2017 Nissan Altima problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (111) · Air Bags (58) · Vehicle Speed Control (39)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Altima model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
166 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch 2020-05-28 · campaign 20V315000 · 1,831,818 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 app
Structure:emergency:escape/Egress/Exit 2018-12-19 · campaign 18V915000 · 341,003 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch 2017-01-18 · campaign 17V040000 · 341,005 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (247)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Service Brakes 2025-02-20 · NTB19-033G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
intelligent cruise control inoperative and aeb/feb warning light on or radar obstruction message displayed with dtc c1a16 or c2582 if you confirm important: the purpose of action (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. you must closely follow the entire ser
Air Bags 2024-09-19 · NTB19-071D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dtc b00a0-00 stored this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin. if you confirm dtc b00a0-00 (occupant detection sensor unit) is stored, and ocs zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)
Power Train 2024-06-07 · NTB12-103I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
cvt/tcm calibration data “write” procedure this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB17-127C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
intelligent key initialization procedure stops or will not continue this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 247 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger · 20,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. the failure mileage was approximately 20,000.…”
2026-10-14 · Seats“2017 nissan altima purchased used from large used dealer chain location in albuquerque, nm on 11/24/25. at delivery, salesman demonstrated driver seat moved up/down and stated it just needed a bolt/belt. co-signer who was present witnessed. component failed: driver seat front mounting bolt missing — seat not secured to floor, moves up/down and wob…”
2026-09-10 · Electrical System · 55,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 nissan altima. the contact stated that while driving 80 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. the dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with an electrical fault inside the air bag, and it was determined that the air bag inside the seat back needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was …”
2026-08-12 · Exterior Lighting“1. headlights. the headlights are dim to the point that vision at night is greatly impaired unless i use my high beams. it is available for inspection. 2. impaired vision at night, i cannot see very well when driving at night, and others may be affected by not being able to see me as well. 3. this is a known manufacturing defect which has been conf…”
2026-08-11 · Steering“i was driving home from the store like 4 blocks away and on the road there’s dip n the road you can’t avoid it so after i drive over it the airbag light comes on with hitting anything.…”
2026-08-05 · Vehicle Speed Control“shuddering and loss of acceleration/vehicle slowed on its own while driving on the highway. managed to get to firestone and diagnostic codes p0776 and p0841 came up. advised to take vehicle to dealer shop as work could not be done on cvt there. car was towed to nissan bonney road virginia beach. transmission replacement recommended and my car only …”
2026-07-21 · Air Bags · 27,016 mi“the contact owns a 2017 nissan altima. the contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle with a passenger inside the vehicle, the air big warning light illuminated. a dealer was contacted. the vehicle was taken to two separate dealers to be inspected, and it was determined that the air bag sensor module had failed and needed to be repla…”
2026-07-20 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 156,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2017 nissan altima. the contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle from a private seller on facebook marketplace, the vehicle was then sold to a third person. the contact was informed by the third owner that the mileage on the vehicle was incorrect. the contact obtained a vehicle history report and disc…”
2026-07-18 · Vehicle Speed Control“driving on the freeway and car goes into limp mode very dangerous situation as spend was reduced and almost got rear ended by truck…”
2026-07-14 · Air Bags“airbag light unexpectantly came on without any collision action, or other unusual activity on 5/28/26. delay getting car for inspection due to personal circumstances. on 6/29/26 car checked a nissan dealership. inspected and checked codes. coded as b0020-13 for air bag module defective. recommended replacing driver side front seat back. this …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.