Common Problems With a Nissan Altima

The Altima's most widely reported issue across multiple generations centers on its continuously variable transmission (CVT), which has had documented reliability concerns significant enough that Nissan extended warranty coverage on CVTs for several model years.

The CVT transmission issue

Symptoms of a failing CVT include shuddering under acceleration, whining noises, or hesitation when accelerating from a stop. This is the single most important thing to check on a used Altima — take a longer test drive that includes highway acceleration, and pay close attention to how smoothly the transmission responds.

Other commonly reported issues

• Oil consumption concerns on certain engine and model year combinations
• Interior trim wear reported earlier than some competitors
• Suspension component wear that can happen sooner than average on higher-mileage examples

What to check before buying

• Ask whether the CVT has ever been serviced or replaced, and whether any extended warranty coverage was used
• Take an extended test drive including full-speed highway acceleration, not just a short local loop
• Check for any recall or extended warranty coverage still active on the specific VIN

An Altima with a CVT that's been well maintained and shows no symptoms on a real test drive can still be a comfortable, efficient sedan — but the transmission is the one area worth extra scrutiny before buying.