CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2015 Nissan Altima shows multiple problem trends, continuing the poor reputation of the 2013 & 2014 Altima, prompting us to give it our "Beware of the Clunker" badge.

Owners are complaining about transmission problems related to the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,120 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Nissan Altima drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2015 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 4 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #86

Dec 092019

Altima

  • 111,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

P17F1 cvt judder code...there are recalls on V6 Nissan Altima from 2015, but it does not apply to the 4 cylinder models, yet the cars are having the same issues. Most likely the transmission will need replaced. Very costly for a 4 year old vehicle ($3500 from non-dealer, $4000 - $5000 dealer estimate). Dealer charges $140 just to diagnose the issue. The vehicle hesitates when accelerating to get on the highway. Transmission company I spoke with said this was the 4th Altima he had seen this week with the same issue....typically happens between 100,000 - 120,000 miles. My vehicle has 111,000 miles.

- Canton, TX, USA

problem #85

Nov 292019

Altima

  • 60,000 miles
Showing code P0841

- Blacksburg, SC, USA

problem #84

Nov 082019

Altima

  • 38,074 miles
While driving on a city street and on a highway it appears that my transmission is jerking and slipping.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #83

Sep 072019

Altima

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased the car in 2016 with 22,000 miles. At the 2nd oil change, Nissan dealership said it needed the cvt reprogrammed. From that point until now, I have complained about juddering, shuddering, delayed acceleration, and just not going when the gas pedal was pressed. The last time it happened before being completely disabled, it left me stranded on an interstate ramp merging into highway traffic, the car just would no go. It acted like it was starting off in 3rd gear, which is very dangerous! when I took it to the local dealership, I was told that if something was wrong with the transmission, the check engine light would come on, but it would cost me $200 for a diagnosis since it was out of warranty. Now, my car has 140K miles and is out of warranty, the transmission needs to be replaced and they still won't do anything about it. I have asked several times about the multiple tsb's associated with the 2015 Nissan Altima 4-cylinder cvt, which my car is, and they've told me that none of them apply to my car. Something needs to be done about this issue affecting millions of customers!

- Asheboro, NC, USA

problem #82

Sep 152019

Altima

  • 106,000 miles
Bought my Altima used with 60K miles. At 80K it started exhibiting a delayed acceleration from total stop after some warmup period. With 106K miles, after warmup, it now always has delayed acceleration from any complete stop. The accelerator pedal has no effect until 80% depressed then it starts like its in 3rd gear. Scary if turning across traffic. Dealer says its a faulty solenoid in the transmission. On line complaints across several models are prevalent.

- Pataskala, OH, USA

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problem #81

Apr 082019

Altima

  • 78,000 miles
When driving in hot weather or a long distance (60+miles) on streets and/or highway, the vehicle will not accelerate after coming to a complete stop. Stopping in bumper to bumper traffic, stop sign, stop light or even after having to do an emergency brake. The vehicle will not accelerate until 5-10 seconds have passed with the acceleration pedal pressed. This issue has caused numerous close rear end accidents just to myself. A normal day of driving turns into a guessing game if I will be rear ended due to this transmission issue. Many 2013+ Nissan owners have this issue and Nissan of America refuses to recall their transmissions. After the vehicle finally starts accelerating, rather hard due to having to hold the acceleration pedal to max for it to move, it loses power when it shifts to the next gear. RPM falls under the optimal RPM for the given speed and feels like you go from 1st gear to 4th gear.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #80

Sep 132019

Altima

  • 102,264 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car starts to shudder and sound like it's in neutral. I was turning into a store and it stalled, but it then kicked into drive so I could move out of the way of oncoming traffic. I have had it checked by a reputable transmission person and was told to take it back to Nissan because there have been some recalls or extended warranty. I called and long story short, I was told it has no warranty due to being over the mileage and there aren't recalls. I have checked and see some complaints filed back October of 2018. Mine is doing the exact same thing. I see it was some of the models; however, if all of these cars are having the same transmission problem, the warranty should be extended so they can be repaired.

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #79

Sep 092019

Altima

  • 74,107 miles
Have shuddering of the car when driving up to 40 mph. Took to the dealership (where it has always been serviced) and diagnostics determined a "bad" transmission with identified "judder" code. However, the extended warranty issued by Nissan to address to this issue does not currently extend to 6 cylinders, of which mine is. I have an issue with this, as my car is experiencing the same issues as stated in bulletin ntb16-085 and ntb15-015G.

- Prairieville, LA, USA

problem #78

Aug 142019

Altima

  • 25,000 miles
Intermittent problem the dealer could not duplicate since 25K miles. The car revs and loses speed. Sometimes I press the gas pedal and it will not go for 2-5 secomds. Recently going up a hill the car rolled backwards while I was pressing the gas pedal. Turning the car off can "cure" the symptom until it randomly has the same problem. It is difficult driving in traffic, or deciding to make left turns because I can not depend on acceleration

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #77

Jul 112018

Altima

  • 60,000 miles
Every once in a while no matter how far put my foot down on the pedal it will not accelerate. This is extreamly dangerous as it has happened when crossing intersection in very busy traffic situations. I would say I probably would have been hit at least 5 times in this situation, but the drivers coming the other way saw I was having. A problem and slowed down so they would not hit me.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #76

Jul 232019

Altima

  • 59,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While waiting to turn left at an intersection for a break in oncoming traffic, the car will sometimes pause for 2-3 seconds when the accelerator is pressed, as if it were in neutral. This leaves me vulnerable to an accident when it finally kicks in and starts moving. When having to judge and make crucial decisions while driving is complicated by a car that doesn't move when it's supposed to I truly feel it's literally 'an accident waiting to happen.' I also don't know when it will happen because it's not every time, so I have no way to incorporate that into my decision making while driving. Neither I want to be in an accident, nor do I want to put someone else at risk.

