CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2015 Nissan Altima shows multiple problem trends, continuing the poor reputation of the 2013 & 2014 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).

7.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,000
Average Mileage:
50,300 miles
Total Complaints:
28 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (20 reports)
  2. replace transmission (5 reports)
  3. replace valve body (2 reports)
  4. replaced transmission (1 reports)
2015 Nissan Altima transmission problems

transmission problem

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2015 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

Feb 082023

Altima Limited 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

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

My vehicle had recall on Transmission. The Nissan dealership where I purchased, BLEW ME OFF.. ..I went to another Nissan dealership took my vehicle. Only to find out that CVT and Transmission was DEFECTIVE. They vehicle OVER HEATS, AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON!!, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON!!. Even after I filed complaint with Connecticut Highway Safety, Ct Department of Motor vehicle, which told me to SUE THEM. Filed complaint with Nissan of North America Ref# 48208304 twice. I have this vehicle only 4 yrs and NOBODY wants to fix MY VEHICLE. Was told he repair could be over $1,500. Nissan won't give you loaner vehicle until repair are done, Won't reimburse you for rental vehicle. I had to pay for (3) Rental that and had my vehicle towed to dealership ( Electric smell from engine/Smoke ) . Also, I found out that my Airbag lights was just turned off ( NEVER FIXED ) AND ITS STILL ON!!!

- Cynthia H., Monroe, US

problem #27

Jun 072021

Altima SV 2.5L 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 81,000 miles

My wife was driving my 2015 Nissan Altima on 6/7/2021. About 30 minutes into her 45 minute commute to work, the engine started "revving up", and lost acceleration. She had to pull off the rode, and was stuck on an exit ramp. A police officer pushed her car to a safer area, and told her to remain in the vehicle. She called AAA to have it towed (no charge) to the nearest Nissan dealer, which was St. Charles Nissan in Missouri. I received a call the next day, and they said the transmission had to be replaced, at no charge, as it fell under an extended warranty issued by Nissan USA (6 years or 84,000).

My car had 81,xxx miles on it. This was AFTER an earlier CVT repair (at a different dealership) about 2 weeks prior, where I was driving and experienced sluggish starts (at stop lights), and the engine revving up to 5,000 RPM and barely moving. Luckily for me, I pulled into a gas station, turned it off, and turned it back on. NO ISSUE. Spent a lot of time researching the various CVT issues, including this site. The Altima is one of Nissan's best sellers, but they are losing a TON of money with all these various CVT problems. Nissan: PLEASE FIX THESE ISSUES BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.

- Jim P., Collinsville, IL, US

problem #26

Jul 182019

Altima S 3.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,432 miles

I have barely escaped many accidents due to stalling at takeoffs. It will also drop to low gear and make a loud grinding noise, while going less than 5mph! On top of that, the freaking headlights are so dim that I wasted money at the optometrist. I have missed out on so many events thinking I had poor night vision and all the time it’s been failed headlights!!!

- Falen J., North Little Rock, US

problem #25

Aug 182019

Altima S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

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

click to see larger images

hesitates/sputters

When I bought my 2015 Altima in January of 2018, the CVT recall had already been fixed. 1 year later August 2019, it failed again & Nissan refuses to fix it for me. They want to charge me $126 to diagnose it, then they told me it could cost up to another $500-$600 to fix. Apparently, I don't qualify for the lawsuit that is going around for the voucher or extended warranty. So I now have to pay for the part myself which only costs $60 & transmission fluid & pay my father in law who's a retired mechanic to fix it. Thanks Nissan! Maybe they should get better parts so their cars won't keep breaking down! 😠

- Charissa A., Salt Lake City, UT, US

problem #24

Jun 102019

Altima S 2.5L-Liter Direct Injecti

  • CVT transmission
  • 123,972 miles

I bought a used 2015 Nissan Altima in February of 2019 and on June 10, 2019 my CVT Transmission failed. My car had been shuttering and stalling for about a week and I scheduled an appointment with a reputable, local transmission repair shop to get it checked out. They told me that I would have to take my car to a Nissan Dealership because Nissan would not sell their shop the parts to fix my transmission issues. So I called my local Nissan Dealer and scheduled a service department check. The Nissan shop looked at my car and told me I would need a complete new CVT Transmission install at a cost of $4,654.83. The dealer told me to call 1-800-NISSAN-1 and check to see if I could get help covering the costs of my transmission repairs from Nissan USA. they all but laughed at me on the phone. My car currently has 123,972 miles on it. It only had 120,000 on it when I bought the car in February of 2019. I feel like the transmission should last longer than 123,972 Miles.My daily commute to work and back home is only 9.5 miles a day. I've only driven the car 3,972 miles since I bought it. I feel like Nissan should replace my CVT Transmission due to something my service advisor and a salesperson at the dealership told me. It seems that Nissan imported CVT Transmissions from Mexico from 2012-2016 and all these CVT transmissions were defective. Nissan then contacted with a manufactorer in China to start making their CVT Transmissions and they got it right. So I have crappy Mexican CVT transmission in my car that doesn't work any longer.

