CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2014 Nissan Altima shows multiple problem trends, continuing the poor reputation of the 2013 Altima, prompting us to give it our "Beware of the Clunker" badge.
My car shudders and jerks at low speeds. I've had it back to the Nissan dealer 3 times and they can't replicate it (even though the first time I took it in I went out for a drive with the mechanic and it did it in front of him). Meanwhile, it's a big waste of time every time I take it in because they claim they can't fix when they don't know what's wrong with it. I've noticed others on this website have had the same issues. I used to own a Nissan Sentra and had no problems at all. Now I buy this way more expensive car and have nothing but issues. In addition to the shuddering, my stereo is now acting up and it turns off and re-starts when I don't even touch it. I love this car, but I will not be wasting my time or money on another Nissan and I've told everyone I know not to buy an Altima!
Purchased car in May of 2014 and about 9,000 miles into my purchase my car started to jitter everytime I turn and/or go under 20 miles per hour. Took car into dealer and they had my car for 10 days. They had to replace transmission. Since my new transmission, my car has still and even worse now jitters. Still trying to work with Nissan now on the next step. I have owned 3 cars from Nissan, but now I will not purchase again from them.
2014 Nissan Altima surge and fluctuation in RPM between 20 and 25 mph. When decelerating, as soon as speed reaches 25, the RPM jumps (from slightly around or below 1000 rpm to about 1300 rpm). this creates an unintended surge and is risky in snow or rain - and not to mention hard on brakes!!
AS THE SPEED REDUCES BELOW 25 MPH, WHEN YOU LEAVE GAS PEDAL, EVEN ON A LEVEL ROAD, THE ENGINE RPM APPEARS TO FALL AT OR BELOW 1000 RPM AND THEN SHOOTS UP TO 1300 RPM. IT THEN STRUGGLES TO FIND THE CORRECT GEAR RATIO AND FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 1000-1500 RPM WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION.
Update from Sep 9, 2014: Here is a video of the observed behavior. As you can see, the RPM jumps and fluctuates on a level road creating jerky behavior between 20 and 25 mph.
The transmission on V6 jerked and chugged at low speeds at highway speed, on and off of cruise control, going up hill, on the flats, on the straight way or on corners. No all the time ...just for no reason it would start.
Took back to dealer who had to hook up to computer duplicate problem to get codes before warranty work could start. Replaced torque converter still had problems (even slightly worst after repair) back to dealership and replaced transmission.
Update from Jul 9, 2015: Within 900 Kms the transmission was occasionally jerking and jumping. I reported this to the dealership and they said drive it for a while. At 4796 Kms the dealership put in a new torque converter. On the drive home the vehicle was still doing the same jerking and skipping. I called the dealership right away and they said drive it some more. At 6172 Kms I took the vehicle back and they replaced the transmission. For the next 1200 Kms the vehicle ran great then it started jerking and jumping again. This got progressively worse and at 10,000 Kms I called the dealership and they said drive it some more.
On Sept 5, 2014 the dealership took the car and reported that they could not find a fault with the transmission even through it was VERY noticeable. On October 7, 2014 they replaced the transmission for the 2nd time at 10449 Kms and the dealership diagnosed the problem as Clear CVT deteriation
Today the 9th of July 2015, after numerous complaints that the Jerking and shuttering started again around 13,000 Kms and many tests and test drives Nissan Canada is again replacing the transmission at 27,00 Kms.
This will be the fourth transmission and a torque converter put into this vehicle in 27,000 Kms. (3 replacements and the original)
My car shimmer, shakes and sputters. Gee whiz, this car is a 2014 with 7500 miles on it. I expect to be able to feel confident and safe but, I don't. You never know, will this car make it up this hill or is it going to quit. I am so disgusted. I was told, Nissan is working on the problem. In the meantime, I am struggling to pick up the nerve to drive it.
- Jeff I.,
London, KY, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
My 2014 Altima SL 3.5 CVT transmission shutters at low speed. This is now showing up as a slight vibration at higher speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour. It was first noticed about 2500 - 3000 miles.
The radio will stop working or locks up at which time I've needed to turn the car off and restart to get the radio, CD, Bluetooth to work. It was first noticed second day of driving. I was not sure if I had pushed a button that stopped everything. I now have found others who have the same problem with their 2014 Altima SL 3.5.
Still under warranty but if the transmission is removed and replace what else my be damaged? Will I then start to have leaks?
Got new transmission at 6k miles and it temporarily solved the jerkiness. It returned after about 1k miles. Still working with Nissan to get this fixed.
Car had bad transmission shake usually at low speeds when gradually accelerating like coming back on the gas after exiting the freeway, stop-n-go traffic or just crusing through a neighborhood. It also had minor vibration when cruising on the freeway at about 65 mph. It would just shake for miles if you didn't give it more gas to cause the transmission to rethink what gear it was in. The bad shakes were much like a manual transmission that in the wrong gear and about to stall. The transmission was fine for about the first 1k miles then it started to act up. It was replaced at about 6k miles and was fine for about 1k more miles before it started to shake again.
Car shuttered when driving between 15 n 19 mph and radio system needed to be replaced.
After two months the dealer could not find the problem nor could Nissan America. They drove my car almost 400 miles to find the problem.
Took the car back and after two more months dealing with the same issue and now the 2nd radio system not working either.
Took the car to another dealer and in two days they recreated the problem, sent the info to Nissan America and now are putting in a new transmission. Next they will replace or repair the radio GPS system.
I am sick and tired of driving a car that does not run right. It is a new car with major transmission issues. I have not been able to drive it for almost three months as well.
So far Nissan has been slow to react and not very customer service orientated. The new dealer is great so far.
Auto nation Nissan Dallas.
I do not trust the car and want a buy back!,,,,
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My car shudders and jerks at low speeds. I've had it back to the Nissan dealer 3 times and they can't replicate it (even though the first time I took it in I went out for a drive with the mechanic and it did it in front of him). Meanwhile, it's a big waste of time every time I take it in because they claim they can't fix when they don't know what's wrong with it. I've noticed others on this website have had the same issues. I used to own a Nissan Sentra and had no problems at all. Now I buy this way more expensive car and have nothing but issues. In addition to the shuddering, my stereo is now acting up and it turns off and re-starts when I don't even touch it. I love this car, but I will not be wasting my time or money on another Nissan and I've told everyone I know not to buy an Altima!
- Kristin Q., Greenfield, WI, US