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.
Tires, Jan 13, 2023, crash
235/45r18 there is a malfunction on this car the tire pressure keeps going out and blowing my tire also the car was giving to me with ran down tires which I was told was dangerous the company imperial auto mall switched the tires and said they was good but the car blew completely out while driving with my kids I alerted the company they did nothing to fix I reported the problem to different companies so they can fix but I was brushed off every time
Air bags, Jan 5, 2023
In mid December LF airbag light went on. Dealer found no issues cleared the code and problem recurred in 2 weeks. Dealer states airbag has to be replaced and if problem recurs then the module needs replacement. Repair for replacement airbag is 2625 and module according to the dealer would also be 2500 estimate. Wrote to Nissan since it appears this problem is fairly new and widespread some remediation should be offered
Air bags, Nov 29, 2022
The driver side airbag warning light appeared on dashboard approx 2 months ago. I took it to Piazza Nissan for service, where a 27 point vehicle inspection was performed. I was told the airbag needed to be replaced, as well as the LF seat back assembly. The parts would cost just over $2000.00, and with labor would be just over $3000.00. I was also told there is a national backorder for the parts, and the dealer would call me when they are available. The airbag does not work on the front driver’s side of the car anymore. My car has never been in an accident, the airbags were never deployed, and I have regularly had all of the maintenance checks done at Nissan dealers. I do not understand what would cause this problem except for faulty parts.
Steering, Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 28, 2022
I was driving on the highway and lost all my speed it dropped from 70 to 30 on the highway had to pull over and shut my car down. I restarted it, and my RPMs went up but were not moving. After this happen I have been in almost 15 accidents. The stops and then happens again. I hear like a winding noise when I try to keep a safe distance from people on the highway. Now all of a sudden my car is shaking and feels like my tires are going to fall off they are not through. No lights came on before this happend.
Power train, Nov 25, 2022
After coming to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign, there is a delay of acceleration. It takes 3-4 seconds to even respond to me depressing the gas pedal, with no change in RPMs or response in the first 3-4 seconds. Then, the car accelerates very quickly like a sling-shot. This is dangerous particularly in stop-and-go traffic. I have videos of the issue. The dealership stated that they cannot replicate the problem in their shop so it can’t be fixed. This might cause an accident and this seems to be happening to multiple other Altima drivers but there is no recall. This has been occurring for over six months and three trips to the mechanic/dealership with no resolve.
Air bags, Nov 8, 2022
Airbag is off and airbag indicator light is illuminated. The vehicle has not been in any accidents and Nissan states that this is an airbag issue (known). They refuse to warranty it even though the unit is under 100k miles. The dealership confirmed that the SRS Airbag system is not operational. A Google search for this provides many 2017 Altima drivers with the same issue and Nissan is not fixing this.
Air bags, Oct 27, 2022
Airbags deployed with no collision, so I had an inspection done with Nissan, and they reported that there was no malfunction. It does not make sense because airbags are not supposed to deploy mid-driving without anything hitting them. I was at risk, and other people on the road were put at risk of an accident. If I were on the freeway instead of a rural road, there would have been a higher risk of an accident and people getting hurt and causing an accident from the airbags deploying. I was lucky enough to be on a rural road where I was not going as fast, so people could avoid hitting me because I had slowed down very abruptly; I thought I got hit when the airbags deployed from the loud noise that the airbags made when they deployed. Previously my vehicle has been serviced at the dealership for any issues it had prior, and it was in excellent condition. After removing myself from the vehicle in the middle of the road, I checked around the vehicle, and there was no other vehicle. I also went around my vehicle and checked for any damages; there was no physical damage, and it was exactly how it was before. I had two witnesses walking on the sidewalk that came towards me and talked to me, we had a police officer come check out the situation and talk to me; they were puzzled as well. Called my insurance company, and they will not cover airbags deploying on their own. I also have a police report as well. I checked for any recalls, and there are no recalls obtaining my vehicle via my VIN number. The VIN number and recall check was done by me through the website and Nissan consumer affairs. I got bruised and hurt and went to the emergency room the following day. There was no other warning signs on my dashboard prior.
Power train, Oct 20, 2022
The transmission. The scar started to slow down in the middle of the Highway. No warning lights ever appeared. Car was always serviced and well cared for. Car was checked by dealers to see what was going on and the transmission went bad. My life and children’s was put at risk! This was such a scary moment
Air bags, Oct 12, 2022
I was driving for work and all the sudden the airbag light came on and stayed on. Was told I had an Error Code B0020 and that the LF drive side airbag needed to be replaced. It will be 3000 to fix, or I have NO AIRBAGS working in my car to drive my family. The car has been serviced every couple months since purchase. No accidents.
Steering, Suspension, Oct 1, 2022
loose steering at highway speeds and going around a curve on the highway also have clunking from the rack and pinion but the dealer says the clunk is normal but it doesn't feel normal
Structure, Sep 23, 2022
The locking mechanism on the rear passenger door has broken twice. The electric switching mechanism does not lock or unlock the door. Has to be done manually. Additionally the child safety lock also had to be replaced on the same door. Causing the door to only be able to be opened from the outside. Both are potentially very dangerous in the emergency situations.
Exterior lighting, Sep 23, 2022
Headlights are to dim to see the road at night. Very dangerous. This has gotten progressively worse. When researching I found their are class action lawsuits about this issue. While there does not appear to be an official recall, I was not notified of the lawsuit and wonder why there is not an official recall.
