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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,757 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 4 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #19

Jun 282019

Altima

  • 85,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle began to decelerate while maximum pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle eventually began to drive normally; however, the failure recurred fifteen minutes later. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to benton Nissan of hoover (1640 montgomery hwy, hoover, al, (205) 938-6103), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was only provided warranty information. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Columbua, GA, USA

problem #18

Jun 042019

Altima

  • 51,000 miles
While driving my vehicle on local highways during afternoon rush hours. My vehicle starts to strain to drive. It seems like the transmission has trouble with acceleration. If at a complete stop it strains to go forward. I have to pull over turn vehicle off set for about 20 mins. And it drives okay. This has happened twice this week.. on 6-25-19 pulled into a service station to have it looked at. Technician informed me that with my make and model that there is a problem with the transmission and this is a signed that the transmission is getting ready to go out. I asked if he could check the fluid level and he explained that there isn't a dip stick to check the transmission fluid.

- Lothian, MD, USA

problem #17

Aug 162018

Altima

  • 30,510 miles
Rear door would not close properly, and would never lock. With either manuel lock or alarm key lock. Also censor lights would go offon dashboard of airbag being off when no one was sitting there.

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #16

Mar 302019

Altima

  • 25 miles

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

While I was diving on the 495 highway in Virginia, when the engine light came on and the car was still running, but slow down and I had to push harder on the gas to move over onto the shoulder and cut the car for about 15-30 minutes before it start again. This is a 2016 car I should not be experience any engine problems with this car nor should I have to paid for this car since the car warrant expired at the right time.

- Ft Washington, MD, USA

problem #15

Jun 122018

Altima

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. While driving, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the driver's seat moved forward independently. The vehicle was taken to mossy Nissan el cajon (located at 1170 w main St, el cajon, ca 92020, (619) 588-0500) where it was diagnosed that the driver's seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, while driving, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact powered off the engine while in traffic. The vehicle was restarted after ten minutes and was able to drive normally. The failure recurred three times and was towed back to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle, but could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 34469085. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

- Spingvalle, CA, USA

problem #14

Jan 202019

Altima

  • 40 miles
Engine will not shut off. Must disconnect battery and alternator stationary

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #13

Dec 072018

Altima

  • 39,400 miles

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

While driving, the car would decrease in speed and acted if it wanted to stall.I took the car in for an appointment at the dealership and was told it was reading a code with the transmission and as scheduled to come in 3 days L as later when the part was in. After being at the dealership almost half a day, they tell me the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The dealership attempted to get me to drive it home (over an hour away( and bring it back another day. I was not going to accept this and requested a car to drive, which they did do so. However, when enterprise rental picked me up, they immediately knew it was transmission issues and proceeded to tell me that they are only good for 2 years.

- Simpsonville, SC, USA

problem #12

Dec 092018

Altima

  • 68,319 miles
We just purchased the car from robert's Toyota columbia tn, on 11/16/2018. The car just coasted into the driveway and just stopped died, dropped my brother off and the started the car and went arround the corner and it did the same thing only took us a few min.

- Pulaski, TN, USA

problem #11

Nov 012017

Altima

  • 18,172 miles
Nov 2017, Altima had 18,173 miles, not one year old and the check engine light came on while drive it. Took it to dealer in san diego, diagnosis was a P0101 code (mass air flow sensor/orange PCV valve). Then at 20,598 miles, I saw my life flash before my eyes. I was driving on interstate 5 in southern California doing 72 mph with a truck behind me and all of a sudden the Altima will not accelerate! meanwhile the RPM's are jumping up and down. Again the dealer said it was code P0101, replaced the PCV valve again. Next at 20,833 miles the check engine light came back on. Dealer informed me there was carbon build up in the throttle body and found code P0101 as well. At that point the dealer replaced the throttle body with a new one. At 24,095, the dealer stated both shocks were leaking. Both shocks were removed and replaced. At 25,076 miles the back driver door would not open from the inside. The dealer replaced the acuator. At the same encounter, the back driver window did not roll down more than half way. Found vapor barrier and cable damaged. Also, during this time poor acceleration was noticed and they replaced the brake light switch and deleted stop lamp relay. Finally on this visit new heat shields as well. This car has spent 25 days of its life at a Nissan dealer. This car is scary and defective.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #10

Oct 052018

Altima

  • 61 miles
On a main road, my car jump/ jerks going a lil past 40mph however my RPM goes up to 3/4..while in idle at stop light, to go after green, pressing gas, car does not move..then once it moves( 3-5 secs later after pressing gas) RPM jumps to 3/4, but only going 20mph..then once in gear, it's like I'm going fast but really I'm not

- Austell, GA, USA

problem #9

Dec 152017

Altima

  • 54,220 miles

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

First time, car started at 50,000 miles. Drove the car for 4200 miles, regular maintenance, had occasional drag in acceleration and RPM needle fluctuation, called in and said it was pretty normal due to the heat. Randomly car jutters and loses acceleration, check engine light comes on at 54,000 miles on in town highway road. Car will no longer will accelerate before 5-6 rpms consistently for about 5 seconds then will kick and accelerate. Code pulled read trnsmission fluid system eas the problem. Took car in next day after fighting with pocatello Nissan Kia because they refused to look at it for a week. Had to have entire transmission replaced. Drove the car for another 1500 miles and same thing but I caught the drag and needle fluctuation soon enough that the car didn't get nearly as bad on the regular in town roads. Took it in a second time and transmission was replaced again. Going on 56600 miles and noticing a drag and fluctuation again on in town roads but Nissan wont look at it til the issue can be replicated again.

