7.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$0
Average Mileage:
4,200 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. keep tire pressure at 30 psi (1 reports)
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problem #6

Apr 102013

Altima SL 2.5L 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 500 miles

When driving on the highway this car drifts and it's a constant fight to stay in my lane. When the wind is blowing it's extremely bad and I've been blown or drifted across the width of at least a lane into another lane. I've experienced other vehicles, the larger they are and the faster they pass me, it causes the problem to be much worse. It is an ongoing problem and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is experiencing this problem. At least I know it's not my driving skills.. I've found myself worrying about getting pulled over for DWI or wondering if other drivers think I'm a danger.. it's the car!

- stilsunshine, Little Rock, US

problem #5

Aug 312013

Altima SL 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 24,000 miles

Since the car was new it drifts from side to side and is hard to keep in the correct lane. It is worse when wind is blowing. The dealer says that nothing is wrong with the car. I first noticed it driving home from the dealer. The car is not right, The manufacturer needs to correct this problem.

- William E., Dawsonville, GA, US

problem #4

Feb 012013

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 100 miles

I thought that I would get used to this problem over time. My logic was that I was being too sensitive towards my new car and I needed to adjust to the Nissan. My purpose for buying the car was the mileage I would get to/from work. After a year and a half we took the car on a road trip of 400 miles each way for the same reason. The steering continues to be awful. So bad that I was exhausted from driving because of the stress of fighting the car every inch of the highway. Thank goodness the weather was nice because I could not imagine the fatigue of that stress too. My wife and I usually switch driving for a bit on theses kinds of trips but she pulled over after 30 minutes of driving and refused to ever sit behind the wheel again. I will never again purchase a Nissan and if you are reading this to help you decide, please - don't do it! This is not a crazy rant, I'm 55 years old and have driven everything from a scooter to a 44 ft box truck. This thing handles terribly and if I could give it back, I would. All of my recent cars could be steered with the lightest touch of the wheel and would maintain course (unless the alignment was off). This car does not seem to have a center line. It goes one way and the slightest adjustment forces it the other. I can only describe it like driving in a crosswind.

- John P., Orlando, FL, US

problem #3

Jul 192013

Altima SV 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 100 miles

iT IS exactly as stated in complaint #1... I love the car, its great on gas in city traffic it drives very well... But get

on an interstate and you better hang on with both hands to keep it in your lane... the dealer said alignment is

ok and thats the way it is.. but we all know this is not right

If anyone knows of a solution please post it .. I'll keep looking..

thanks all.

- Milt K., Fort Myers, FL, US

problem #2

Jan 182013

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 200 miles

This car is beautiful and drives well at city street speed, but.... once you get to highway speed it is DANGEROUS! I first noticed it driving the car home from the dealership. I bought the car sight unseen as my last new car was an Altima as well and I had the car for 5 years and 132K miles.. I felt as though the front tires were moving in different directions at the same time and there is a metallic sound in the front end (can only hear when your next to barriers or bridges on the highway). The car drift is so bad I feel I will be pulled over for DUI!!!! I was planning a trip that week to Texas with my grandchildren and I had already had an issue with the airbag light being on so I took the car back to the dealer to look at it, apparently you need an appointment for any issue other than an oil change! They couldn't get me in!!! I made my trip anyway and it was the scariest most dangerous trip I have ever made!!!! I was all over the highway on any straightaway, the slightest wind or another vehicle passing me would send me into the other lane. Since being back from that harrowing trip I try to avoid highways altogether! But since I live right off of a highway it is really inconvenient... I finally was able to get the car into the dealer and advised them to take the car on the highway and listen for the noise as well at overpasses (when you have noise coming back at you) after about a 3 hour wait the rep came out and said that his tech could not find any thing wrong with the car and that it drives like all other Altima's! THIS IS NOT TRUE!! and they said they never heard the noise, which I find very very hard to believe because I hear it all the time! The driverside front-end sounds like a 10 year old car when it hits a bump in the road or parking lot, like its shocks or something are bad... I am soooo disappointed in Nissan and with the Altima completely, What is the use having a beautiful car when it is a danger on the highway!!!!!!!!!! OTHER COMPLAINTS; The car is noisy at acceleration, going from stop to highway speed sends the tachometer into almost the red and shifts hard at that point.......I did fill out a questionnaire to Nissan after my terrible dealer visit and I did receive a call back from their customer care department but when I called to respond I was sent to voicemail and now 4 days later I still have not received a call back.... I do not know if the problems are just my car but Nissan needs to be responsible for this piece of crap..... I will post on all websites about this car! IT IS DANGEROUS!!!

Update from Nov 1, 2014: So I eventually discovered (after several trips to the service department) that my tire pressure set anywhere above 30 PSI caused the drifting to be severe. So I now keep it at 30 PSI and it seems to be a lot better. Hope this helps and happy drifting!

- Joanna A., Aurora, CO, US

problem #1

Mar 222013

Altima LS 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 25 miles

Purchased this car back in March of 2013. I currently have over 3200 miles. I must say this Altima is very comfortable and currently would be very happy with the purchase accept for the constant wandering left and right once highway speed is reached. I did carry it back to the dealer and they put the car on the alignment machine and said the toe was out and made the adjustment, but once I left the dealership, the same problem continued. Being an old brake and front-end mechanic, I can say with a certain amount of confidence it is a Caster problem. This is an adjustment that can not be made without a mechanical fix such as an offset plate on top of the strut. At any rate, the dealer said it was something I would have to get use to. I strongly disagree and am very tempted to trade the car for something else which would be very disappointing because the rest of the vehicle seems perfect. If anyone who works for a company that deals in aftermarket parts has heard of this and knows of an aftermarket fix, please respond to my beef.

If I can get a fix for this I would be very happy. I am pretty sure Nissan will not fix this unless there is significant complaints from many owners or someone has an accident. The lack of control is enough to cause unwanted lane crossing if you do not stay on top of it and a 50 mile trip will wear you out. Enough said.

- willoughbyal, Athens, AL, US