CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2016 Nissan Altima shows multiple problem trends, continuing the poor reputation of the 2013-2015 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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,797 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.

2016 Nissan Altima drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #185

Jun 282022

Altima

  • miles

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

Diagnosed CVT failure; Nissan refuses to replace the transmission at their cost. Took the vehicle to multiple mechanics before the issue was officially diagnosed, as the issue is difficult to diagnose. When operating the vehicle, at times the vehicle will stop accelerating; driver is pressing on the accelerator and the RPMs will increase but the vehicle will not be propelled forward and the power steering is disengaged. The issue is intermittent so the driver does not when this will occur, other drivers on the road also do not know our car is stalled, and this creates a huge safety risk. Also, when stopped at a stop sign or stoplight and attempting to turn onto another street, driver will attempt to accelerate and turn and the vehicle will not move or will barely move and the power steering is disengaged. If the cross-street has traffic, my vehicle is immovable in oncoming traffic -- a huge safety issue.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

problem #184

May 052023

Altima

  • miles
My wife's car started having problems with acceleration lately. At a stop the car would sometimes have problem accelerating and I would have to tap on the gas pedal a few times. If that doesn't work, I would have to keep on pressing the gas pedal without releasing it. The rpm will sometimes not go up then suddenly it revs to 4k even 5k. The car would go on limp mode or not even go forward when I'm revving the car. It happened both on highway and city streets. I was almost hit by a truck on the freeway. This is very dangerous. I did some research and found that many owners have the same problem. There is even a lawsuit I found on the internet pertaining to the same issue. No one wants to spend the time and money to fix a transmission problem especially if it's a problem from Nissan itself and not because of negligent owners not taking proper care of their cars. It costs about $3500 to $4000 to replace a transmission! Please investigate and put a recall for the transmission for the Nissan Altima. All owners who have spent money and time should be reimbursed!

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #183

Apr 252023

Altima

  • miles
I-??m starting to experience issues with the CTV transmission. I-??m experiencing jerking and stalling while driving on a busy highway with cars traveling 55mph or more. It is extremely dangerous driving when these things occur when cars are traveling at those speeds and the vehicle hesitate without warning.

- Opalocka, FL, USA

problem #182

Mar 042023

Altima

  • miles

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

Transmission problem.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #181

Feb 082023

Altima

  • miles
No injuries or accident but this vehicle has two serious problems. 1. The head lights are almost non existent. you can not drive faster than 25 mph with out over driving you lighted area... I consider this a serious issue..2. when car was new i almost always was getting in the low 30s and as high as 40 mpg now it is always getting in the low 20s consistently... When i check this on you tube they say that is a warning that the CVT is not working properly. With only 48000 miles on the car, I ask if this is a problem that Nissan should correct ?

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

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problem #180

Dec 272022

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
My car has several problems with accelerating either during highway speeds or from a dead stop. First, the car starts fine and engine runs fine, does not idle rough or stall out. The problems arise after driving for a few miles and I come to a complete stop, either at a stop light or sign. When the light turns green and I attempt to move the car, there is a severe lag in response to get the car moving. When it does start moving (after about 5-6 seconds), it barely rolls forward at less than 1 mile an hour. It does not matter how many times I depress the gas pedal, or if I have it to the floor, the car barely moves without any sound or rise in RPMs. The car may cover a distance from 15 feet to 150 feet at this snail pace until suddenly the RPMs shoot up to 4-5000 and the vehicle takes off like a rocket. The first time this happened I was making a lefthand turn and while sitting in the turn pocket I pressed the accelerator and the car started to creep along and put me right in the way of oncoming traffic which luckily slowed down for me to crawl across. The next time it happened was when I left a stoplight and the car started crawling then suddenly shot off and almost hit the car in front of me which had slowed down for a dip about 30 feet from the stop light. BOTH VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. The car also tends to lose acceleration while driving at highway speeds with the RPMs dropping approximately 1000 RPMs as when crossing intersections leaving me to crawl through a long intersection while now with cross traffic on the green light. This happens during freeway speeds as well. Also, at freeway speeds the car will top out at 40 MPH with the RPMs winding away at 4-5,000 RPMs while traffic is flying by me at 65-75 MPH. All these scenarios are prime conditions for an accident or collision. Symptoms first appeared about two months ago, now daily. The Nissan Dealer refuses to do transmission repair saying the computer throws no codes. Will not take my word on the problems.

