2017 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 391 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 24 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchMay 28, 2020
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 may corrode over time.
Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Campaign 20V315000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, emergency, escape/egress/exitDec 19, 2018
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
Campaign 18V915000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchJan 18, 2017
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 17V040000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
133 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 15, 2022
I've been experiencing ongoing transmission problems with my car for over 2 years now. The most common problem is when I come to a complete stop, then step on the gas, the car hesitates for about 5 seconds and then takes off very quickly. This happens intermittently, usually after the car has been running for about 15 minutes (or more) although I have had it happen after running for shorter periods of time. If I turn the car off and back on, it does solve the problem temporarily. I can't even count how many times this has happened to me - probably more than 100. My biggest concern with this issue is when I'm at a multi-way stop sign with at least 1 other car at the intersection. It may be my turn to go and I'm trying to go, but other cars may perceive that I'm waiting to let them go. I've taken it to 2 different dealerships and they have not been able to replicate the problem, but most recently, I did send one of those dealerships a video showing the problem. My first report to a dealership was on 6/24/2020 and I've reported it several times since, but they have not done anything to fix it since they were not able to replicate the problem themselves. I sent a video on 7/17/2022 but have yet to hear a response from Nissan. Another issue I've had is general loss of power or inability to shift out of low gear (which has only happened a handful of times, i.e., less than 5 times). For example, merging on a busy highway with a short merge lane and my car had very little power to merge in a small window. And once merged, the car wouldn't shift past 2nd gear, limiting my speed. The second example, I was stopped going up a hill and when I stepped on the gas, I had no power, then it seemed to have a little power but would not shift out of first gear. In both instances, I pulled over and turned the car off and back on and it was ok again. I listed a date below but this is an ongoing issue.
Power train, Aug 4, 2022
At around 85,000 miles transmission (CVT) started slipping at high speeds (60-70 on the highway). As time has went on, it now slips in every gear, jumps, shudders, and often times will leave me stranded. Now I cannot travel more than 15-20 miles and the car starts acting up (transmission slipping, not engaging, will nto shift gears, etc.) Contacted Nissan and they say it is not under warranty but it is a 2017 and they now include a 7 years warranty on all CVT's.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2022
Delay acceleration at stop sign/red light : car moves very slow after pressing the gas paddle, engine revs 3-4K. It is really a safety issue when it comes to left turns with incoming traffic. Car move slow after complete stop with pressed gas paddle.
Power train, Aug 3, 2022
Know issue by Nissan with 2013-17 Altima. I experienced Pedal throttle delay response with no engine acceleration. They have identified the issue in the vehicles , but will not fix. I just took my vehicle to the dealer today and they said that they could not find anything wrong. I found many online forums and Nissan documents outlining the issue just as I have experienced. Nissan service bulletin NTB16-110L
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 1, 2022
After being stopped, waiting to turn left at an intersection, pressing on the gas pedal produced no acceleration for several seconds. This is not he first time that this has happened and could easily lead to an accident.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 6, 2022
While driving down the highway at 70 mph, the transmission went out, no warning lights nothing. Vehicle RPM starting spiking then down to zero, engine sounded like it was in neutral, and the gas pedal being pushed. Got off the road and car would not go in drive or reverse, just stopped, had to have towed in. Cost $5000 to repair. Have owned many Altima’s and never a problem, this was awful.
Power train, Engine, Jun 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered and hesitated during acceleration with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Power train, May 21, 2022
The transmission on the vehicle failed to work causing me to be unable to accelerate while driving the vehicle. This put me in danger as I was driving on the highway and almost got hit. There were no warning signs prior to the issue occurring. No check engine light or anything came on.I called the Nissian customer care line and was told I needed to bring it in and pay money to get it looked at for them to decide if they would help me. I took it in, paid a substantial amount of money just for them to tell me they would not help. My case is not an anomaly. After researching online, thousands of individuals are having the same issue with their Nissan Altima transmissions after owning the vehicles for only a relatively short period of time. This is dangerous and irresponsible for Nissian to not take responsibility for a clear flaw in design that has put users of their vehicles at risk.
