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.
Vehicle speed control, Nov 17, 2019
WHEN MY CAR IS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, IT TAKES A WHILE FOR MY CAR TO ACCELERATE WHEN I PRESS THE PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN, NOT EVERY TIME. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN I'M TRYING TO ACCELERATE MY CAR'S RPM STALLS AT THE 3/4 AND STRUGGLES TO SHIFT DOWN LIKE NORMAL. I AM ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IF I TURN OFF THEN TURN MY CAR BACK ON. THESE ARE TWO LARGE ISSUES THAT I'M HAVING WITH MY 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 15, 2019
TUESDAY, NOV 12TH, APPROXIMATELY 7 PM, WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF EVENING TRAFFIC ON A BUSY THOROUGHFARE, VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD. PRIOR TO THIS, VEHICLE LOST POWER TEMPORARY ABOUT 20 MINUTES PRIOR ON ANOTHER VERY BUSY STRETCH OF ROAD BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE CAR WOULD SPUTTER WHILE IN MOTION. BY THE EVENING THE SPUTTERING BECAME MORE INTENSE AND WAS MORE INDICATIVE OF THE VEHICLE TRYING TO CUT OFF. THE SUDDEN SLOW DOWN, AND ALMOST STOPPING CAUSED DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO JERK FORWARD AND BACK AS THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP (EVEN WITH PRESSURE ON GAS PEDDLE). TO KEEP CAR FROM CUTTING OFF REQUIRED FLOORING GAS PEDDLE. VEHICLE PURCHASED AT APPROX 67,000 MILES ON NOV. 5TH. DISCOVERED HORN DID NOT WORK PROPERLY EITHER.
Engine, Nov 11, 2019
MY CAR ALWAYS QUIT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING FOR WHATEVER REASON. I WAS DROPPING MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL ONE DAY IN TRAFFIC AND IT CUT OFF ON ME AND IT ALSO CUT OFF ON ME ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS, THERE WASN'T A TRAIN INSIGHT THANK GOD.... THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS...
Power train, Nov 1, 2019
MY CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND MAINTAINED PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT STARTS TO HESITATE WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND AT TIMES IT IT SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SEEM IN NO RUSH TO ASSIST ME IN GETTING IT FIXED ALTHOUGH THE BIG ISSUE JUST OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING HOME WHERE MY CAR RPM SHOT ALL THE WAY UP BUT MY CAR HAD NO ACTUAL ACCELERATION TO IT IN A 55PMH ZONE WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN CRASHED INTO BY CARS MOVING QUICKLY.
Power train, Oct 14, 2019
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SPUTTERING, STALLING AND NOT SHIFTING IN GEAR FOR MONTHS BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION FUEL PROBLEM. AT THE END OF SEPT THE PROBLEMS GOT WORSE WHERE THE CAR WOULD HARDLY DRIVE. FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE TO TRANSMISSION SHOP BUT THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED IN THE SHOP'S DRIVEWAY AND HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO THE STALL. WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON A 2017 ALTIMA? DIDN'T HAVE THE $5000 NEEDED SO I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE WHERE IT STILL SITS FOR REPOSSESSION. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND DON'T NEED A CAR THAT STALLS IN TRAFFICE TO THIS EXTENT IN TRAFFIC!
Other or unspecified, Oct 11, 2019
TRUNK IS CLOSE BUT DASH BOARD SAYS OPEN WHILE DRIVING IT BEEPS AND PERIODICALLY HESITATES TO TAKE OFF AT NORMAL SPEED
Other or unspecified, Oct 2, 2019
IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME GETTING MY BAGS, PURSE FELL OVER WENT TO REACH TO GET ITEMS THAT FELL OUT BETWEEN THE SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE AND FINGER STUCK IN BRACKET, COULD NOT TAKE MY FINGER OUT BY MYSELF BECAUSE OF THE BRACKET HAS METAL RIGIDES AROUND IT HAD TO CALL 911 AND THEY SENT OUT THE PARAMEDIC THEY HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT. TO CUT THE SEAT FRAME BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REMOVE MY FINGER FROM BRACKET ALSO SO I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYMORE DAMAGES TO THE FINGER.*DT*JB
Power train, Sep 16, 2019
THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WON'T CATCH WHEN IT IS PUT INTO GEAR. I WAS ALMOST STUCK IN PARKING LOT WHILE TRYING TO BACK INTO A SPOT. THE CAR JUMPS/STUTTERS AND WHEN IT WAS PUT ON CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD LOSE SET SPEED AND THEN CATCH UP AGAIN. IF I GAVE THE CAR GAS, IT WOULDN'T GO EVEN WITH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR.
Power train, Sep 9, 2019
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING. THEN IT WOULD NOT CATCH IN DRIVE OR IN REVERSE. IT JUST STOPS RUNNING SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T START AT ALL.
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.
Power train, Aug 26, 2019
THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN THE ALTIMA STOPPED WORKING AND VERY VERY NEARLY CAUSED A BIG ACCIDENT WHICH WAS ALMOST NOT AVOIDED DUE TO THIS. IT WAS IN MOTION IN TRAFFIC PEOPLE ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER TO GO. I WAS ON A MAJOR BOULEVARD WITH RUSH HOUR.
Power train, Aug 20, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AND BEGAN A SLOW SHUDDERING OR SHAKING. 15 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME AND LUCKY FOR ME I WAS ALREADY HOME. HOWEVER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO REVERSE. TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD SUB ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. "NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM" THE TECH TOLD AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SUB ASSEMBLY AT NO COST TO ME AS I WISELY HAD DECIDED TO GET THE 150K WARRANTY. I WAS HURRIED INTO A LOANER -RENTAL VEHICLE AND TOLD IT MAY TAKE OVER TWO WEEKS JUST FOR THE SUB ASSEMBLY TO ARRIVE.
