1998-2025 model years · 7,820+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
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According to Au7o's analysis of 7,820+ owner reports, the 1998-2025 Nissan Altima has 41 documented known issues, with 18 rated critical. The most serious are CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder ($300-$5,000 repair), Steering Column Lock Failure ($400-$1,200 repair), Fuel Pump Failure (Recall) ($0-$0 repair), 2.5L Pre-Catalyst Breakdown Causing Excessive Oil Consumption and Engine Damage ($900-$4,500 repair), Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Mounting Bolts Loosen Causing Steering Lock-Up / Loss of Control (Recall 23V882 / PC997), Secondary Hood Latch Corrosion Allowing Hood to Fly Open at Speed (Recall 20V315, Multiple Campaigns), Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor / Air Bag Warning Light Fault ($250-$1,800 repair), Rear Lower Control Arm Corrosion and Separation Risk ($0-$1,200 repair), P0741 — Torque Converter Clutch Stuck Off from JATCO CVT Lockup/Valve Body Fault ($300-$4,500 repair), VC-Turbo (KR15DDT/KR20DDET) Engine Bearing Failure Leading to Engine Damage/Failure (Recall 25V437) ($0-$9,000 repair), Improperly Welded Door Strikers Can Break, Allowing Doors to Open While Driving (Recall 26V023 / PD185), Rusting Front Floorboards and Underbody Corrosion Near the Firewall/Subframe Area ($500-$3,000 repair), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB/AEB) Phantom Braking — System Brakes Hard With No Obstacle ($0-$600 repair), Brake Master Cylinder Internal Seal Failure Causing Long Pedal or Reduced Braking ($0-$900 repair), 2.5L QR25DE Head Gasket Failure Causing Coolant Loss and Overheating ($1,200-$2,500 repair), Engine Control Module Relay / ECM Power Interruption Causing Stall or No-Start ($0-$250 repair), VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners ($1,200-$2,500 repair) and P0016 — Crank/Cam Position Correlation from Stretched Timing Chain & Worn Guides/Tensioner ($1,000-$2,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder with 4,500 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $60 to $9,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima vehicles. The front passenger air bag and front passenger knee air bag may have been installed with incorrect mounting fasteners, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Altima vehicles. The bolts connecting the electronic power steering unit to the steering rack may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 7,820+ owner reports, the 1998-2025 Nissan Altima has 41 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder, Steering Column Lock Failure, Fuel Pump Failure (Recall). Of these, 18 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 1998-2025 Nissan Altima has 41 known issues documented across 7,820+ owner reports. 18 issues are rated critical: CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder and Steering Column Lock Failure and Fuel Pump Failure (Recall) and 2.5L Pre-Catalyst Breakdown Causing Excessive Oil Consumption and Engine Damage and Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Mounting Bolts Loosen Causing Steering Lock-Up / Loss of Control (Recall 23V882 / PC997) and Secondary Hood Latch Corrosion Allowing Hood to Fly Open at Speed (Recall 20V315, Multiple Campaigns) and Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor / Air Bag Warning Light Fault and Rear Lower Control Arm Corrosion and Separation Risk and P0741 — Torque Converter Clutch Stuck Off from JATCO CVT Lockup/Valve Body Fault and VC-Turbo (KR15DDT/KR20DDET) Engine Bearing Failure Leading to Engine Damage/Failure (Recall 25V437) and Improperly Welded Door Strikers Can Break, Allowing Doors to Open While Driving (Recall 26V023 / PD185) and Rusting Front Floorboards and Underbody Corrosion Near the Firewall/Subframe Area and Forward Emergency Braking (FEB/AEB) Phantom Braking — System Brakes Hard With No Obstacle and Brake Master Cylinder Internal Seal Failure Causing Long Pedal or Reduced Braking and 2.5L QR25DE Head Gasket Failure Causing Coolant Loss and Overheating and Engine Control Module Relay / ECM Power Interruption Causing Stall or No-Start and VQ35DE V6 Timing Chain Rattle from Worn Secondary Chain Guides and Tensioners and P0016 — Crank/Cam Position Correlation from Stretched Timing Chain & Worn Guides/Tensioner. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Nissan Altima issues range from $0 to $9,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, CVT Transmission Failure/Shudder, typically costs $300-$5,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Nissan Altima. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1998-2025 Nissan Altima with 41 documented issues documented across 7,820+ owner reports.
The CVT transmission is known for reliability issues including shuddering, jerking, and complete failure. Nissan extended the CVT warranty on some model years to 10 years/120,000 miles due to widespread problems. High-mileage CVTs are particularly at risk. Repairs typically run $300-$5,000. Severity: high.
The electronic steering column lock can malfunction, preventing the car from starting. The system fails to release the steering lock even with the correct key. This is a safety feature that can strand drivers. Repairs typically run $400-$1,200. Severity: high.
