7.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,300
Average Mileage:
65,250 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace transmission (8 reports)
  2. not sure (3 reports)
  3. replace valve assembly (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Nissan dealer.

problem #12

Aug 032024

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 112,500 miles

Transmission was slipping, sputtering, and showing issues. I took it in and it was confirmed to be a transmission failure. The estimated transmission replacement was $5,900 before tax. I had heard these issues were a problem with Nissan Altima's CVTs. I did not do the replace it for that reason. Instead I sold the car as is to the dealership that identified the issue and bought a new car at a different dealership. I made sure I did not get another vehicle with a CVT.

- Bradley M., Eden Prairie, US

problem #11

Jun 202019

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I bought my 2015 Nissan Altima with 50k miles on about 2 1/2 - 3yrs ago. The issues with the car started at around 70k miles. When the red light would turn green, I would put the pedal to the metal and the car would not accelerate then all of a sudden it would take off, this scared the crap out of me every time. Finally, when pulling out onto a busy road, the Altima's RPM would shot up to 6/7 and only go about 10 miles per hour almost causing me to get rear ended. After the issues, I brought to a transmission repair shop who confirmed the transmission was bad. At that time, the car had about 70k miles and the warranty was void after 60k, I paid 4,500.00.

Three months down the road with the "brand new" CVT transmission, and while pulling out of my subdivision, the car did it again and this time would not accelerate. It is now at Nissan with a NEW transmission that needs to be replaced and the service cost to install will be $1,200.00 in labor, that Nissan refuses to cover!

I still owe on this car and by the end of this week will have spent $5,700.00 due to the KNOWN ISSUES with the POS CVT transmission and Nissan wont accept fault for the transmission failures!

DON'T BUY NISSAN!!!!

- Michelle D., Saint Peters, MO, US

problem #10

Jun 272019

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 93,000 miles

Had zero problems nor complaints until around 90,000 miles; had just traveled from NC to MD (no problems) until I stopped the car (left running). Went to take off from a stop sign, pressed on gas and car hesitated. Put in reverse, no issues...put back in drive pressed gas and car hesitated. I pressed the gas pedal all the way to floor, it creped into the road until it finally caught. Drove home with no issues, started the next morning with no issues.

Took into a certified Nissan dealer who told me my transmission checked out with zero issues and it was "break switch" which they replaced. Drove for almost two weeks with no issues until car did the exact same thing. Transmission was replaced with notes stating that fluid smelled "burnt" and there were metal fibers found throughout.

Thank goodness I purchased the extended warranty! Been almost two weeks since it was fixed, went to take off from a stop sign and RPMs revved up to 6 before shifting gears! Very disappointed with Nissan, this is the third I've owned and never had an issue up until now.

- M T., Frederick, US

problem #9

Oct 012018

Altima S

  • CVT transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Extremely frustrated that a 4 year old car needs a brand new transmission. Not worth it and seriously makes me never want to buy a Nissan again.

- Skylar S., Noble, US

problem #8

Dec 262018

Altima SV 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 103,000 miles

My Nissan Altima started making a funny whining noise about two weeks ago so I took the car in to my local Nissan dealership, they charged me a 99.00 diagnostic and then the verdict came from the service tech, he advised me that there was a code that came up with the Transmission of total failure and that it would need to be replaced, the cost $3,500.00, I also was told that the power steering pump was going and that was going to cost an additional 1,800.00!

I went ballistic at that point and told them I was going to call Nissan Corporate and complain about the situation. I told him that this vehicle was only 3.5 years old and how can this possibly be happening? The real kicker here is the unsympathetic attitude that was shown to me concerning the whole situation, you get the feeling when you have to deal with this nonsense that the dealer has only one concern, take the money and run!

All they care about is their bottom line, the customer is not their priority, their priority is too get as much money out of your pocket as they can from the sale of their crappy cars to the up selling in the finance office, Nissan has known since 2015 that there have been issues with the CVT'S. Nissan called me and offered to pay 60% towards the Transmission but I told the girl that I got rid of the car and went to another dealership and bought a Hyundai Santa-Fe which included a 100,000 power train warranty and 60,000 bumper to bumper coverage!

What a terrible company that is making a fortune off the backs of good hard-working Americans. They need to be sued and hit them where it hurts the most, their pocket books

- Dale B., Newton, NC, US

problem #7

Jun 012018

Altima 2.5SV 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 78,276 miles

Car shuttered and lurched then transmission went dead. I was stuck on the side of a busy highway for hours and stuck waiting until I could get a tow. Got a brand new cvt transmission installed but they only offered 12 month/ 12k mile warranty on it even though it is brand new. I am about 10k miles in with the new transmission and every time it shudders I am worried of it dying.

- Cristian R., Scotts Valley, US

problem #6

Sep 282018

Altima SL 3.5L V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 50,200 miles

Nissan needs to figure out how to make these CVTs work. 50,000 miles and already need a new one. I will never buy another Nissan. Very disappointed.

