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
391 reports, newest first.
Power train, Apr 28, 2020
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY BACK IN FEBRUARY AND MY CAR STOPPED AT A CERTAIN SPEED AND WHEN I TRIED TO GO FASTER THE CAR WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE I'VE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN TIME TO GO THE CAR SEEM TO STALL FOR A MINUTE BEFORE MOVING. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC TO BE TOLD THE CODE THAT CAME UP WAS P0776 AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THEY MY MODEL AND YEAR CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS YET. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE 3 KIDS WHICH ONE IS A NEWBORN THAT I TRANSPORT IN THIS VEHICLE. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2020
ALL ROTORS ARE BAD PADS OK
Electrical system, Mar 24, 2020
PUSH BUTTON START FAILS IN DRIVEWAY
Power train, Mar 15, 2020
THIS IS THE 2ND NISSAN ALTIMA WITH TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN ISSUES. THE FIRST I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THINKING THAT PERHAPS IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. MY CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE ON TAKE OFF. THE RPMS GO UP REALLY HIGH AND THE CAR BARELY TAKES OFF. THIS OCCURS DURING ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS ON ALL TERRAINS.
Power train, Mar 15, 2020
THIS IS THE 2ND NISSAN ALTIMA WITH TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN ISSUES. THE FIRST I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THINKING THAT PERHAPS IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. MY CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE ON TAKE OFF. THE RPMS GO UP REALLY HIGH AND THE CAR BARELY TAKES OFF. THIS OCCURS DURING ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS ON ALL TERRAINS.
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!
Other or unspecified, Mar 8, 2020, fire
VEHICLE FIRE STARTED FROM PASSENGER SIDE UNDER HOOD WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON BATTLEFIELD PARKWAY IN RINGGOLD, GA. CAR HAD 50,000 MILES. PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT TO CALL 911, CAR GOT ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. CATOOSA COUNTY SHERIFF AND CATOOSA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED.
Vehicle speed control, Mar 8, 2020
AS I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM WORK AS I NORMALLY WOULD, MY CAR IMMEDIATELY STALLED AND WOULD NOT EVEN GO PAST 20 MILES PER HOUR EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I LIFTED MY FOOT SLOWLY UP FROM THE PEDAL HAVING TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND IT STARTED TO ACCELERATE MORE AFTER A GOOD MINUTE. I GOT MAYBE 3 MILES UP THE ROAD AND SLOWED DOWN BEHIND A DIESEL AND MY CAR STALLED AGAIN WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY ON THE FLOOR PUSHING MY GAS PEDAL, IT STAYED UNDER 40 MPH FOR A GOOD 30 SECONDS. IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON. I KNOW THE SYMPTOMS BECAUSE I HAD PREVIOUSLY OWNED A NEWER 2017 CHEVY MALIBU, I WAS THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND MY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WENT OUT AT 22,000 MILES. THEY SAID IT WASNT NORMAL FOR IT TO GO OUT THAT EARLY, BUT MINE DID. IT WASNT A RECALL WHEN IT WENT OUT, BUT BECAME A RECALL AFTERWARDS IN LESS THAN A MONTH. THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME AS MY CAR SUDDENLY REDUCED ENGINE SPEED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A RESTAURANT, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SLIGHTLY TO A NEARBY GAS STATION.
Power train, Feb 25, 2020
MY TRANSMISSON STARTED SHUDDERING THEN JUST QUIT PULLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE WHICH BOUT GOT ME RAN OVER, THIS WAS LIKE THE THIRD TIME, THERE IS COUNTLESS CASES OF THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENING WITH THE SAME CAR FROM 2014 TO 2018 MODELS DUE TO CVT TRANSMISSONS, SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SUM HOMEWORK AND SEE THIS IS GONNA GET SOMEBODY HURT. NISSAN DOESNT WANT TO ADMIT THE ISSUES AND COVER THE ISSUES.
Power train, Feb 20, 2020
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WILL HESITATE TO GAIN POWER FROM A STOP POSITION. SOMETIMES THE RPMS WILL RAMP UP WITHOUT ME PRESSING HARD ON THE GAS PEDDLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO ADVANCE AUTO AND THE CODE THAT COMES UP IS P0776 PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BUT I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 7 MONTHS. AND I'M SURE OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUES IF NOT NOW VERY SOON. CUSTOMER WILL VERY MUCH SOON BE VERY PISSED OFF AFTER 7 MONTHS OF HAVING THEIR VEHICLE OR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HITS 60K. AT THIS POINT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND I FEEL LIKE IT WAS A MISTAKE GETTING THIS CAR.
Exterior lighting, Feb 20, 2020
THE LOW BEAMS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. I WAS ALMOST IN A ONE CAR ACCIDENT (COULDN'T SEE UPCOMING TRAFFIC CIRCLE) AS A RESULT. I HAVE TO RELY ON HIGH BEAMS FOR VISIBILITY WHENEVER POSSIBLE . THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED. I AM POSITIVE THERE WILL BE ACCIDENTS IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT FIXED.
Steering, Feb 20, 2020
WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH TERRAIN GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND THEN RELEASES. WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENS I AM UNABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST 3 TIMES THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIME SINCE I'VE PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 12/31/2019.