Power train, May 15, 2022
Car power train started to go out at 88K miles. Started with a coolant leak issue as it mysteriously drained on my way home from work. Seemed to “fix” itself as a month went by after I was told by 2 auto shops they couldn’t find a coolant leak. Car then started to overheat and not hold coolant at all. Took it back in, was told again “no coolant leak”. Keep being told the same thing over and over again. But I am the one buying coolant and putting it in almost daily. No warning light for low coolant came on nor did check engine light kick in. Didn’t notice car started to overheat until I couldn’t feel cold air anymore coming out from AC and looked at the car temp gauge. Car is now around 100K miles and still being told “it’s just water leaking out”. Car does not drive like it supposed to. Warranty ended at 85K miles and when it first happened I asked and begged them to replace everything and was told no even though mileage wasn’t even far from 85K at the time. Car now jerks when stopped at a light or beginning to accelerate again after coming to a stop.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, May 7, 2022
This incident happened many times on the highway and normal streets, when I stepped on the pedal for gas not responding, and I needed to wait almost 40 seconds, and looked like I had lost power, like the transmission not working correctly
Power train, Mar 4, 2022
I was in the middle of an intersection turning left, and the car stalled and I was almost hit by oncoming traffic. The car has problems accelerating and shifting gears. It will get up to 4 rpm's and not shift. This has happened several times, and is a safety risk . Fortunately, I was never hit. Nissan says I need a need CVT transmission. There's a class action suit filed for this model and the CVT transmission. However, since my car is 103, 000, Nissan will not replace unless 85,000. This is a manufacturer defect that needs fixed ASAP before someone gets in a terrible crash!
Power train, Nov 10, 2021
The transmission seems to be going. Car will not accelerate accordingly and randomly slows down in traffic. Holding the accelerator to the floor on a small incline I could only reach 44mph. I live in an area that has no shoulders and this could be a very dangerous situation.
Power train, Sep 27, 2021
The transmission without any advance issue or problem began to shimmy and shake the entire car . The car slowed down to less than 10 mph while jerking forcefully . The car is and was serviced regularly at Nissan in Murfreesboro Tennessee. There was no warning. Nissan was called and they picked up car on roll back. They said transmission failed. This was at mileage less than 100,000 actual mileage was 93,404. The invoice number is 6088347/1 dated 5/16/20. This happened in traffic and is a definite safety issue. Nissan should not be permitted to continue building and selling these faulty c v t transmissions, continuing to put our life’s in jeopardy and financially devastating us. Your form will not allow us to put the date of incident 5/15/2020 the form will not change from sept 2021 you might want to fix this.
Power train, Sep 21, 2021
Transmission stopped working while driving the car, at relatively low mileage. No warning lights. Car would just no longer accelerate.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 4, 2021
Transmission problems Brake system is horrible, constantly have to replace brakes and rotors Powertrain and other problems I've made several complaints to Nissan, I have put so much money in this car! Compressor went out almost 7 months after I purchased this car. I would give Nissan a 0 rating on the 2017 Nissan Altima
Power train, Jul 14, 2021
MY 2017 ALTIMA SR IS AGAIN EXPERIENCING A DELAY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT REVS UP TO ABOUT 3500-4000 RPM’S FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS NO MATTER HOW FAR DOWN THE PEDAL IS. ONLY GETS UP TO ABOUT 20 MPH THOUGH. THEN IT WILL FINALLY GO. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO CODES. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF, IT'S LIKE IT RESETS AND HAS MORE POWER AFTERWARDS. THIS HAPPENED 14 MONTHS AGO AS WELL. I HAD TO SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS OK AFTER THAT. NOT EVEN 18,000 MILES LATER AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 6, 2021, crash
1).Sometimes I can smell exhaust gas inside the car room like in my previous car Nissan Maxima SE 2008, which is extremely dangerous. 2).The rear camera works no so well - sometimes rearview disappearing completely. Also, approximately a year ago, I received a letter regarding Nissan Altima SV 2017 recall(s). I contacted several different Nissan dealers in Miami but nobody knows about the recall. Could you explain please what is going on with recalls? Thanks.