- Norwalk, CA, USA

problem #179

Jun 282020

Altima

  • 120,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and the RPM-??s revved up and the vehicle started shuddering. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle, the accelerator pedal was depressed and went all the way to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle two more times. The failure persisted but the contact was able to continue driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mass airflow sensor and intake manifold were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact referenced Nissan Technical Service Bulletin Number: NTB16-121a. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Meraux, LA, USA

problem #178

Dec 072022

Altima

  • miles
Car was stopped at a stop sign. When it was clear I attempted to proceed and turn left. The car began to roll then wouldn't accelerate causing me to block both lanes with oncoming vehicles. The rpms revved and the car wouldn-??t move. Finally, the car started to go forward and without me pressing the gas it accelerated. I reported the situation to the Nissan Dealer and the Nissan Consumer repair. The mechanic at Nissan said the code is the transmission "death code." The simply said the car has over 84,000 miles so they would not be responsible for the repair. When I told them the situation, they did not discuss safety issues. I asked the man at Nissan Consumer Affairs if the life expectancy of a 2016 Nissan transmission was 108,000 miles. He said Nissan was not responsible for vehicle safety after 84,000 miles. He gave me a case number and and hung up. I then received an email with the case number and a note that said to give the number to my attorney. I do not have an attorney.

- Willows, CA, USA

problem #177

Nov 112022

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
I only had my vehicle(2016NissanAltima) for less than 2 weeks before the vehicles major problems started. The engine consistently Stalls, Surges and Shudders. As well as the Shifter locking itself to where it wont shift out of park. There are no and have never been any warning lights to alert me. The CVT and the Computer are very faulty. To the point the vehicle is now a Death Trap. When driving the car the RPM will randomly accelerate and I have no way to control the vehicle and then vehicle will go into "Limp Mode" consistently and won't go any faster or slower than the speed the car chooses to do. I don't trust anything of what it says on the dashboard as far as Gas amount, Odometer, MILWarnings, Speed or otherwise. If there are no warnings from the car to alert me with, then that is a major issue with the car and is not mechanically sound and very dangerous for me and other drivers on the road. I have had to make the car sit the majority of the short time I have had it. Because I simply won't drive very far because of the dangers it puts me in everytime I have drove it. I have had to spend my money on transportation to and from work instead of making my first car payment. At this point I want to just Opt-out with the vehicle entirely and give it back to the dealership. This car is just unsafe and should not have been sold in the condition it is in. I only got to drive the vehicle 10 days or so before major issues started with the vehicle. I have not a clue what the details of what is wrong with the car. The only warning signal I do see now, is the MIL and that is not even mentioned in the option menu of the car settings etc. This car needs to be re-manufactured so that it can become a safe running vehicle. I don't have the money that it will take to fix the car. It's far too expensive for me or any hard working citizen to ever afford. I don't advise anyone to own a vehicle of this kind.

- Chehalis, WA, USA

problem #176

Aug 132019

Altima

  • miles
The car has been experiencing transmission problems since about 95,000 miles. I contacted Nissan of North America about the issue and they told me they knew of the issue, extended warranty to 88,000 miles. I bought car used with 87,000 and no issue until 95,000. Issue is, the car stalls in stop and go traffic, it revs and jumps when starting, makes a humming noise while gas pedal is engaged. Took it in for recalls and Nissan of Lagrange even said the CVT transmissions are junk. Nissan needs to recall every car that has this transmission and fix the issue.

