8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,000
Average Mileage:
101,200 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. replaced transmission sensor (1 reports)
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problem #4

Mar 052016

Altima SL 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,206 miles

Some time last year, I began to notice an issue in which the reverse gear wouldn't engage immediately. There would be a slight delay followed by a violent jerk before the reverse gear would engage. Months later, I began to notice the Altima began jerking when reversing out of my parking spot in the morning (intermittently).

About a week ago, while I was idle at the light, the Altima began jerking again. I was able to drive a few kilometres until I began accelerating up a hill at which point the car began jerking again and the service light came on. After seeing this I didn't want to take any risks driving so I decided to drop the car off at a local Nissan dealership for the service department to take a look at it. Nissan mechanics did a diagnostic check on the car but couldn't find any problem. They had told me a Transmission code was triggered which was described as "CAN COMM CIRCUIT". So I'm currently stuck with this issue.

- fjunyar, Burlington, ON, Canada

problem #3

Jun 082014

Altima SE/SL/S V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

This car has turned me against Nissans. This transmission is the biggest piece of crap never to have been recalled......MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! Had car no time when when dash light was on and transmission started jerking when gearing up, hooked scanner to it, said it was speed sensor, replaced it. Not long after, driving in evening rush hour traffic on major highway in fast lane, traffic came to brief stop....car went dead and did not want to start....MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, there was no where to go without getting hit. Couldn't even get out to look at car with out potentially being hit by another vehicle.

Also if car does stay running after coming to complete stop and you are able to press gas and go, it will not gear up, so you go no where, so make sure there are no cars for miles in case it takes you an hour to get 12 ft or your car stalls. I've had a transmission put in this car, sensors replaced, scanners hooked up.....my wife won't drive it, my daughter won't drive it, its a death machine my daughter says! I've worked on cars for years and this is the worst contraption I've seen........

- Thomas B., Bremen, GA, US

problem #2

Oct 222014

Altima SE-R 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

The car jerks real bad when starting from a stop sign or a traffic light. Also, if there is a car in front of you turning right, you slow down to let that car turn slowly and then accelerate to pick up speed. This acceleration makes the car violently jerk and feels like the tires are not rolling but sliding.

- pradeeptexas, Cypress, TX, US

problem #1

Sep 102009

Altima 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,469 miles

After driving the car on the expressway for 35 minutes or more, it would jerk in "Drive" and cut off. I was always holding up traffic.

- sueqfulton, Morrow, GA, US