- huntm, Newberg, US

problem #5

May 222018

Altima S V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

click to see larger images

transmission failure

I'm so disappointed I don't know where to turn. I have owned 8 Nissans since I started driving. With the exception of replacing two catalytic converters at the same time on my Pathfinder, I have always been very happy with my vehicles. Sentra, 240 SX, 2 Maximas, Titan, Pathfinder, & 2 Altimas. Obviously, dependability is a necessity for me & I'm loyal to Nissan for being such until now. I bought this Altima new. Mistake. I've since read many blogs about the transmission issue with the 2015s. How disappointing. I commute 100 miles daily to work & bought this one mainly for the gas mileage. I have 3 teens that I allowed to use my car because I felt they were safe in it. No longer. The cost of the new transmission far exceeds what I've saved in gas & I can't let my child drive a car that shuts down. My daughter is a Type 1 Diabetic, I can't have her in an unreliable car. Her condition can be fatal if her low glucose levels are untreated. We live in Rappahannock County so we don't have cell service always. She has to be able to get to a hospital or rescue by driving if she can't get cell service. I'm so sad because I love Nissans & I've been your biggest fan. The service manager at the dealership, Doug, was very nice but stated even the new transmission is only under warranty for a year or 12,000 miles. I can't take that chance again. I'm grateful to the service manager for knocking a little off leaving me a total of $3898.10 but my car isn't worth what I owe on it now with the cost of the new transmission. I tell you all of this because I can't believe there isn't a recall & I feel sorry for moms like me that rely on every penny only to have life throw a "wrench" in it like this. It can be devastating. I talked my Aunt into buying a car exactly like mine the year after I did & now I feel so bad about it. I have warned her about this issue & she is going to sell it. Nissan should consider recalling the transmissions or giving people a new one when this happens to them. Especially if they bought it new & didn't have the option of researching it first. I'm broken-hearted about this.

- Machelle B., Sperryville, US

problem #4

Jul 012016

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 41,000 miles

While driving back home last month (July 2016), suddenly it started loosing power and tachometer showed fluctuation at all rpm range (0-4000+). Took it to dealership (round 1), they confirmed it's transmission (CVT) failure and will require to order new parts (valve assembly) (I was feeling lucky in a way that I put only 40K miles on it and covered my big a$$ by warranty!!!). CVT issue was fixed (~1 month) and they broke windshield while reprogramming ECU.

Took it again to dealership (round 2), got it fixed in couple of days. About a week later, I started seeing tachometer fluctuation again, clearly visible vibration @ 1200-2000 rpm range (cruise ON). Took it again (round 3) back to dealership (had to take back twice - first time sent me back saying they are very busy and can not provide me any service at this time!!!), they took it finally in and took 2 days to diagnose (provided loaner after a big fight this time even for the first time).

This time they said the part (instrumental assembly) that's gone (f* up) is not covered under warranty and will charge 1100$ to replace and no guarantee that it will fix the issue. Dealership took their hands off with FINAL verdict - "NEVER EVER LOOK BACK AGAIN YOU FOOLS (CUSTOMERS), PLEASE TAKE YOUR BUSINESS SOMEWHERE ELSE.... NO MATTER HOW INNOVATIVE OUR CVT(S) IN FUTURE MIGHT BE OR ANY OTHER INNOVATION IF ACCIDENTALLY HAPPENS WITH THIS NISSAN SH!!!T"

- desai, Burlington, NJ, US

problem #3

Oct 142015

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 13,000 miles

I purchase a new 2014 Pathfinder and at 18K miles the CVT transmission failed. I traded for a new 2015 Altima and at 13K miles the CVT transmission failed. I'm done with Nissan. Stay away from the CVT transmissions.

- Mike W., Titusville, FL, US

problem #2

Jun 022015

Altima SV 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 9,854 miles

Bought this new Altima off the lot in August 2014 and drove it for almost 10k miles with few issues, a speaker lid that popped up (almost all on the lot the same way), hood latch recall, and a strong coolant smell (told was normal). At close to 10k miles, the car started making a loud whining sound. Took the car into the dealer and they diagnosed as a bad differential and the transmission needed to be replaced. One week later I received the car back with the rebuilt transmission (new internals, old casing as described by Nissan). I noticed that the steering wheel was not centered and a vibration coming from the wheels at highway speed. Also my center console was loose and the car was clunking when I let off the gas. The car did none of this before new (rebuilt) transmission was installed. Was told that the clunking was normal characteristic of the CVT in this car and that was it. Was given my keys and sent on my way.

I contacted Nissan Consumer affairs department regarding the rebuilt transmission and was told that Nissan does not authorize new transmissions to be put as replacement units. I was offered an extended warranty and 3 years of oil change and tire rotations for my trouble. I was already receiving both of these from my selling dealer. Needless to say I was seeing the beginnings of a problem car, one thing after another. I unloaded this heap because my wife wouldn't drive the car in fear that it would leave her stranded along the road. This was my first and last Nissan and would not recommend this car to anyone.

I have received several surveys from Nissan and left negative feedback and they have not bothered to respond. My money is going to Honda and Toyota going forward.

- ebysc, Charleston, SC, US

problem #1

Dec 312014

Altima SV 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 5,000 miles

I had bought in May 2014, a brand new 2014 Nissan Sentra and it went bad. It had a major computer problem, factory glue leaking through the headliner, stitching unraveling from the fabric, and black paint coming off the radio console and Nissan bought it back with an intention for me to buy another, called a buy back. And then I bought a brand new 2015 Nissan Altima and the transmission went bad at only 5,000 miles, the cotter pin in the axle had to be re-tightened, the radio has static, there is a popping in the Bluetooth, and the speaker lid popped up.

I will never buy another Nissan. I don't recommend a Nissan to anyone. It was an awful experience. Nissan has stressed me out beyond belief. I had to go back and forth to the Nissan dealerships at least 20 times. Can you imagine two BRAND NEW Nissans going bad within six months? Nissan is not the same brand that it used to be.

Update from Feb 2, 2015: car

- Complaining N., Beverly Hills, CA, US