- Lehi, UT, USA

problem #75

Jul 172019

Altima

  • 38,650 miles
I have a 2015 Nissan Altima with only 38,500 miles on it. I bought it at 31,000 miles. Me and my girlfriend recently taken a trip to Virginia.we were leaving the last day and we came up to the first light away from the place we were staying at. As I came up to the light my car had jerked really hard slowing down and the rpms went way up. I didn't really think that was weird as it has done that before on multiple times. When the light turned green I pressed the gas and nothing had happened for a solid 10 seconds it would only rev up to 2 and wouldn't go past 10 miles per hour. As this light was fast and it was turning yellow as soon as we were going through it the people were honking behind me as my car would not accelerate at all. I pulled over and cut my car off and waited about 5 minutes. I started out again and it had a hard time accelerating and I pulled over again. At this point no lights came on or anything. I thought my car just left us stranded in Virginia. I turned it back on again and started out and it was driving normal. I find this unsafe because cars at the light could have started to come through my my car is just teetering along through the fast light

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #74

Jul 182019

Altima 6-cyl

  • 85,031 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan alitma. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate without warning. The contact called all star Nissan (27700 juban rd, building 3, denham springs, la 70726, (225) 272-9330) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,031.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #73

Jul 212019

Altima

  • 30,000 miles
My Nissan Altima 2015 will not accelerate on a highway. It only has 30K on it. I took it to Nissan 2 times for this problem and they told me that nothing was wrong. July 21, 2019, it was towed again while I was on the long trip. Overall, it happened 10 times. Car falls on its face. You are not able to accelerate. I hads to tow it 2 times already. The other times I had to wait 30 min or so. When on highway you go 65, it drops to 40, then 20; it sputters and then you have to stop. My Nissan Altima was moving when the acceleration gave up no matter how strong you push the pedal. The engine light comes on too. I was in logandale Nevada. Turned the car off. Then waited. After 15 min, I was able to start the car and drive it barely at 20 min per hour on highway 15 coming from las vegas to moapa paiute travel plaza gas station. This is so dangerous because other card=S do not kjnow that you have acceleration failure and they drive behind you at 60-70 miles per hour and it can be very scary because you have to come to a complete stop as the acceleration does not work and car goers eventually to 0 miles per hour no matter how hard you push the acceleration pedal. Car is still under warranty and Nissan needs to address the issue.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #72

Jun 272019

Altima

  • 92,000 miles
Around 92,000 pressed on gas and car would not move, had to press pedal all the way to floor until it caught then it drove. Drove home, shut off, restarted in the morning with no issues. Drove a few more days and it happened again; took to certified Nissan dealership and was told it was my transmission checked out great and it was my "brake sensor" which was replaced, drove another two weeks and it happened again. Took back in and was told I needed a transmission replacement; notes read transmission fluid smelled "burnt" and there were tiny metal particles throughout.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #71

May 302019

Altima

  • 32,594 miles
The contact called on behalf of a family member who owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle lunged forward and felt as if it struck a log. The vehicle made a clunking noise and shut down. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Nissan of lagrange (706-558-3196, located at 1050 lafayette pkwy, lagrange, ga 30241) where the driver was informed to contact the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was an unknown open recall on the vehicle. The contact was informed that the recall repair would depend on the insurance adjuster's recommendation. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 32,594.

- Lagrange, GA, USA

problem #70

May 272019

Altima

  • 35,000 miles
The transmission went out with less than 75000 miles motor mounts bad and air bags does not work. The vehicle was in motion on city street

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #69

Jul 012019

Altima

  • 66,000 miles
Takata recall, doesn't accelerate when petal is pressed but instead delays for 3-5 seconds. Then it jerks and accelerates quickly

- Broadview, IL, USA

problem #68

Jun 172019

Altima

  • 80,000 miles
Car does not accelerate if it's been idling for a short period of time, such as the timing of a traffic light. This happens more often if the ac is running. Had to mash down on the gas pedal and the car still lagged. The Nissan dealership claimed to have fixed the problem but this is still a major issue.

- High Point, NC, USA

problem #67

May 282019

Altima

  • 126,712 miles
With no mechanical warning of any type (warning lights or overall vehicle performance), my 2015 Nissan Altima had the cvt (transmission) fail. The car starting to sputter and act up while driving it, no warning indication of any issues still, and then the transmission failed. Stopping all forward motion of the car. After restarting the car, the check engine light illuminated. I am finding that this is a known issue with the Nissan 2.4L engines with cvt, no matter the model of vehicle. Luckily I was not on a multiple lane highway going 70-80 mph at the time of failure as this is a serious safety concern! had I been driving in rush hour traffic, I could have been stranded in the middle of a high speed traffic lane, putting my life, along with my passengers lives, in danger. In speaking to my local dealership, they see this failure multiple times in a week. Had my 16 year old, new driver, been driving this vehicle at the time of failure, we could be dealing with an entirely different situation. This is a defect of the transmission that Nissan is knowingly installing in their vehicles even today. Nissan did extend the powertrain warranty for multiple models from 2003-2010; however the problem with the cvt has not been resolved even by 2015.

- Marshall, WI, USA

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