- Lagrange, GA, USA

problem #175

Oct 012022

Altima

  • miles

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

Transmission failing. Will not take off from stand still, then jerks and goes after revving. Jerks badly and shudders when accelerating, then refuses to accelerate to highway speeds over 55mph.

- Louisville , KY, USA

problem #174

Sep 252022

Altima

  • miles
CVT failed while driving on a busy inclined highway (towards Denver Airport) without any prior warning or check engine alert. The car came to a complete stop before I can judge the problem and pull over. Got it towed to the nearest Nissan service center (Tynan's Nissan, Denver) where they identified code P0776 and P17F0 after inspection. The check engine light turned amber only after the car came to a complete stop.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #173

Jun 152022

Altima

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, on other occasions while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond as needed with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure or retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 72,000.

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

problem #172

Aug 112022

Altima

  • miles
My 2016 Altima began loosing power in spurts, wouldn't move after stopping until accelerator was pushed to the floor then it would lunge forward. Took the car to a dealership and found out the transmission needed replaced at 91,000 miles! Nissan did agree to pay half the cost but, here I am 4weeks later and I still don't have my vehicle...No loaner car was provided either, they wanted me to pay $44 a day with 100 free miles. By the time I drove from the dealership to my home I would use 65-70 of those miles alone. Very disappointed in both Nissan and Ricart Automotive!

- New Straitsville, OH, USA

problem #171

Aug 112022

Altima

  • miles
On 8/11/22, I was driving my car and came to a stoplight. I went to accelerate and the car seemed slow to respond when I applied the accelerator. This happened several times during this one particular trip. When I made a lefthand turn and the car barely moved along. I got to my destination and let the car sit for about 20 minutes. I then proceded to drive home and the car worked fine. On 8/12/22, I took it a Nissan Dealership and was told the transmission may be failing. No warning lamps came on. I was told that I may have a hard time pleading my case because no warning lamps came on. This happened several times last year. I took it to the same Nissan Dealership and they reprogrammmed the computer. I plan on taking it to a Nissan Dealership and having it checked out again as I have 3000 miles left on the extended waranty.

- Batavia, IL, USA

problem #170

Jul 282022

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
CVT transmission failed. We are safe but the situation cause a lot of stress. The problem had been confirmed by Ancot transmission in South Carolina and the transmission had to be replace. After the Nissan dealership had to programmed the new one. The problem happened before the check engine light appear, when the light went on, we took the car at Ancot transmission. We are Canadian citizen, the problem happened during are vacations. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Saint-Hubert, SC, USA

problem #169

Aug 212019

Altima

  • miles
I have been having transmission issues, started in 2019 i have taken it to multiple dealership they can never find the issues, after my vehicle warranty expired they miraculously found the issue with my cvt transmission, when calling nissan customer care they would only cover 2500.. after i havr been taking it over 2 years to 4 different dealerships

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #168

Jan 012022

Altima

  • miles
Evidently there have been numerous issues with 2016 Nissan Altima transmissions that Nissan has neglected to issue a recall for. Mine started several months ago, sometimes I'll be driving, stop at a light and the car will just not move. Additionally it will sometimes just start revving over 6K rpm while driving on the highway. I have to use my car for personal use every day, I drive my 7 year old to school/summer camp and myself to work daily and this is a serious danger for us. I have had the vehicle inspected and it has been confirmed that this is a transmission issue and that they have numerous people bringing their Altimas in for the same reason. My engine light never came on until these issues started to occur.

- Clinton Twp, MI, USA

problem #167

Jul 282022

Altima

  • miles
When you are driving down the road and come to a stop the car will stall and not go like it is not shifting! The check engine light comes on sometimes sometimes it don-??t. It may get up to 40 mph when this happens sometimes it might not go at all!

- Ashburn, GA, USA

problem #166

Jun 302022

Altima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while making a left turn at a stop light, the vehicle began to hesitate without warning. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal to the floorboard as the hesitation continued before resuming normal operation. The contact also stated that the failure had continued while driving at various speeds without warning. The dealer was notified and offered no additional assistance with the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

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