Power train, Feb 10, 2020
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL MAKE A VIBRATION NOISE, LOSES POWER. ABSOLUTELY NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. ALMOST LIKE GETTING NO FUEL, BUT YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING AND VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WILL START TO MOVE SLOWLY. THEN IT WILL GO. THIS PROCESS WILL REPEAT OVER AND OVER. UNTIL STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN YOU COME BACK IT ACTS FINE. THEN STARTS OVER ONCE DRIVEN A WHILE. THIS HAPPEN WHEN CITY DRIVING OR HIGHWAY. I FINALLY GOT A LIGHT TO COME ON AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF DRIVING THIS WAY. CHECK ENGINE CODE P0776 PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. THAT'S IN THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAYS ITS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 5, 2020
WHEN VEHICLES PUT IN REVERSE AND THE BACK UP CAMERA IS ENGAGED MOST OF THE TIME THE SCREEN IS VERY DARK YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO REVERSE AGAIN TO SEE. WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE AND THE BACK UP CAMERA IS ENGAGED MOST OF THE TIME THE SCREEN IS VERY DARK YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO REVERSE AGAIN TO SEE. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP OUT OF TIGHT AREAS AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS FOR
Power train, Feb 5, 2020
AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED AS I WAS GIVING MY CAR GAS. IT WAS ACTING AS IF IT DIDN'T WANT TO PULL. IT WAS IDLING VERY HIGH AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 30MPH. I BEGAN TO PANIC BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW CAR. I'M LIKE IS IT THE TRANSMISSION. I PULLED OVER CUT THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT BACK UP. THE CAR BEGAN TO DRIVE BACK NORMAL. IT HAS DONE THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE EVEN WHILE I HAD UBER RIDERS ACTING AS IF IT DOESN'T WANT TO PULL. IT'S WAS IN MOTION EACH TIME IT HAPPENED EVEN ON THE INTERSTATE IN BUSY TRAFFIC.
Power train, Feb 4, 2020
ISSUES WITH CVT ON MY 17 ALTIMA. CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME. AT COMPLETE STOP THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE, I PUSH THE PETAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE RPMS RACE WHILE THE CAR BASICALLY CRAWLS. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN TO GET IT TO RUN NORMAL. HAPPENS A LOT.
Power train, Jan 26, 2020
I HAVE A 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA AND MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT.I HAVE THE NEW CVT TRANSMISSION AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THOSE NEW TRANSMISSIONS ARE HORRIBLE ONCE THEY GO BAD YOU HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE. ALSO THERE ARE TWO CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SIZE FOR THOSE SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG MY CAR IS WHEN I WAS HEADED TO MIAMI TO THE DOLPHINS STADIUM FOR MY DAUGHTER'S CHEER PERFORMANCE I WAS ON I 95 SOUTH AND MY CAR STARTED JERKING AS IF IT WANTED TO STOP THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON TO INDICATE THAT'S SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I TOOK MY CAR TO AUTO ZONE FOR A FREE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I CALL NISSAN AND ASKED HOW MUCH WOULD IT BE TO FIX MY CAR THEY REFUSE TO TAKE THE AUTO ZONE DIAGNOSTIC TEST RESULTS THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $300 DOLLARS JUST TO LOOK AT MY CAR. THE SECOND TIME MY CAR STOPPED ON ME IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS HEADED HOME FROM WORK SITTING AT A RED LIGHT ON 441 AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO I PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS IN MY CAR WILL NOT MOVE I WAS SO SCARED I JUST SHUT OFF MY CAR TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT STARTED TO WORK AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON MY WAY COMING BACK FROM TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL I'M TAKING MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS BUSY INTERSECTION SOUTHERN BOULEVARD MY CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD I HAD TO PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS SO MANY TIMES IT'S AGO AND WHEN IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF LIKE A ROCKET I WAS SO SCARED.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 14, 2020
MY CAR HAS BEEN HESITATING TO ACCELERATE AND GETS THIS WEIRD MOTION. IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING FAST BUT IT DOES NOT GO MORE THAN 20 FOR TIMES.
Air bags, Jan 11, 2020
I WAS HEADING SOUTH BOUND ON RT 83. FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT & MY SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIER WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE
Exterior lighting, Jan 11, 2020
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT DRIVING AT NIGHT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
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 .
Steering, Dec 8, 2019
THE POWER STEERING PUMP (2017 NISSAN ALTIMA SR, 2.4L, 35,980 MILES) BEGAN TO PRODUCE WHINING NOISES (HIGH FREQUENCY PITCH SOUNDS) BOTH WHEN THE ENGINE RUNS WITH MOVING AND WHEN THE CAR MOVES. PARTICULARLY, WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON, IT PRODUCES HIGHER NOISES. IF I DON'T TURN THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON, IT PRODUCES LOWER WHINING SOUNDS. THUS, BOULDER NISSAN IN COLORADO REPLACED THE PROBLEMATIC PUMP WITH A NEW ONE. HOWEVER, THE NEW ONE IS NOT THE SOLUTION AT ALL. I HAVE COMPLAINED THIS ISSUE AGAINST BOULDER NISSAN. THEY COULDN'T SOLVE THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE. I KNOW ALL OF 2011 ~ 2018 ALTIMA HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN ON THE INTERNET. NISSAN COMPANY MUST RECALL THE POWER STEERING WHEEL PUMP AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED PUMP (NOT THE SAME DEFECTIVE ONE). WHAT HAPPENS IF THE POWER STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING?
Power train, Dec 4, 2019
CAR IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY BY ITSELF WHEN ACCELERATING GET STUCK IN THE FIRST GEAR. ALSO PERIODICALLY THE PEDAL HAS A THREE SECOND DELAY WHEN PRESSING ON IT TO ACCELERATE THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. THE ONLY REMEDY THAT FIXES IT IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AS FAR AS THE PEDAL GOES. THE ACCELERATION WHERE IT DOES NOT SHIFT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME BUT AT LEAST HAPPENS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK DOES IT MATTER IF I'M ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON A REGULAR ROAD.
Power train, Nov 21, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 3 MONTHS AND THE DEALER DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THE 2ND TIME, THEY CLAIMED I HAD RODENT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR HARNESS. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $450.00