Nissan issued a recall for fuel pump issues that can cause engine stalling or failure to start. The fuel pump impeller may deform, causing fuel delivery problems. This affects multiple Nissan models. Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
On many 2.5L QR25DE Altimas, the pre-catalytic converter material can deteriorate and be drawn back into the engine during valve overlap, scoring cylinder walls and accelerating oil consumption. Owners report needing to add oil frequently, loss of compression, rough running, and… Repairs typically run $900-$4,500. Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 23V882000 and Nissan campaign PC997 cover five specific 2024 Altima vehicles. One or more bolts connecting the electronic power-steering unit to the steering rack may have been under-torqued; steering vibration can loosen the connection, potentially lock the steering… Severity: high.
Recall 20V315000 covers certain 2013-2018 Altimas. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, the secondary latch may be corroded or contaminated and fail to engage, allowing the hood to open while driving. It follows earlier Altima hood-latch recalls whose remedies did… Severity: high.
Multiple 2007-2012 Altima owners report the air bag warning light flashing and the passenger air bag status behaving incorrectly due to faults in the occupant classification system (OCS) or related seat sensor components. This can disable the passenger frontal air bag when it sho… Repairs typically run $250-$1,800. Severity: high.
In salt-belt states, 2002-2006 Altimas have a documented corrosion problem affecting the rear lower control arms. Severe rust can perforate the arm and eventually lead to cracking or separation, which alters rear wheel alignment and can affect vehicle control. Nissan issued a rec… Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: high.
The Altima's JATCO continuously variable transmission (RE0F10-series) uses a torque converter with a lockup (TCC) clutch, and P0741 sets when the TCM detects an rpm slip mismatch showing the lockup clutch is not engaging as commanded (stuck off). On Altima CVTs the code is common… Repairs typically run $300-$4,500. Severity: high.
Nissan Altima models built with the 3-cylinder 1.5L (KR15DDT) or 4-cylinder 2.0L (KR20DDET) variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engine can suffer a manufacturing defect in the engine's bearings (main bearing and the A-, C-, and L-link bearings that are unique to the variable-co… Repairs typically run $0-$9,000. Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 26V023000 and Nissan campaign PD185 cover certain 2025 Altima vehicles. Improperly welded door strikers may break and allow a door to open while the vehicle is moving, creating a noncompliance with FMVSS 206 and an injury risk. Severity: high.
Older Altimas in rust-belt climates are known for severe floorboard and underbody corrosion, especially around the front floor pan, firewall seams, and nearby structural mounting areas. Owners report soft floors, water intrusion, failed inspections, and concerns about structural… Repairs typically run $500-$3,000. Severity: high.
Altimas equipped with Nissan's standard Forward Emergency Braking / Automatic Emergency Braking (part of the Safety Shield 360 / Forward Collision suite) are widely reported to activate suddenly when no collision is imminent — so-called 'phantom braking.' Owners and NHTSA complai… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: high.
Certain 2005-2006 Altimas were subject to a brake master cylinder recall because internal seal damage could allow brake fluid bypass inside the cylinder. Owners describe a soft or sinking brake pedal, increased stopping distance, and inconsistent braking feel. In severe cases, br… Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: high.
The first-generation-era 2.5L QR25DE (2002-2006) is well known for head gasket failure. Because the QR25 uses an open-deck block, the combustion ring of the gasket commonly fails into the combustion chamber, so owners often see disappearing coolant, overheating, and white exhaust… Repairs typically run $1,200-$2,500. Severity: high.
A well-documented problem on 2002-2006 Altima involves failure of the engine control module (ECM) relay, which can interrupt power to the ECM while driving or prevent the car from starting. Owners report sudden stalling, intermittent crank-no-start, or an engine that dies and res… Repairs typically run $0-$250. Severity: high.
On the 3.5L VQ35DE V6 the plastic secondary timing chain guides/tensioner shoes become brittle and break, and the secondary (cam) chain tensioners lose tension. This produces a loud rattle or whine from the front of the engine, most pronounced for the first few seconds of a cold… Repairs typically run $1,200-$2,500. Severity: high.
P0016 is one of the most well-documented Altima powertrain failures and is a hallmark of the 2.5L QR25DE (it also affects the 3.5L V6). The ECM sets P0016 when the camshaft (Bank 1, Sensor A) and crankshaft signals fall out of their expected relationship. On the Altima this is mo… Repairs typically run $1,000-$2,500. Severity: high.
The A/C compressor can fail, particularly on vehicles in hot climates. When the compressor fails internally, it can contaminate the A/C system with debris. Clutch failure is also common. Repairs typically run $500-$1,500. Severity: medium.
Hydraulic power steering Altimas commonly develop leaks from the steering rack seals or high-pressure hose assemblies. Owners report groaning noises, fluid on the subframe, a burning smell from fluid contacting hot components, and progressively heavier steering effort. On higher-… Repairs typically run $250-$1,400. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
