoline
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

2023 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2023 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual and Maintenance Information

Recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2023 Nissan Altima.

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 29 owner complaints on file for the 2023 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

electrical system: 10
engine: 6
forward collision avoidance: 4

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2023:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.0 L 4 cyl turbo	Auto (AV-S8)	Gasoline
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

2024 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2024 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual and Maintenance Information

Recalls

NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2024 Nissan Altima:

Campaign	Report date	Component
23V882000	2023-12-21	steering

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 41 owner complaints on file for the 2024 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

engine: 5
forward collision avoidance: 5
service brakes: 5

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2024:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.0 L 4 cyl turbo	Auto (AV-S8)	Gasoline
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

2025 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2025 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual and Maintenance Information

Recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2025 Nissan Altima:

Campaign	Report date	Component
26V526000	2026-08-13	air bags
26V023000	2026-01-21	latches/locks/linkages

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 7 owner complaints on file for the 2025 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

air bags: 1
back over prevention: 1
electrical system: 1

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2025:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

2026 Nissan Altima

Maintenance schedule source: 2026 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual and Maintenance Information

Recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2026 Nissan Altima.

Owner complaints

NHTSA has 1 owner complaint on file for the 2026 Nissan Altima. Top component areas reported:

electrical system: 1
lane departure: 1

Powertrains

EPA lists these powertrains for 2026:

Engine	Transmission	Fuel
2.5 L 4 cyl	Auto (variable gear ratios)	Gasoline

Source: NHTSA recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, EPA fueleconomy.gov; fetched 2026-10-12.

Nissan Altima Maintenance Schedule, 2019-2026: 6th generation (L34)

Nissan Altima 2019-2026 at a glance

6th generation (L34) - VC-Turbo era (2019-2024)

6th generation (L34) - post-turbo (2025-2026)

Quick specs - Nissan Altima 2019-2026

Nissan Altima 2019-2026 maintenance schedule

When to replace each part - Nissan Altima 2019-2026

OEM-spec parts for the Nissan Altima 2019-2026

Nissan Altima 2019-2026 torque specs

How to reset the oil life / maintenance light - Nissan Altima

Vehicle information display (steering-wheel arrow buttons)

Factory Reset (clears all maintenance reminders, not just oil)

Nissan Altima by model year

2019 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

2020 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

2021 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

2022 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

2023 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

2024 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

2025 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

2026 Nissan Altima

Recalls

Owner complaints

Powertrains

More Nissan Altima maintenance schedules