Problems · NHTSA complaints

2017 Nissan Altima problems

Owners filed 393 complaints about the 2017 Nissan Altima with NHTSA between May 2017 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (133).

Complaints
393
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
23
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train133
  2. Air bags74
  3. Vehicle speed control41
  4. Engine39
  5. Electrical system27
  6. Service brakes19
  7. Exterior lighting18
  8. Structure18
  9. Fuel/propulsion system17
  10. Steering16
  11. Latches/locks/linkages14
  12. Suspension11
  13. Forward collision avoidance6
  14. Seats5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20179
201823
201938
202078
202146
202245
202350
202444
202538
202622

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

133 reports3 crashes
“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 has 53,000 miles on it but is outside the 84 month extended warranty drafted from class action lawsuits and settlement. I was not aware of these lawsuit when this vehicle was recommended to me by Hall Honda as Hall Nissan sent it to them for me to see. No additional warranty was given nor was I informed that since the car only had 21,000 miles it was covered under the settlement of 80,000 miles 84,000 month. I WOULD HAVE WALKED, NO RAN, AWAY FROM THIS CAR IF I HAD BEEN TOLD OF THE LAWSUITS. Nissan wants me to pay nearly 6,200.00 for a new transmission that they knew was faulty to begin with. The only other option they gave was that they would give me a 3,000.00 allowance for them to purchase my car and apply that to another (probably faulty) vehicle from them. The issue I have with this is that I still owe 8,700.00 on…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11754916

Air bags

74 reports10 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Air bagsODI 11772681

Vehicle speed control

41 reports2 crashes
“The first code it threw was for the master air flow sensor then it started bogging out not going over 1RPM -throwing the code "P17F0 CVT Judder" and has left me in some really,really bad situations in traffic, and when it boggs down like that (no matter how many times I turn it off and restart it, even if the battery drains all the way out and I have to get a jump) I have to wait two hours after unhooking the battery and sit for an hour if not more before I can start it up and actually get down the rd. And it runs great like nothing was wrong it. But doesn't get far before doing it again”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2026Steering, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11737698

Engine

39 reports1 crash3 fires
“Check engine light came on will not go off transmission fluid burnt replaced transmission fluid because transmission was slipping out of gear not finding the correct gear I do believe it was starting off in second gear instead of first. Drive slightly better in manual after fluid gets warm but not overheating the car will start jerking and threatening to kill losing power in the accelerator and going uphill also having trouble with the car going into reverse and drive. I had no choice but to replace the transmission fluid myself due to lack of funds and now dealership refuses to touch my vehicle for repairs. I called Nissan to make a complaint and they hung up on me. Car was just paid off October of 2024. This situation with my transmission began November of 2025.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2025EngineODI 11697998

Electrical system

27 reports1 crash2 fires
“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 contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the electrical fault from the air bag was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2026Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11763413

Service brakes

19 reports3 crashes
“Car not starting. Narrowed down to brake light switch not functioning properly. Jumped across the switch, car started. Push button ignition requires brakes to be depressed to start the vehicle. We have been close to being rear-ended twice lately. No warning lights signifying a problem. This is the second Altima I owned with this exact same failure to occur. First was a 2010 Altima S 2.5”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2026Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11749825
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.