Power train, Jul 30, 2019
2017 NISSAN ALTIMA CVT TRANSMISSION STALLS AND JERK WHEN DRIVING AT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR HIGHWAY AND AT A RED LIGHT HAVE TO PUSH START TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATH
Power train, Jul 26, 2019
CVT - CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT WITH 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA SL AND 37K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ALL HIGHWAY MILES AND CAR IS EXACTLY 2 YEARS YOUNG. CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE.
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.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 22, 2019
I HAVE LESS THAT 8000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I'M A DISABLED VETERAN WITH A SERVICE RELATED DISABILITY. I'VE HAD THE CAR MAYBE TWO YEARS. I WAS ON THE I-12 AND THE CAR BEGIN TO DECELERATE OFF AND ON AND THEN STALLED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OFF RAMP. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. CAR STILL ISNT PAID OFF. I'VE READ OTHER YEAR MODLES WITH SAME ISSUES AND NO FIXES EITHER HELP OR SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHAT OR MY RIGHTS AND CURRENTLY AWAITING FOR DEALER TO LOOK AT CAR.
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.
Exterior lighting, Jun 21, 2019
DIM HEADLIGHTS- BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED BUT NO DIFFERENCE. BASICALLY CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN AFTER DUSK. BRIGHT LIGHTS WORK FINE BUT THE DIM ARE SO DIM YOU CANY TELL THEY ARE EVEN ON. NO VISIBILITY AT NIGHT- SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL INVOLVED.
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. .
Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2019
MY SMART KEY STOP TO WORK, WHEN WORK IN THE DASH SHOWS UP KEY ERROR, CAR DON T WANT TO OPEN OR START, LOCK OR OPEN. I GOT TWO KEYS AND BOTH GOT SAME PROBLEM
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, May 30, 2019
THE FEB (FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION) READS UNAVAILABLE WHILE DRIVING EITHER IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAY. NOTE: THIS HAPPENS WHEN IS CLEAR OUTSIDE AND WHILE IS WINDY, RAINING, FOGGY. MIND YOU THE IDEA OF HAVING THIS SYSTEM IS TO AID THE DRIVER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. BUT IT WILL NOT DO SUCH IF IT IS NOT WORKING, SPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE ABOVEMENTIONED CONDITIONS. THIS FAULT STARTED ON 27 OCT 2018 AT 4:19PM AND IS OCCURRING ON A CONSISTENT BASIS EVEN SINCE. LAST DAY TO OCCUR WAS MONDAY 27 MAY 2019.
Power train, May 27, 2019
TAKAKA RECALL I HAVE A 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT STOPS IN MIDLE OF THE HWAY. WHEN I DRIVE AROUND 60 MILES PER HOUR WITH MY 2 KIDS INSIDE. I HAVE TO STOP IN THE SIDE WITH HEAVI TRAFFIC AND WAIT UNTIL HELP ARRIVE. 2 HOURS LATER IN STILL STUCK WITH SCARE KIDS AND I DRIVE THE CAR WHIT SLIPPING TRANSMISION TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE OF COURSE THEY DONT WANT TAKE ANY RESPONSABILTY I FOUND ALL COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND LAWSUITS AGAINST NISSAN FOR THE CVT TRANSMISION AND RECALL HAS TO BE ENFORCED
Power train, May 21, 2019
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. I WAS TOLD BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP GARAGE MANAGER THAT THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY THEY FAIL EXCEPT THAT THEY THINK THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS DUE TO UNDERSIZED PUMP AND MESH NOT ALLOWING ENOUGH CIRCULATION. EVERYTHING WAS REPLACED AT NISSAN'S EXPENSE, HOWEVER I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE REPAIR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGE THAT APPEARED ON THE DASH.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 27, 2019
MY 2017 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT CURRENTLY HAS 35,000 SIMPLY LOST ALL POWER. I COULDN'T USE THE FOB KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR, THERE WERE NO LIGHTS, NO RADIO, NOTHING. BECAUSE IT IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR TWO DAYS FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY WHAT WAS WRONG. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED ONCE THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR ALARM WAS ACTIVATED. THE MECHANICS WERE TOTALLY DUMBFOUNDED BY THE EVENTS. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE CAR LOSING ALL POWER. TWO DAYS LEADING UP TO THE CAR LOSING ALL POWER, I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED THAT IS WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, IF FOR WHATEVER REASON I HAVE TO SLOW OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR SHUTTERS. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS ABOUT LOSE POWER AND SHUTDOWN. I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT ACTUALLY SHUTDOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC A COUPLE TIMES. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED WITH A RECALL THAT UPDATED SOME SORT OF SOFTWARE FOR THAT CAR AND AFTER THAT UPDATE I NEVER HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I GAVE THAT CAR TO MY PARENTS AND THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT SHUTTING NOW. THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH THE 2017 CAR IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE 2011 ALTIMA. IT IS FLAT OUT DANGEROUS AND I AM CONCERN IT COULD COST ME MY LIFE.
Structure, Apr 24, 2019
DISTRACTING WIND NOISE FROM DRIVER SIDE, POSSIBLY MIRROR PAST YEARS HAVE HAD DRIVER SIDE MIRROR RECALLS. THE NOISE DISTRACTS THE DRIVER AND CLOSING THE MIRROR STOPS THE NOISE BUT RENDERS THE MIRROR UNUSABLE AND DANGEROUS