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).

7.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$870
Average Mileage:
69,500 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace compressor (6 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
  3. replace blend door actuator (1 reports)
2015 Nissan Altima AC / heater problems

AC / heater problem

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2015 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 012019

Altima S Special Edition

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

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

I have a 2015 Nissan Altima S Special Edition and I bought it in 2016. So in 3 years I wouldn't expect to be having issues with my vehicle one that I paid $30,000 for! Right now the most frustrating is the AC not working. Its blows out vent air but it doesn't get cold anymore. We added freon and still nothing. The compressor is working so its not that. The mechanics are at a loss as to what it could be. And I sure in the hell don't have the extra money to keep dumping into this car when my payments are $400 a month already! This was my first Nissan and it will for sure be my last!

- Cara M., Kampsville, IL, US

problem #10

Jun 252019

Altima SV

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,500 miles

I live in Florida so it's very hot! I leave for work at 5:30AM so it never really seemed to be a problem with the AC. In the afternoon it didn't seem to get cold, but, I only work 8 miles from home. Until recently, when my mom passed in Pennsylvania, I have been making many trips back and forth from Florida to Pennsylvania and that is when I noticed my AC didn't seem to work all the time. A few days ago, it stopped all together and blows only hot air! Stopped at a garage locally and he tested and said it was the compressor. I told him I had some recalls I had to have completed and I wanted to see with dealer if anything was covered!

Called for recall and asked about compressor. Of course it is 3years/36,000 miles. The person on the phone told me it was because it is so hot in Florida and it runs a lot!! LOL I'm a woman but I'm not that stupid!!

- Robyn P., Palm Coast, FL, US

problem #9

Oct 012018

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 87,000 miles

For all Nissan Altimas that have been having issues with the AC for ex. the blowing of hot air in the vehicle, there is ways to trouble shoot the issue without going to the dealer. The service advisors are there to make money for the company and also take a good commission home. But for those of us who would like to save some money while actually getting to the bottom of the issue, here are some tips. I will start with what happen to my Nissan Altima 2015 SL 2.5. The car would blow hot air on a hot air all of a sudden. I checked the freon and while i could add more it was not low. Decided to add one more can on my own, they are cheap to buy and the hose is also pretty cheap. Needless to say please buy one that has a gauge to make sure you don't over fill because that can cause a mayor problem too.

Once you have made sure you have the right amount of freon next step to make sure its not your compressor it to run you vehicle with the AC on. Quick tip, you Do Not have to have it at full blast and I will explain why a little later. set it to half or less in blow settings. If it does get at all fresh at least you must open hood and make sure the AC line is cold. If the line is cold you know the compressor is good. If the line did not cool off then the compressor is shot, in which case you will have to replace sorry to tell you. But if your line is cold the compressor is working.

Next step is testing the AC in different speeds on the blow motor. My AC seemed to work on all settings except when I put it on the 2 highest levels of blowing, in which all it would blow is hot air and in every other setting the car would blow cold air. In which case i would the the blend door actuator was really the problem. This part controls the temperature of air the car blows and for some reason it gets stuck in hot when you push the blower to high. This part can go for different prices between 40- 100 depending on where you get it and if its used or new. It can still be a little pricey but beats buying a new compressor and still having the problem.

I always recommend trying to fix the problem with the cheapest route instead of spending so much money to still be stuck with the same problem.

- Samuel A., Houston, US

problem #8

Aug 202018

Altima SV 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 78,000 miles

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

I have other issues with this car. Wheel bearings, Nissan said not covered. Rust on the trunk, not covered. Now a/c not working. Took it to an auto center, charged it up and said it is ok. Next day, no a/c. I think that the car needs to be recalled and a refund for the high cost of a lemon. I would complain to Nissan but they will brush me off as they have before. They would not cover anything I took to them before. Beware people, stay away from Nissan. Bad cars, bad warranty, bad company to deal with. They want your money, after that you are on your own. I am calling the place that fixed the a/c and see if they will fix it without a ridiculous charge.

- David B., Xenia, US

problem #7

Jul 262018

Altima ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles

My air conditioner blows air but it's not cold. I took the car to the dealership and was told that the compressor has a hole in it. The hole is in the back of the compressor and not in the front, where it could have been caused by a rock or something. The dealership told me that the part is covered by warranty, but, the part is back ordered and they do not know how many WEEKS I'll have to wait for the part. I'm thinking if this is a back ordered part, that this issue is happening a lot and is due to failure of the part.

- Philip M., Prospect Park, US

problem #6

May 132018

Altima S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

THIS IS THE SAME AS MANY OTHERS THAT I READ ON THIS SITE. I HAVE A 2015 ALTIMA AND LAST SUMMER MY AIR CONDITIONER DIDN'T SEEM TO BE COOLING. I TALKED TO MY DAD AND BROTHER-IN-LAW AND THEY BOTH SAID MY CAR WASN'T OLD ENOUGH TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT OUTSIDE. NOW ANOTHER SUMMER, SAME PROBLEM BUT WORSE. BARELY COOL AIR. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CHECKED SYSTEM AND NUMBERS VERY OFF. NOW HAVE BEEN ADVISED COMPRESSOR GOING OUT. JUST GREAT. I NEVER TAKE MY CAR TO NISSAN PLACE IN MY AREA BECAUSE THE SEVERAL TIMES I TRIED AT FIRST, THEY WERE NEITHER HELPFUL OR FRIENDLY. NO MORE NISSAN. SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH GMC OR CHEVY.