- Eric M., Baton Rouge, US

problem #23

Sep 122018

Altima S 2.4L

  • CVT transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Nissan never fixed the CVT transmission problem. You can find complaints of problems up to 2018 + . Extended warranty for this only goes up to 2014. What about the rest of us with 2015 and up models?

- Michael L., Palmetto, FL, US

problem #22

Jul 012018

Altima S 4 Cy

  • CVT transmission
  • 105,000 miles

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

The transmission would stall from taking off from a stop. It didn't send any warning lights. The dealer stated they could not repair it because it didn't send any warnings. I needed to drive it until it failed. Awful idea if the car were to stall in an intersection. I was the only one to drive the car, it was maintained according to service records. The transmission failure is understood to be a common problem with this car. What a waste of time and money.

- Ralph T., Lincoln, CT, US

problem #21

Feb 242019

Altima S 2.4L 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 76,800 miles

This vehicle has had its issues all transmission related. Nissan are a bunch of asshats for not issuing a recall on the 2013-2015 CVT all garbage. I can be flooring the gas and it will not accelerate at some times which is scary especially driving on the highway. How do they sleep at night knowing this trash tech they put in this vehicle is dangerous. It happens daily and I will continue to post this daily from here on out until they do something about it. Never buying another Nissan again. Absolute garbage considering I’ve spent money on doing the proper maintenance in a timely manner. Can’t wait to get rid of this crap or there be a recall.

- Will H., Casselberry, US

problem #20

Jun 042018

Altima SV 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 52,000 miles

Happens only in warm/hot weather or long drives, and also in stop and go traffic. Here's what happens: Stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, I would push the gas pedal and nothing would happen for about 5 seconds then it would kick in and accelerate. One hot day in stop and go traffic, I went to accelerate after a stop sign and the car wouldn't go pass 10 miles an hour with the pedal to the floor. I pulled over, shut off the car, and re-started. The car was "normal" again. Next day drove it to the dealer and they diagnosed the problem with a faulty control valve assembly in the transmission. The repair was under warranty, and I had the car back later in the afternoon.

Update from Mar 8, 2021: Update: well it happened again at 96K miles, this time it started jerking and shuttering as I was leaving my house, I turned around and drove it to the nearest service station. My mechanic took it for a test drive around the block and the transmission died,had to tow it back to the shop. I'm done with Nissan. I had an extended Nissan warranted to 84K miles.Thanks for nothing.

- photocat, Clifton, NJ, US

problem #19

Mar 022018

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 26,000 miles

Nissan corporate sent their tech out to look at the car cause the dealer couldn't find any problems. Corporate got there and spent a whole 40 min on checking the computer and said there are no codes so the car is fine. The gas mileage is supposed to be 28 city and 37 highway but we actually get 19/20 city and about 30 highway. The dealership says that's driver habit. I said to take the car for a day and try to get the mileage your stating but they wouldn't. I convinced them to give me an Altima loaner and with that car we got 26.5 mpg city. And it was night and day difference how they shifted and more power. But Nissan refuses to say there is a problem. Now I have no solution. It's been in the shop at least 6 times with no luck. They did say there was a bad valve body in trans with only 25000 miles and they replaced it with no change to trans ot mileage.

- Vin R., Taylors, US

problem #18

Jul 312018

Altima S 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,346 miles

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

My car has no acceleration and dies when I try to start the car. Replaced mass air flow sensor and does same thing.

- Mauro V., Vallejo, US

problem #17

Dec 092015

Altima SV 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 300 miles

My 2015 Nissan Altima had a recall for CVT transmission software reprogramming in 2016 and I took it to the Apple Nissan, in which they said it was replaced, along with other recall issues. This happened only when I was stuck in traffic, the car would spell like anti freeze, and won't accelerate. This a definite safety issue, as I could not drive the car and I would have to pull over and stop and restart the car. It is year 3, and it continues with the same issue after 2-4 times of being repaired.

- rsfranklin73, Red Lion, US

problem #16

Jan 172017

Altima L4 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 75,500 miles

My 2015 Nissan Altima had a recall for CVT transmission software reprogramming last February in 2017 and I took it in. Previous to this, I would have issues when the car would stutter and get out of gear and keeping revving. This happened only when I was on surface streets, but was a definite safety issues, as I could not drive the car and I would have to pull over and stop and restart the car.

This January, I was getting on a busy freeway in Southern CA with two other people in my vehicle and my fiance was driving the car immediate went out of gear and kept revving. I thought we were going to get hit by another car or killed even. We had to pull over and stop and restart the car. We drove the car further and it happened again and the check engine light came on.

I went to a Nissan dealership to diagnose the car (which I was charged $150 for) and they told me it was a TSB (technical service bulletin regarding the CVT) and best case scenario was a $1400 valve body repair or worst case, $4800 transmission repair. My car was outside the 60,000 mile warranty, so this was on me according to Nissan.

