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

Owners are complaining about vibration and even transmission failure related to the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

9.5

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
5,500 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. keep putting more and more gas in it! (1 reports)
  3. use high test (1 reports)
2014 Nissan Altima fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2014 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #8

Jan 012014

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 0 miles

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

This has consistently been under rated gas mileage for both highway and combined driving. The O/D off transmission setting doesn't seem to work at all, leading me to think the CVT may have something to do with the poor gas mileage. Of course the Nissan Dealer says everything is just fine.

- HIMM N., Omaha, NE, US

problem #7

Jul 082016

Altima Convenience 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 34,589 miles

Like so many others on this page, I bought this car because of the advertised mileage. I traded in my beloved 2007 Hybrid Camry and have severe buyer's remorse. The very nice lady in the service department told me the only way to get better mileage is to USE HIGH TEST.

- planbkbny, Newburgh, NY, US

problem #6

Jul 012014

Altima SL 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,500 miles

I bought this brand new 2014 car based upon the promised sticker mileage, 28 city, 38 highway. Wanted good mileage vehicle. Car is only getting 19 mpg city and I am a careful driver, no huge accelerations or anything. Car now has nearly 4,000 miles on it. The figure on the odometer says 26mpg average and that is a total lie. Keep checking it over and over again each time I fill up, it's consistently 19mpg. It got little better when I took a long trip but then dropped back down again to the 19mpg.

I've seen other complaints on here as well. Some people have ok mileage it seems and then there is no reason but others have my problem. Nissan complaints department are just listen to you talk but do absolutely nothing. Had other complaint with their dealer misrepresenting and they just listen and say they'll talk to dealer but there is no customer resolution as well. I am hugely disappointed, brand new car, and now I am stuck!

- Nancy J., Palm Desert, CA, US

problem #5

Aug 012014

Altima S 4c

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,842 miles

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

I started out getting 38 mpg. Now I am lucky to get 29 or 30 mpg. The dealership informed me that Nissan was working on a module that was located under the dash. Apparently there is a problem with the current installed control module. The module should be ready sometime in 2015. How wonderful.

This is a new car. What is really bad is that according to the dealership there is no fix as of now. I would advise everyone to by pass Nissan!

- Jeff I., London, KY, US

problem #4

Aug 122014

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 460 miles

I bought my car 2 weeks ago. I know the car is new and doesn't have a lot of miles on it, but I shouldn't be getting the mileage I'm getting now. At best my all around mileage is 20mpg. I did a 120 mile round trip on the freeway and got 22.5 mpg. I bought this car on the basis that it got good gas mileage. I had a V6 Honda Ridgeline that was getting 16 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway. The truck also nearly weighed 5k lbs. This car is a little over 3k lbs. I thought I was going to improve the situation dramatically and it's a minor improvement for less power and a noisier engine.

I read on the nissan club forums some people get close to the stated mpg and some are like me and get in the 20-23 range. I don't know if some cars are duds and that's what they get and the dealer can't figure out anything wrong with them. I've driven my car with a light foot, slow take-offs at lights, and I'm carrying only me and no people or cargo. Some people have stated as the the car gets more miles under the belt, the mileage improves. I hope that is the case, but it has a lot of improving to do and it seems like if anything, I might get a get a few mpg more after a few thousand miles. Still not acceptable.

My wife has a 2005 Acura TSX - a nearly 10 year old car with a 5 speed automatic and 200 hp. She gets 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. I'm doing worse than her with a car that has supposedly newer engine technology (i.e. CVT) and only 182 hp. Plus her 4 cylinder is very quiet.

I was deciding between this car and a Prius (which consistently gets the stated mpg or better) and went with this since it's more car - more comfortable ride and more room for about the same price. I like the car in general. I'm disappointed I'm not saving as much gas as I expected. I hope Nissan comes up with some fix or maybe has some software/ecu programming update that could fix this. It doesn't make sense how some other people can get the stated mpg. Some even say they don't do any special driving and drive normally and still get an average of 30 mpg. I'd be happy with that.

- Alex L., Northridge, CA, US

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problem #3

Jul 132014

Altima SV 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 2,000 miles

I have had a 2014 Altima for almost 2 months. I have been receiving city mileage of 18-23 mpg. Not even halfway close to the mileage promised. I forgo getting a Honda for this piece of junk only because of the gas mileage and now I am stuck. On the highway, I get 37-38 mpg even at speeds above 60 when travelling through the higher speed highways. However, the city is has only been a BIG LIE so far. If I had know this I would have never purchased this car. Buyer beware that the advertised is not true. I would even turn the car off at lights and drive with extra caution and steady speeds for a whole gas tank and still have only reached as high as 20-23 mpg. This is right now turning out to the be the biggest case of fraud for me!!! I really don't see how this can be.

- 2014altimaandstuck, Norwalk, CT, US

problem #2

Sep 262013

Altima SL 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 0 miles

2014 Nissan Problems since lease on Sept 26, 2013 Major problem with this car is not getting close to 31/27/38 miles per gallon Nissan Mileage very, very bad city and combined not making it happen………. Steering wheel at Stop turning right to left or vise or versa makes a cluck noise Rear lamps fog up in inclement weather told normal by dealership OK Driver seat leather has a fine fabric white grayish color coming through holes in the driver seat very noticeable Steering wheel takes a very long time to get only lukewarm does not get heated up enough or fast Excessive moisture inside car during inclement weather, Frozen back windshield with ice on inside of car and in doorways……….. Dual exhaust Tips rotting away already Bose Radio System the radio has very bad reception and bad sound quality coming out of a Bose system the CD plays decent only Forgot to mention because my memory is not that good but was very important to me too…Car doesn’t have a handle above the driver’s door like the other 99% of other vehicles out there! Only noticed after I leased it. three other doors on vehicle have it but not the one I need it the most! I use it 85% of the time to get in and out of the vehicle! Also the back shelf behind the seats under the back window makes a lot of noise like its moving up and down when you close the doors on the car!

Update from Sep 24, 2014: Car keeps getting terrible mileage per gallon around city driving!

- linytonyc, Centereach, NY, US

problem #1

Nov 152013

Altima S 2.5L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 300 miles

click to see larger images

poor MPG

I leased the Nissan Altima on November 2, 2013 from Five Town Nissan. Upon taking possession, the gas Gauge showed 382 miles in the tank. I live approximately 20 miles from the dealership. I left the car with 360 miles on the readout in my driveway. The next day, the readout showed 320 miles even though I left the car with 360 mile. This occurrence continue to persist well into December. The average mile per gallon on the gauge showed 17.7 miles per gallon upon taking possession on November 2, 2013. Each week the average miles per gallon decreased, presently the gauge shows 14 miles per gallon.

The first time I filled the gas tank. the mile gauge showed 210 miles. The next time, the gauge showed 241 miles. The third time, showed 241 miles. The dealer informed me to fill the car with a high grade gas, and after I filled the tank with the next grade the gauge showed 249 miles.

I went to the dealer two weeks ago, and I was told, there is nothing wrong with the car. I was informed that the gauge is there and the readout is only an estimate, and not actual.

My problem is I traded my Jeep Grand Cherokee because I only got 11 miles per gallon. Now that i I leased a four cylinder car for its estimated 28 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, only to get 14 mpg and decrease.

i am open to any suggestions as to why a four cylinder car is only given me 14 mpg.

- Roussant M., Brooklyn, NY, US

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