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: service brakes
19 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jul 18, 2026
Driving on the freeway and car goes into limp mode very dangerous situation as spend was reduced and almost got rear ended by truck
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 12, 2026
Car not starting. Narrowed down to brake light switch not functioning properly. Jumped across the switch, car started. Push button ignition requires brakes to be depressed to start the vehicle. We have been close to being rear-ended twice lately. No warning lights signifying a problem. This is the second Altima I owned with this exact same failure to occur. First was a 2010 Altima S 2.5
Exterior lighting, Structure, Service brakes, Apr 11, 2025
I'm driving in my car is cool right right left line a nice Crush the part of the car and the front left
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Aug 7, 2024, crash
I left for work, acceleration at slow speed around 30 mph within 40 seconds, the car began to gain speed, I let off the gas pedal, still accelerated. I tried slowly using brakes to slow down - no response. At this point, I notice that cruise control light, was lit up, on the dashboard but not set. I'm now gaining speed of 72 MPH. Not even 1 mile, from turn off. I literally fish tailed three times, then the car slowed down and I ended up sideways, in a ditch. Chipped hubcap and some plastic piece hanging, from underneath the car. I had a bystander, whom was headed towards me - stop in fear of what happened. Got the car out of ditch. I parked, checked for leaks, nothing. Since this incident, I'm in fear of this happening again. I'm assumption was the accelerator stuck. No brakes is dangerous, let alone feeling like my life was gonna end. I cried. Thinking Jesus my children were home. I have noticed that both airbag "warning" signs have displayed and won't go off. I would hate to have or hear of a fatality, from this. Please look into other reports. I felt like I couldn't even explain this bizarre, unlikely/impossible event to happen but it did.
Seat belts, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jun 22, 2022
Passenger seat belts does lock all the time. Front brakes I've had issues with since day one. Dealer tells me on 3 occasions there fine nothing wrong but have gone thur 5 brake pads sets. Now when I step on brakes or give gad to go it's like the throttle cable or something isn't working because it won't go. Have to either give it afew than try paddle or put in N than back to drive. Happens alot in traffic.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 7, 2021
Had to replace rear brake pads at 21,100 miles…very odd to have to replace at such a low mileage. Also, the major issue I’m having is with water leaking into my car…the dealership first said they thought it was due to clogged sunroof drains….they were wrong…took it back after issue still happening, and now they are saying that the sunroof drains are deformed…the water is coming in from under the dash onto the passenger side of the floor and going to the back. Also, leaking from the top edge onto the passenger seat. There also is some water on the driver seat, and the driver’s seatbelt feels damp. Under both the passenger & driver’s seat there is rust….this car was brand new when I got it. The car has heated/power seats. I’m concerned that this water damage may cause other issues down the road..including safety issues. Rust and mold are not good. There also is a bad odor.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jan 22, 2021
THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, DOES NOT MAINTAIN A SOLID SPEED, INCREASES AND DECREASES SPEED ON IT OWN, WHEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITH NOT GO WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED, IT WILL TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND THEN ACCELERATE AT A REALLY HIGH SPEED OR FORCE. THE WINDOWS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING, THE LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, THE STEERING COLUMN TIGHTENS AND THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD. IT WILL DISPLAY THAT THE KEY IS MISSING AND TURN OFF. IT HAS TAKEN SEVERAL MINUTES TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS DURING IDLE AND IN MOTION, ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY.
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jun 24, 2020
I HAVE A 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO NISSAN BUT I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, May 14, 2020
MY CAR GET CRAZY ELECTRICAL DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION SLEEP ALONE 5 MINUTES LATER CAR TURN ON BY SELF LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN STAR HAPPENED I TRY TO STOP THE CAR BRAKE DON'T WORK CAR STILL RUNNING ONLY THINK ITS WORK EMERGENCY BRAKE. *TR
Service brakes, Mar 12, 2020, crash
MY 6 ALTIMA, THIS ONE, HAS BY FAR BEEN THE WORST!I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALLS & RECVD A NEW BATTERY, I TOLD THEM THE BRAKES DON'T STOP THE VEHICLE, THEY TURNED FRONT ROTERS, I TOOK IT BACK FOR SEVERE SQUEAKY SQU DEALERSHIP DID NOT HEAR A THING! I HAVE SINCE BEEN IN A REAR END COLLISION UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND A DRIVER LEFT TURN COLLISION AGAIN UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND RECVD ANOTHER NEW BATTERY BUT BRAKES ARE FINE!! LAST NIGHT IN THE RAIN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, NOT HYDROPLANING, AGAIN ALMOST HIT A STOPPED CAR & SWERVED. THEYKEEP INSISTING IT IS MY DRIVING CAUSING THE ISSUE, MY CAR HAS 20,00 MI I WANT A BRAND NEW ALTIMA WITH PROPERLY WORKING PARTS! I CALLED BOTH BRANCH & DISTRICT MANAGER WITH NO RETURN CALL! I WILL ESCALATE TO THE TOP OF NISSAN!
