10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 95,579 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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« Read the previous 20 complaints
Flare and slip on highway merge. Intermittently shudder, surge and vibrate when accelerate from 0-30 or decelerate from 30-0 in stop and go traffic. It seems like this belt type(cvt) transmission control unit 's logic is not synchronized with gas throttle input. It is not as precise and responsive as step automatic transmission used by Nissan's infiniti or GMC and Toyota etc. Therefore, it will create many dangerous delays in highway merge scenario from 0-60, with potential of getting hit at 60 mph speed.
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
Vehicle's transmission begins to whine and loses power within a hour of highway driving on a hot day. Vehicle cannot accelerate after, thus creating a hazard towards other vehicles. Nissan wont cover costs associated with this problem if it is out of warranty. Most Altima models from 2007 - 2009 are experiencing the same problem. I am surprised their isnt a recall for this particular issue.
- Sunset, LA, USA
While driving uphill from phoenix to flagstaff, the transmission overheated and went into "fail-safe" mode, which immediately causes the car to lose power and slow to about 20 mph. This was an incredibly dangerous situation in which I was forced to quickly pull off to the side of the 2-lane freeway.
- Glendale, AZ, USA
This vehicle was purchased at 60,000 miles from a Nissan authorized dealer. The push button does not start the car. Sometimes it does start and will go off by itself. The shift tick is locked and won't change gears. I have called the dealership and Nissan and they both said nothing can be done. So I am paying for a car that does not work. When it does turn on I have to press the lock release on the shifter for it to engage into drive. Dangerous really. No accountability
- Clifton, NJ, USA
When driving up a grade the engine RPM goes up to almost 4500 and the car slows down. Car does not accelerate on interstate consistently when merging into traffic. This makes the car dangerous because when losing acceleration I was nearly struck from behind. I had just taken the car to the dealership for the problem and they changed the transmission fluid 10000 miles before it was due. I was told that the fluid would degrade from the car sitting and ageing. If that is the case the fluid in the new cars on the lot is degrading while waiting to be sold. I researching problems for the 2009 Nissan Altima cvt transmission problems I am not alone with similar complaints and lack of dealership remedy to the problem. I talked to a Nissan factory trained tech. And ask him if this problem is why Nissan tightened up the transmissions starting in 2013 and he acknowledged that was the reason. Slippage is the only reason that the epa mpg estimates for 2013-2015 vehicles are 7 mpg greater than previous models. Nissans answer to the problem is to extend the warranty on the transmission from 60000 miles to 120000 miles. That is fine and dandy, but that does not remove the danger of a rear end collision that can kill or severely injure families when the car does not consistently accelerate when the driver has a reasonable expectation it will. The car has also failed to maintain a steady speed when the transmission starts slipping. Please help with a recall before people get killed if that has not already happened.
- Corbin, KY, USA
As my family and I was traveling out of town, the car's acceleration appeared to decline out of no where. Even with the gas pedal pressed completely down to the floor, there was no change in speed. It made a whining noise as well. Since the first incident it has happened 8 times that I can count over the past year and a half. I have taken it to the dealer several times and they have not been able to recreate the issue nor get a code. So my issue still exists. It only happens on long distance trips where I drive more than 40 miles or so at 75 mph or more, usually 80mph. The most recent incident happened this past weekend and my young daughter and I were almost killed by a tractor trailer so I once again took the car in to the Nissan dealer and once again they could not recreate the issue. It's pretty frustrating when you know there's an issue but you can't get a resolution. Like I would make up an issue to pay for, that's dumb! they want you to take it to an authorize Nissan dealer but what good does that do when they can't find or fix the issue.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
The transmission failed at 170,000 miles on my Nissan Altima while my husband was driving it on the interstate.
- Altus, AR, USA
I bought new 2009 Nissan Altima from the dealership. The transmission has been slipping when the car starts driving since day one. I was told in the dealership that this is a cvt and it's working that way. My transmission needs to be replaced now at 62000 mi and the warranty is over. I did a research on internet and found out that many Nissan owners have the same problem with the cvt transmission.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact was driving 60 mph, the vehicle failed to downshift from sixth gear. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 55,000.
- Newark, NJ, USA
2009 Nissan Altima intermittently will not start. Car will only click over and unable to shift car into neutral. Air conditioning and radio work, but when you press on brake to start car nothing happens. Dealers were unable to duplicate problem, but have been got caught out many times when car would not start and had to notify aaa. This is a common problem with many Nissan's and it is not covered under any warranty or recall.
- Newbury Park, CA, USA
Traveling on a 3 hour trip, of which was on the interstate at 75 to 80 mph speeds. After about 2 hours of running these speeds non stop I was in the right hand lane coming up on a small incline, the car lost power my speed instantly dropped to 60 mph. I stopped at the next gas station (ten miles down the road)to check the transmission fluid, it was fine. Got back on the road and it ran ok. The next day on the road the same thing happened, I stopped for 10 minutes, got back on the road then it ran ok. This could have been an accident if a vehicle was behind me. After researching the web I discovered many other owners have had this issue this Nissan is an interstate death trap that should be recalled.