I have owned Japanese cars all my life and never been quoted a 4 figure dollar repair on a car at 75,000 miles. My personal mechanic who only services Japanese cars, said it was ridiculous for any kind of thousand dollar repair at a car that was not even fully three years old and had only 75,000 miles on it. I contacted Nissan No. America with hopes they would help me as this is a definite safety issue. After going through the process of dealing with their consumer reps, I was denied monetary help for repair first and lastly was denied offer to buy back car upon second review with their consumer department. I am beyond pissed and frustrated.

This is a definite safety issue that they have had in the past with Altima and other model Nissans and also Infiniti with their CVT transmissions failing. As I am still making payments on this car, I am stuck at this point. I purchased this car used. I have no idea what I should do because I don't even know if paying to fix valve body or transmission will solve the problem. Nissan does not stand behind their cars or care about their customers' safety.

I will never buy another Nissan again after what I have been through with their service and consumer department at the corporate level.

- Kelley U., Foothill Ranch, CA, US

problem #15

Jun 012016

Altima SL V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 47,000 miles

I purchased this 2015 Nissan Altima in 2016. The problem started a week after purchasing. I started noticing that every time I drove under 25 miles, the car would hesitate as though it is not getting enough gas. I’ve been to the Nissan Dealer 3 times with this issue and each time I was told that there was nothing wrong with the car. I took it to two different dealers and was told the same thing. I had the technician to drive the car with me in it and he experienced the problem. He told me that this was normal for the CVT transmission is programmed to save on gas. This is why the car gets good gas mileage. He also said that all the new cars are like this. I didn’t buy this for I have driven other cars and never had this problem. I am going to take my car to an outside mechanic for evaluation for my warranty is still in effect. I am so frustrated. I paid too much for this car and afraid to drive it for fear of it cutting off in traffic when turning a corner or having to drive at speeds under 25 mph.

- Jacqueline H., Jacksonville, US

problem #14

Aug 182017

Altima SV 4

  • CVT transmission
  • 60,000 miles

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CAR, BUT JUST SOMETIMES VERY SCARY TO DRIVE, DUE TO IT SOMETIMES

DOES NOT ACCELERATE, WHEN YOU ARE AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT DOES NOT MOVE, WHILE EVERYONE IN BACK OF YOU THINKS YOU'RE NOT AWAKE AT A STOP LIGHT AND ABOUT TO HIT YOU. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IF YOU BUY A NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A CV TRANSMISSION...

- Carla V., Tucson, US

problem #13

Sep 072017

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 67,000 miles

very dangerous situation !!!

I was driving the car and suddenly my car would not accelerate. I pushed the gas pedal all the way down and I got very little power, just enough to pull over, mileage 67,000. No warning lights ever came on.

I waited 15 mins and restarted the car and it drove good, it happens sporadically. I spoke to a mechanic at Nissan and he stated,

'if no lights are on, then it is due to the high temperature of the transmission fluid. as the fluid heats, its expands so much that the transmission thinks it has been overfilled which causes these problems. According to Nissan Engineers, all they have to do was lower the level of the CVT Transmission fluid. as for

for why this happens to CVT Transmission unknown. this is a easy fix that your dealer can fix for $387' .....

I was blown away with his answer and I took it to have an transmission flush, I'm hoping this is the end of that! CVT 's are crap.

- Sandra J., West Covina, US

problem #12

Aug 012016

Altima S 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

When I stop for a red light, and then press the accelerator and it wont even go over 10 mph. I pull over for a second and put the car in park. I try again and same thing occurs.So I pull over and cut off the car. The car seems to have a gear/transmission problem. I can't believe a 2 years old car is having these types of issues.

- Pamela S., Baltimore, MD, US

problem #11

Apr 052017

Altima S 2.5

  • CVT transmission
  • 49,710 miles

It seems to only happen in warm weather. Had the car for exactly 1 year. Got it April 2016 now April 2017. When I first got the car it was fine for about a month. Got it used 46k on it, noticed that when I was on a long drive which I do a lot for work, I would be at a red light, it would turn green I would push the gas pedal and nothing would happen for about 5 seconds then it would kick in and take off. Happened about 1 time every 3 days. Then it would be fine. Found a quick solution would be to turn of the car and start it again. Like this most of the summer. When it started to get cold the problem seemed to disappear. All winter no problems none at all! Then it started to warm up and it's happened 2 times in 3 days. No warranty left on the car and can't afford to replace transmission. So I deal with it. Fix it when it breaks I guess...

- Luke J., Brampton, ON, Canada

problem #10

Mar 152017

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 32,000 miles

Had recall to update Trans. Car is terrible when accelerating from 10-40 mph and 3.5 miles per gallon less. It feels like doesn't shift while hesitating until it reaches about 42/44 mph. Dealer says car has no problem and no codes. Car drove excellent until update for 32000 miles now terrible for about 2000 afterwards.

- Leo A., West Melbourne, US

problem #9

Mar 012017

Altima SL 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

Happens occasionally, Sometimes I am driving and it hesitates for a minute, then resumes

- 1lofton, St. Charles, MO, US

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