- Chubbuck, ID, USA

problem #8

May 042018

Altima

  • 57,786 miles
Engine loses power when on the highway, have to pull over and wait two or three minutes then it starts up again.can not trust to drive in traffic.I have taken this car to Nissan shop but they can't find the problem because it only happens once in a while, also when car loses power the dash goes out.the car is a lemon

- Victoria, TX, USA

problem #7

May 042018

Altima

  • 57,786 miles
Engine uses power when on the highway, have to pull over and wait two or three minutes then it starts up again.can not trust to drive in traffic.I have taken this car to Nissan shop but they can't find the problem because it only happens once in a while

- Victoria, TX, USA

problem #6

Feb 152018

Altima

  • 29,114 miles
At random times while driving vehicle will shut off causing sudden decrease in speed, then restart on it's own within 10-15 seconds. When car shuts off all dash lights turn off and there's no throttle response. The last time it shut off I was going around a bend and caused car to collide with guard rail.

- Harrison, OH, USA

problem #5

Apr 022018

Altima 4-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
I was stopped at a red light when I took my foot off of the brake and pressed the accelerator my car stalled out. It took 30 seconds of pressing on the gas for it to begin to move.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #4

Feb 182018

Altima

  • 32,000 miles
While already in motion the vehicle accelerated extremely slowly once again as I have reported on this website before, but this time it was more dangerous because as I was merging onto the freeway, I was pressing on the accelerator and when the RPM got to 2000, it stopped and the vehicle was accelerating extremely slow. There was a 18 wheel truck approaching me fast from behind, but I could not get any speed. Luckily he swerved on to the next lane and passed me. The RPM meter stopped at 2000 and it took 22 seconds to get from 60 mph to 75mph as the video shows. It happened several more times during this drive and I was able to record each instance panning from the gauge display to the accelerator showing I am pressing it all the way down and the vehicle doesn't respond. I took the vehicle to Nissan and when I showed the video to the service representative, he immediately tried to blame the issue on my floor mats. He said that it appears the floor mats were preventing the accelerator from going down thus causing the vehicle to not gain speed. However I explained to him that that is not the case as the floor mat was not touching the accelerator at all. You can clearly see my foot pressing it down all the way without any interference from the mat. In addition, if the floor mat was preventing the accelerator from being pushed all the way down as he claims, how is it possible for the vehicle to continue to gain speed, all be it extremely slow? that right there proves his theory wrong because if the accelerator was indeed stopped by the mat, then the mph as well as the RPM would maintain at the same rate. I also reminded him that this happened on a local street when I was only going 35 mph and the accelerator would have been no where near the floor board. Nissan advised me they were able to duplicate the issue and are contacting Nissan tech support for direction

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #3

Dec 132017

Altima

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate and failed to drive smoothly on occasion. The vehicle was taken to olympia Nissan (2220 carriage St sw, olympia, wa 98502), but was not diagnosed. While driving at an unknown speed, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and accelerated independently. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. Also, while the vehicle was being driven, the rpms accelerated and the vehicle failed to operate. The contact mentioned that the speed increased to 40 mph. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

- Olympia, WA, USA

problem #2

Nov 222017

Altima

  • 268,000 miles
I have been having chronic issues with engine on my 2016 Nissan Altima. Initially (11/2016), the car would "jump/skip" when I would try to accelerator and even feeling like it was going to cut off on me. When I called I was informed it was due to defect and it was on recall. The issues appeared to resolve until 11/2017 I started experiencing the same issue but worse and was not able to accelerate while I was driving to work and back home. This occurred on Florida turnkpike and local highways. Cars were hooking at me because I was not able to proceed when light turned green, even though I was flooring the car pedal. When I took the car to the shop, I was informed it was my transmission and they had to rebuild it. Afterwards, I continue to have problems with the car cutting off on me and acceleration issues. I brought it back, and I was told it was the crank sensor. They replaced it but know the engine continue to sound like it is working overtime to perform and make a constant high pitch sound. I am bring it back to them a 3rd time to investigate.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #1

Jun 152017

Altima

  • 40,000 miles
My transmission stopped working while I was driving first in the city and it continued to when I went on the highway to the point I had no power and the when I pressed the gas nothing would happen. I had to have the computer in the transmission replaced and the car still idles as if it will cut off at any moment. That was at 40K and I just had to replace the O2 sensor at 60K

- Spotsylvania, VA, USA

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