Other or unspecified, Sep 16, 2022
On September 14, 2022 at about 7: 30 PM I attempted to shift from park to reverse and the gear shift would not move from park. I reset the park brake and released it once again thinking perhaps the brake did not fully release but it would not go into reverse. The gear shift was locked. I restarted the car and did everything I normally do and still nothing. I wiggled the shift after making sure I pressed the release lock on the shift at the same time and made sure the break was not the cause. Finally the shift released and I was able to put it into reverse. The next morning the same thing happened. I am taking it to the shop for an evaluation. My concern is that this situation is happening more than consumers are reporting and I suggest that NISSAN should look into having a recall for whatever the fix is to correct this so that wear and tear is not what it is considered as. As a result I would like to know what can be done to better address this inevitable problem with the gear shift
Power train, Sep 12, 2022
The transmission failed at around 44,000 miles. It started losing power on the Highway causing it to lunge forward at times and die out while pulling out and slowing down. Eventually the reverse gear stopped working . It would stall above1,000 RPMs and only operate at low speeds. Nissan knows good and well about this issue and does nothing to offer monitory assistance of replacing the transmission and not much of A guarantee on A replacement only A year warranty . They should be pulling these hazardous cvt transmissions out and pull these cars off the market before someone gets killed. The cost of replacing this transmission is over 5,000 and that’s only A limited 1 year warranty.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 6, 2022
I was driving in the highway, and suddenly my hood flew open. I could not see I had to slow then and pull over to the side. Because of the hood coming up it cracked my windshield and the hinges damaged both sides of the front fenders. I have been trying to get an appointment for the recall at multiple Nissan service centers since January of 2022. This incident happened in December , it is now September 06 2022. I am sitting at a Nissan service center and they are telling me they are not responsible call the insurance. As I explain to the agent the insurance is not going to fix it due to the problem caused by a recall. Now the agent is telling me that I will have to make another appointment and it will be 8-9 months before they can get to it.
Power train, Aug 28, 2022
While driving down the highway at 70 mph approximately 23 miles from my house, my car began to jolt and the RPM on the instrument began to fluctuate up and down. I heard the sound of the car braking, but I was not on the brakes. There was no warning light (engine light was not lit at that time). I was able to drive the car 23 miles back to my house with it jolting and with the sounds of sudden braking. I was fearful that the car would stop on the road. I took the car in to a local repair shop on 07/29/22 because our local Nissan dealership was backup for two weeks and could not check it out. While driving I experienced the same problems then the engine light came on. My car began to rumble and shake. I was able to drive it to have it to have it checked out, not without some hesitation when putting the car in drive. The technician checked the OBD and it gave him a transmission code. I drove my car to the local Nissan dealership and they informed me several days later that the transmission has gone out and cost $6500 to repair. Of course the extended warranty is out. There should be no way the transmission should have gone out at 78,000 miles. I have a 2010 Nissan and have never experienced transmission issues and it has well over 120,000 miles.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving on the highway, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated and then independently decelerated. The contact stated that he was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence. The contact then stated that after he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the gear shifter failed to engage. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. A case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Power train, Aug 21, 2022, crash
Follow-up to issue #11479380 Just 6 days ago, I filed a complaint regarding acceleration issues with my 2017 Nissan Altima. Unfortunately, yesterday (8/20/2022), I was involved in an accident with the car as a direct result of these ongoing acceleration issues. I was the driver in the driveway of a friend’s house and as I tried to pull closer to the house (to perform a K-turn in a tight spot), with my foot (lightly) on the gas pedal, the car suddenly surged forward and hit the house. A passenger and I both experienced minor injuries (no medical attention required), and both the car and the house now require repairs. I’m in touch with both my insurance and Nissan about this accident, but no longer feel safe driving this vehicle (which is now pending repairs due to this accident). I wanted to post a follow-up since there was an accident directly related to this issue.
Air bags, Aug 16, 2022
I own a 2017 Nissan Altima. It has 57,000 miles. About a week ago, I started the car after it was parked overnight and the air bag light illuminated and stayed on. This vehicle had not been in an accident and I am the only driver of this vehicle. I took the vehicle to a Nissan dealership. They diagnosed it and I was told it would be a $3,000.00 repair (although I have not seen a copy of the diagnostic findings). I did get a copy of a partial listing of the parts involved which included: pressure detection sensor, curtain module assembly, side air bag module assembly, air bag pressure detect module and to replace the left seat back frame assembly. Unfortunately, my extended warranty does not cover air bags. I am wondering if my car should have been included in the air bag recall that included the 2016 Nissan Altima. It is difficult for me to understand how my 5 year old car with no accidents has an airbag system that needs such and intensive and significant repair. I'm not a mechanic by any means, but I would think it should be no more than a faulty sensor causing the light to come on without a cause.
Exterior lighting, Aug 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver-side heat would shine dimly without warning while in use. Due to the failure, the contact would have to use her high beam headlights to safely operate the vehicle at night. The contact had reached out to the dealer and was informed that both headlights would need replacement to repair the vehicle. The contact was informed that the parts were on backorder; the vehicle had yet to be serviced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was given a case number. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 12, 2022
Delays in acceleration. When operating the vehicle. At a complete stop. When I depress the gas pedal there is a few seconds delay before the vehicle starts to accelerate. No warnings appear on dashboard. No check engine light, no visible indication of problem.
Exterior lighting, Aug 11, 2022
Class action suit letter received that on car headlights would be replaced as they are very dim. North Plainfield, nj Nissan has said for past 4 months they are on back order. Dangerous situation and I believe they do not want to spend money to comply with class action suit.
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.