Service brakes, Jan 19, 2020
BOTH THE DRIVE SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA SR SQUEAK ONLY WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE NOISE IS VERY PRONOUNCED WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARAGE IN THE MORNING IN REVERSE. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED ANYWHERE ELSE FOR A WHILE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE COLD THEY ALWAYS SQUEAK WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN REVERSE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2017 AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEAKING FOR YEARS.
Service brakes, Dec 27, 2019
I HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE ALSO.. I BOUGHT MY NISSAN BRAND NEW AUGUST 2017, NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES , WITH THE PUSH BUTTON START AND THE BRAKES. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY CAR STOP. I COULD NOT MOVE IT THIS WAS 2018 WHERE YOU CANT MOVE THE CAR OR START IT . IT WAS TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH SYSTEM FAILURE .THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH 2017 NISSAN ALTIMAS. VERY DANGEROUS! IN 2019 THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN AGAIN BRAKE SWITCH SYSTEM FAILURE. I ALSO HAVE RECEIPTS STATING THIS. THE CAR STOP ON A BUSY STREET. I WAITED 2 HOURS FOR NISSAN ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE , THEY TOWED IT TO NISSAN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. THER SHOULD BE A RECALL ABOUT THE BRAKE SWITCH SYSTEM FAILURE.THE TOWED IT TO KLINE NISSAN IN MAPLEWOOD. THIS ISSUE HAPPEN TWICE I DON'T KNOW I MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY CAR JUST STOPS!! I DID CONTACT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA,CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THEY DID NOTHING I STATED THAT VERY DANGEROUS BRAKE ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL .
Service brakes, Aug 27, 2019
MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM FRED HAAS NISSAN - TOMBALL, TX ON MARCH 5, 2018. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 42,250 MILES ON IT AND HAS DEVELOPED A BRAKING ISSUE. THE MASTER CYLINDER OR BRAKE BOOSTER IS FAILING ON THE CAR WHICH IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO ALMOST DOUBLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS DUE TO IT BEING JUST OUTSIDE OF THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 14, 2019
WHEN I STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO PROCEED IT WOULD BARELY MOVE AND THEN TAKE OFF. MY CAR HAS UNDER 19,500 MILES AND THE CAMERA IS MESSED UP, MY CAR WOULDN'T START BEFORE, MY BLUETOOTH HESITATES AT TIMES AND MY WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS AND I GET MY OIL CHANGES DONE AND JUST GOT MY BRAKES DONE AND MY CAR IS SQUEALING AGAIN.
Service brakes, Jun 21, 2019
I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2018, IN FEBRUARY OF 2019 I HAD MY FRONT BRAKES CHANGED, NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS LATER THE SQUEAKING NOISE STARTED AGAIN ON THE SAME FRONT BRAKE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY WAS DEFECTED BRAKE PADS SO HE CHANGED THEM AND PLACE SOME NEW ONES ON THE CAR. NOW I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM SHOP AND TWO DAYS LATER THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING AGAIN. I'VE INQUIRED WITH OTHERS WHO HAS THE SAME MODEL CAR AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AT THIS POINT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T GO THROUGH THAT MANY BRAKE PADS ON A NEW VEHICLE. THE SQUEAKING USUALLY TAKE PLACE WHEN I PRESS BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jun 18, 2019
NISSAN AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. THE ALARM GOES OFF 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION" AND LITTLE SYMBOL LIGHTS UP OF TWO CARS CRASHING ON DASHBOARD PANEL. MY VEHICLE STOPS SHORT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THIS WARNING OCCURS. I HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT WHEN I MAKE A TURN, GO OVER A SPEED BUMP OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY... CAR COMES TO COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE BRAKE. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED TWICE TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS. ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK TODAY THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES AFTER MAKING SEVERAL RIGHT TURNS ON CITY STREET IT WAS ALSO RAINING. MY CAR STOPPED SHORT AND CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BREAKS TO AVOID HITTING ME. .
Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 18, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED INDEPENDENTLY OFF A CLIFF AND CRASHED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WRIST, BACK, HEAD, AND LEG INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER (BULLOCK TOYOTA, (662) 773-6281, 269 N COURT AVE, LOUISVILLE, MS 39339). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 20, 2017
EMERGENCY FORWARD BRAKING DOES NOT DO ANYTHING THAT THE NISSAN BOOK OUTLINES OR THE ON LINE VIDEO OUTLINES . I HAVE TWO CASE NUMBERS 25746321 AND25772524 AND TWO DEALERSHIPS THE WORK REPORT SAYS NO CODE NO PROBLEM.
Service brakes, Jul 10, 2017
2017 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE MALFUNCTION. *LD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED 2 VEHICLES FROM A RENTAL COMPANY WITH MALFUNCTIONING BRAKES. UPDATED 07/10/2017*JS