2007 Nissan Altima Problems: 12 Known Issues

On the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima, owners report the air bag warning light flashing or the 'passenger air bag off' indicator staying lit with an adult in the seat; dealers and mechanics traced it to the occupant sensor in the passenger seat cushion, and some owners were told the whole cushion must be replaced. Owners say they were told the passenger air bag may not deploy while the fault is present. 2007-2012 Nissan Altima (L32) sedan and coupe, based on owner reports. Separately, 2007-2008 Altima and Altima Coupe built March 12, 2007 to May 27, 2008 were covered by recall 08V521 (occupant classification control unit in the passenger seat cushion); eligibility is by VIN.

On the 2002-2018 Nissan Altima, 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 start. When a guide breaks, the chain runs slack and can contact the tensioner piston (the 'death rattle'), risking valve-timing skip and internal damage if ignored. Owners across multiple Altima forums document this as one of the defining VQ35DE problems, and there is a Nissan TSB covering secondary-chain replacement on 2004-2006 Altimas with the VQ35 engine.

On the 2007-2008, 2013-2018 Nissan Altima, the Altima's JATCO continuously variable transmission (RE0F10-series on the 2.5L, RE0F09-series on the 3.5L V6) 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 commonly driven by degraded/overheated CVT fluid, a worn or sticking lockup control solenoid, or a valve body whose bores wear and leak line pressure so the TCC can't hold. On earlier RE0F10A units (notably 07-08) the valve body is prone to internal leakage, and a Nissan bulletin directed control valve (valve body) replacement plus TCM reprogramming when P0744 and related codes appear; on the 2013-2014 V6, a lock-up judder bulletin (NTB13-086) can lead to torque converter or full CVT replacement. Drivers feel a shudder or judder under light acceleration (roughly 25-45 mph), rubber-band hesitation, higher-than-normal cruising rpm, and sometimes a slight surge as the converter fails to lock.

On the 2002-2012 Nissan Altima, altimas in this period frequently suffer from failing crankshaft position sensors and camshaft position sensors, especially on the 2.5L and 3.5L engines. Owners report intermittent stalling at stops or while driving, extended cranking, sudden no-start conditions, and check-engine lights. Nissan issued service information and many owner reports describe repeat failures with cheap aftermarket sensors.

On the 2007-2013 Nissan Altima, the power window regulator (the cable-and-rail mechanism that raises the glass) is a frequently reported failure on these Altimas. The plastic cable guides or the cable itself break, so the window jams, drops into the door, or rises crooked/off-track. Owners and dealers describe it as very common; Nissan's regulator service campaign covered the earlier 2001 Altima, not these model years. The front driver's door is most often affected because it is used most.

On the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima 2.5L QR25DE I4, owners report check-engine lights for the catalytic converter on the 2.5L four-cylinder, and some describe a clogged converter with loss of power. One owner reports the converter failing again after replacement, and others report it failing after ignition coil problems. 2007-2012 Nissan Altima (L32) with the 2.5L QR25DE, based on owner reports. Separately, 2007-2010 Altima sedan and coupe with the SULEV (California-specification) 2.5 engine were covered by Nissan voluntary emissions recall campaigns PC131 (2007-2008), PC130 (2009) and PC129 (2010); eligibility is by VIN.

On the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima, owners report the dashboard top becoming sticky, shiny or melted and cracking, and say the shine reflects onto the windshield and makes it hard to see. 2007-2012 Nissan Altima (L32), based on owner reports.

On the 2007-2013 Nissan Altima, the ABS/VDC control unit stores a wheel speed sensor code (C1101-C1104). Nissan's bulletin lists sensor damage, a missing sensor signal, short circuits and bent, corroded or contaminated connector pins as the things to check. 2007-2013 Nissan vehicles equipped with ABS/VDC, which includes the 2007-2012 Altima.

On the 2007-2012 Nissan Altima 2.5L QR25DE I4, owners report the exhaust manifold cracking on the 2.5L four-cylinder, with a loud exhaust or banging noise at start-up and exhaust fumes entering the cabin. On these engines the front catalyst is part of the manifold assembly. 2007-2012 Nissan Altima (L32) with the 2.5L QR25DE, based on owner reports. Separately, 2007-2010 Altima sedan and coupe with the SULEV (California-specification) 2.5 engine were covered by Nissan emissions recall campaigns PC131 (2007-2008), PC130 (2009) and PC129 (2010); eligibility is by VIN.

On the 2007-2018 Nissan Altima 3.5L VQ35DE V6, p0174 references Bank 2, which physically exists only on the Altima's 3.5L VQ35DE V6 (the inline-4 has no Bank 2), so this code points specifically at the V6 rear cylinder bank. It nearly always appears together with P0171, and that pairing is the diagnostic tell: a lean condition on BOTH banks is caused by something common to the whole engine rather than one injector. On the VQ35DE the usual causes are shrunken/hardened intake manifold and plenum gaskets that develop vacuum leaks, a cracked PCV or intake hose, or a dirty MAF sensor under-reporting airflow to both banks. Nissan issued ECM-reprogram guidance (TSB NTB19-030) for lean-code complaints on 2016-2018 V6 Altima/Maxima where fuel trims are borderline, so a software update can be part of the fix after mechanical leaks are ruled out.

On the 2007-2018 Nissan Altima 2.5L QR25DE I4, on the Altima, P0128 sets when the ECM sees that engine coolant fails to reach its target operating temperature (roughly 180-200F) within the expected time/warm-up cycle. The overwhelming Altima-specific cause is a thermostat stuck open (or a thermostat that opens too early), which lets coolant circulate continuously and never lets the engine fully warm. On the 2.5L QR25DE there are effectively two temperature-control components — the main thermostat behind the cylinder head and a secondary water-control valve at the front of the engine — and best practice is to replace both together, because replacing only one frequently leaves the code active. Drivers most often notice weak cabin heat in cold weather and a temperature gauge that sits low or drops on the highway. Left unfixed it causes poor fuel economy, higher emissions, and can fail an emissions/smog test.

On the 2007-2017 Nissan Altima, the plastic gears in the HVAC air-mix (blend) and mode door actuators strip, producing a repetitive clicking or knocking sound from behind the dash, usually loudest when the climate system is turned on or the temperature is changed. A failed blend actuator leaves the temperature stuck (often only hot or only cold), and a failed mode actuator leaves airflow stuck on one outlet (e.g., defrost only, won't switch to face/feet). These actuators cannot be repaired and must be replaced.