- Chandler, AZ, USA
I was driving when I pushed the clutch and the pedal would not come back up the car stalled suddenly, and I hurt my neck.
- Norfolk, VA, USA
I was trying to get to the er and when I went to start my car the word "key" flashed on and the car will not start!!! I have already had to have the transmission replaced at 98K miles..now I am stranded and mathews Nissan in clarksville, tn says they will be glad to help for a price. I explained to them it was an emergency and they suggested " I call a friend".. said they didn't build it and I wasn't paying them for the car, I was paying the bank and to call Nissan if I had a problem with how they were built!!! terrible service and unreliable car!!! still haven't gotten medical attention!!!! thanks alot Nissan!!!!!!!
- Pleasant View, TN, USA
TL- the contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While coasting uphill, the contact stated that the vehicle accelerated without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact crashed into a tree, but no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for inspection. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer has been notified of the incident. The exact failure mileage was 32608.-
- New Ringgold, PA, USA
Two incidents on same day: First incident at 7:15am: Engine continued to rev without accelerator pedal being pushed. Braking distance much longer than normal. When car did stop, engine speed returned to normal. Second incidence at 10:45am (had stopped/started car 5 times, and driven approximately 40 miles since first occurrence): Same engine over-rev issue while braking (accelerator pedal not pushed). After stopping (distance required much longer than normal), engine speed did not return to normal. When transmission was shifted to neutral, then park, to keep engine from propelling car, engine speed went to 6000rpm, without accelerator pedal being pushed. Had to turn engine off, then start again to get engine to respond normally.
- Trenton, GA, USA
We purchased this 2009 Nissan Altima 5 months ago with 56000 miles on it and only drove it locally until 8/31/13 when we went on a five hour trip, 3 of which was on the interstate at 65 to 70 mph speeds. After about 2 hours of running these speeds non stop we were in the middle lane with heavy traffic coming up on a small incline the car lost power my speed instantly dropped to 40 mph, the tractor trailer following close behind had to go on lockdown to avoid plowing us over. I was floor boarding the car trying to maintain 40 mph until I could change lanes to pull over. It took about 10 miles before we could change lanes at this speed but in that time I realized after attempting to manually downshift for more power the cvt transmission was stuck in high and wouldn't let me downshift manually. After sitting on the road with no phone signal or help I decided to stumble to the nearest town but the transmission was again working by this time so we cautiously finished the last leg of our trip. With no local Nissan dealership at our destination I called my dealership who said they weren't aware of any issues like this but bring it in upon return. At our destination we again drove the car for three days short trips with no problems but on our return trip again two hours or so at interstate speeds im losing power and the transmission is stuck in high again so we pull over and let it set again before continuing our trip home. Soon as we arrived home I called the dealership and they kept it for three days and said no codes or problem could be found and they didn't have anyone to drive it at the speeds or distance the problem occurred to recreate it but suggested I pay them $275 to change the fluid. After researching the web I discovered many other owners are having this issue its even videos on youtube. This Nissan is an interstate death trap that should be recalled.
- Axton, VA, USA
Driving vehicle at speed of 80 when all of a sudden car did not accelerate but gas petal went to the ground. Car started to loss power. Was able to pull to the side of highway which car stayed at 20 mph would not go any faster. I had car evaluated and mechanic said he could not find anything wrong but said he had seen this before in the high temperature.
- San Jose, CA, USA
We were driving on I 40 at a steady 75 mph and we had traveled about 50 miles at this speed when the car started to slow down even pressing the gas to the floor did not work. We slowed to 40 to 45 mph, the rest of the way home. Even after exiting the freeway the car acted like it had a lose of power and accelerated very slow. This is the second time this has happened both times I was a passenger and the first time I thought it was the transmission. It seemed to shift hard and the engine raved as well. Both times this happened on I 40, this is seriously dangerous and Nissan needs to recall these cars I have found much information about this very issue on this same model year.
- Laguna, NM, USA
Around 11:30am on 05/15/2013 while driving the vehicle there was an immediate loss of acceleration. The vehicle was coasted into retailers parking for which it had to be towed to the dealership to determine the issue. Once the dealership was able to diagnose the vehicle they came back with cvt transmission failure. They mentioned they were having issues with cvt transmission in my version of Altima, but would be unable to cover the cost of a replacement transmission of $4,000. I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs to file a claim and was given a case number for reference. I received a call back within 24-hours of placing the initial call. However the representative stated that based of the review of my case they would again be unable to cover any cost associated with replacing the transmission. To note, no review of my vehicle was conducted. To make a long story short I have replaced the transmission with a used transmission, but after researching there are numerous cases of transmission failures in Nissan Altima's yet Nissan is not recalling and replacing the transmission. The failure could have caused a crash and is not safe. Someone needs to look into these failures before someone get hurt!
- Raymore, MO, USA
- Greenville, MS, USA