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 8, 2021
Car purchased 5/21/2021 Experienced delayed acceleration twice after stopping, after approximately 2-4 seconds vehicle picked up momentum..Approximately 7days later engine light came on. 6/5/21 tool vehicle to Auto zone for diagnostic check received code P0776. Then took it took certified mechanic 6/7/2021 received same code report stating that belt is worn in the transmission and will eventually fail.
Power train, May 1, 2021
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY VEHICLE HAS LONG DELAY, EVEN WITH PEDAL PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, AN INTERMITTENT DELAY AT A FULL STOP, WHEN TAKING OFF VEHICLE HAS A 5 SECOND DELAY, GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM TRANSMISSION DURING IDLE, RPMS REV WAY HIGHER THAN THEY SHOULD WHEN ACCELERATING, JERKING FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN AT A SLOW ACCELERATION THROUGH PARKING LOTS AND SUCH, DELAYED ACCELERATION ALSO CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE A WRECK, PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AT A SLOW ROLL BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO AND THEN VEHICLE TOOK OFF FULL SPEED
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 26, 2021
DELAYED ACCELERATION MY 2017 ALTIMA IS EXPERIENCING A DELAY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT WON'T REV OR DO ANYTHING FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS NO MATTER HOW FAR DOWN THE PEDAL IS. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'LL GO. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO CODES. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF, IT'S LIKE IT RESETS AND HAS MORE POWER AFTERWARDS.
Power train, Apr 25, 2021
MY VEHICLE PRODUCED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I PAID $1300 FOR A NEW MASS FLOW SENSOR AND MODIFICATION TO MY AIR FLOW. TWO DAYS LATER, I DROVE OUT OF TOWN AND THE CAR LOST POWER. RPM WAS JUMPING AND CAR STARTED JERKING AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. TOWED IT TO NISSAN AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A ISSUE! OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A ISSUE BECAUSE EVERYONE I'VE KNOW HAVE A NISSAN BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR CAR AND NISSAN HASN'T DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT! I PAID $1300 FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WHAT MAKES U THINK I'M GOING TO PAY $4000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS MY SECOND ALTIMA AND SAME ISSUE!
Power train, Apr 20, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING WAS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NISSAN OF MISSION HILLS (11000 SEPULVEDA BLVD, MISSION HILLS, CA 91345) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SENSOR FOR THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Power train, Apr 7, 2021
CVT TRANSMISSION IS JERKING, STALLING, SHUDDERING, AND HESITATING WHILE DRIVING. CAR ONLY HAS 65K MILES. ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING RANDOMLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IN THE CAR ANYMORE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS MALFUNCTION CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Power train, Mar 17, 2021
GEAR SHIFT GETS STUCK IN PARK.
Power train, Mar 8, 2021
THE CAR DOESNT GO, IT STUTTERS, AND THEN SUDDENLY GOES. TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO CHANGE GEAR, IN SMALL HILLS DOESN'T GO UP, THE RPM AND SPEED JUST GO DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. NISSAN DEALERS SAYS IT IT OUT OF GUARANTEE. A NISSAN ALTIMA 2017, 85K MILES AND ITS OUT OF NISSAN GUARANTEE ALREADY, AND THAT THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. UNBELIEVABLE. SADDLY FOR ME THE CARE IS ALREADY PAYED OFF, THEY HAVE ALREADY ALL THEIR MONEY, SO NO NEED TO FIX MY PROBLEM. ALSO WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IN A NISSAN DEALER, THEY GAVE A FAKE CARFAX OF THE CAR, THEY OMIT AN CRASH REPORT, ALSO THEY ADVERTISED THE CAR FOR A VERY MUCH LOWER PRICE THAN THEY SOLD IT TO ME, THEY PUT A LOT OF FEES ON IT THAT THE PRICE WAS 2K OVER THAN THE ADVERTISED.