- Lori H., Harrisburg, AR, US

problem #5

Apr 012018

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 99,800 miles

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

I have had a bunch of Nissans so I figured, hey, why not try an Altima, even though it is clunker of the millennium, I gave it a shot. AC blew HOT, like HOT HOT. I thought it was Freon. Nope. Control assembly replacement, part $800, didn't pay. Under warranty. Closer to warranty now, as it ends at 100,000, guess what? Compressor is bad, under warranty. So after this Im out of warranty I hope to God nothing else goes bad.

- Kwame M., Charlotte, NC, US

problem #4

Sep 062017

Altima SV

  • CVT transmission
  • 48,000 miles

The problem started last summer. My car would blow cold air while the car was in motion but, when sitting in traffic or idle in my car, it would blow hot air. In the Houston, TX heat this doubles the temperature. I finally was able to bring it in to get it checked. I thought it might be a fan or something simple. The compressor quit working, and it needs to be fixed. My car is only 3 years old and I don't know a lot about cars but I'm sure this is way too soon for this to happen. Hopefully this New Compressor will last longer than 3 years!!!

- Elizabeth R., Houston, US

problem #3

Sep 022016

Altima SV 2.5L Sv

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

Just like the other two complaints, I had my Nissan checked back in Sep 2016 and mentioned to check a/c because I feel that the air is not cold as it's supposed to be. Mind you it was 27000 miles around that time. Nissan said they've checked and nothing wrong with it. Winter months came around of course no issues. But now that Jun- July 3017 hits I have to constantly turn on and off ac to see if it'll blow cold air. The 60 degrees ac temp is almost feeling like in the 70 degree bracket.

So decided to take my car to an automotive shop because I can't stand the issue ... too hot to be having this issue in August here in Texas. So I decided to take it to an automotive shop and the verdict is not low freon, which I thought was the only problem. Found no leak in the ac system but now my compressor is not working the way it should and needs replacement. Mind you now my car is 39k miles just ran out of warranty. So called Sterling McCall Nissan and said it's not covered in warranty no more. The repair for this is approx. $1100. Just can't believe that in 39k mikes this compressor will go out. It's sad. I agree that there should be a recall on this.

Another friend of mine is having same issues with her 2015 Nissan Frontier.

Nissan should really into this issue ..... Sad. It makes me wonder now if I should stick with a Honda and Toyota. Sad :(

- Lizel D., Richmond, Texas, US

problem #2

Jun 172017

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 80,000 miles

same as another complaint from texas. AC works well except with it about 100 degrees and in traffic or idling in parking lot. Just blows hot air. I took it to nissan vacaville last year for some problem. it was a cool day. they said the ac works just as designed.

this summer same situation. Hot and car not rolling. AC only blows hot. I drove around the block 3 time and the ac started working and stayed working even after I stopped and idled in the parking lot.

Seem like something not able to function unless air is coming into from of vehicle while moving. Same situation on highway and stopped for traffic. Blows hots when most needed, hot about 100 degrees.

I am going back into to vacaville nissan to let them look at it again, but I dont have any faith in Nissan AC

Update from Jul 16, 2017: I took it to the nissan dealer. I was a cooler day. Not 100. only about 85. They recommended a flush and check. $160. Then they said, that the clutch on the compressor seems to not be engaging and I would have to replace the compressor for $700 parts and $700 labor total $1,400.00.

I did not buy the extended warranty since i have good luck with nissans before. But now I am not sure if I want to have it replaced especially since it was cool day and I doubt it was having the problem. My guess it is something it the computer and the AC is shutting down when really hot to save emmission or something. When the car is moving at at least 10-15 miles per hour the AC works just fine even if above a 100. I think the Japanese never have it hot and the engineers have not designed it well.

I think it should be recalled.

for now I am going to suffer when it hot and take alternate routes to keep the car rolling. and hope for cooler weather. If below 95 it works fine. if on the freeway at 70 mph, works great. sitting in the driveway on 100 degree day, no cooling at all.

- Joe K., Vacaville, US

problem #1

Aug 012016

Altima S 2.5s

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

Hey Everyone, I have 2015 Nissan Altima 2.5S and right now on my car around 81000 miles. I bought this car on May, 2015. I am having trouble with my AC when temperature is too hot outside 100 degree in Texas sometimes it's blewing hot air. specially when I am stuck in traffic, moving slow. I have to turn off and turn on again then it's worked but sometimes it's blew only hot air. I took my car to Nissan dealership and Firestone, Midas but they told me Freon was low and after re-checking they come up with AC compressor not working in your car. If AC compressor is not working then why it's working most of the time? when I told them it has to be malfunction problem or recall. Nissan has to do something about it. I called Nissan Customer service but they can't help me out for this problem. That's sound crazy.. Please never buy your next car Nissan. Their customer support and parts are not so good as i thought. I don't know what I'm going to do now. Please let me know if anyone has same problem. or If you had found any solution comment here.. Thanks.

- nickpatel, Bedford, TX, US

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