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.
piercing high pitch noise coming from power steering pump
Purchased this new 2016 Altma on 11/19/16 from Woodbury Nissan. Driving home lost our power steering after 20 minutes. We drive vehicle to our local Nissan Dealer which was only 20 minutes from our home. They were unable to look at vehicle that day. On 11/22/26 received a call from dealer stating the drive belt cut into the return hose and they replaced the hose and belt. Seems very odd to happen on our very first drive home! Anyway two weeks later I noticed a whining high pitch sound whenever I turned the wheel. It also continued to whine but in a different frequency while car was just sitting with engine on. Returned car again to Nissan in Atlantic City on 12/0516. They advised that the car needed a new power steering pump which was on back order. Returned car on 12/12/16 to replace power steering pump. Later that day received call that car was fixed. I was so excited to finally think that this terrible whining dentist drill sound was gone. The attendant who drove my car to me stated "What did you have fixed because it's still whining!" I am now livid. This was the third time my 3 week old car has been in this shop for problems with the power steering. The service manager came over to listen and states "yes this pump motor frequency shouldn't be this high" He was going to contact Nissan Corp to have an engineer come out and would let me know when this would happen. In the meantime I contacted Nissan corporation to discuss my dissatisfaction with this vehicle. Who wants a brand new car with a high pitch sound? I have to blast my radio and put the fan on loud to drown out the noise!! The corporate people at Nissan are no help. They say this is typical power steering sound this pump motor makes and nothing can be done. My car did not make this sound before it was fixed! I can not have any enjoyment from this vehicle knowing that I always need to blast the radio to cover the high frequency sound. Shame on Nissan for selling these vehicles and not fixing the issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
piercing high pitch noise coming from power steering pump
Purchased this new 2016 Altma on 11/19/16 from Woodbury Nissan. Driving home lost our power steering after 20 minutes. We drive vehicle to our local Nissan Dealer which was only 20 minutes from our home. They were unable to look at vehicle that day. On 11/22/26 received a call from dealer stating the drive belt cut into the return hose and they replaced the hose and belt. Seems very odd to happen on our very first drive home! Anyway two weeks later I noticed a whining high pitch sound whenever I turned the wheel. It also continued to whine but in a different frequency while car was just sitting with engine on. Returned car again to Nissan in Atlantic City on 12/0516. They advised that the car needed a new power steering pump which was on back order. Returned car on 12/12/16 to replace power steering pump. Later that day received call that car was fixed. I was so excited to finally think that this terrible whining dentist drill sound was gone. The attendant who drove my car to me stated "What did you have fixed because it's still whining!" I am now livid. This was the third time my 3 week old car has been in this shop for problems with the power steering. The service manager came over to listen and states "yes this pump motor frequency shouldn't be this high" He was going to contact Nissan Corp to have an engineer come out and would let me know when this would happen. In the meantime I contacted Nissan corporation to discuss my dissatisfaction with this vehicle. Who wants a brand new car with a high pitch sound? I have to blast my radio and put the fan on loud to drown out the noise!! The corporate people at Nissan are no help. They say this is typical power steering sound this pump motor makes and nothing can be done. My car did not make this sound before it was fixed! I can not have any enjoyment from this vehicle knowing that I always need to blast the radio to cover the high frequency sound. Shame on Nissan for selling these vehicles and not fixing the issue.
- Ilyssa M., Mays Landing, NJ, US