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.

Owners are complaining about transmission problems related to the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,189 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Nissan Altima engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #78

Jan 162024

Altima

  • miles

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

Car just randomly -?? gave -?? out. I couldn-??t accelerate in the middle of intestate traffic !! The engine and the transmission blew at the same time. No warning, no check engine light ! Up to date on oil changes and other maintenance. Car only has 150k miles on it, no way this both happens at the same time. Complete limp mode. Danger to myself and most importantly my kids. How the engine and transmission just fails. Now I-??m liable to pay 9,000, no warning no nothing. Complete failure. This isn-??t the first time I-??ve heard of this year make and model having transmission and engine issues. How terrible!

- Beloit, WI, USA

problem #77

Dec 212023

Altima

  • miles
Car will either not start or heists to start code with check engine light is P0340 for camshaft position sensor I have already replaced this once before 2yrs ago it should not need to be replaced again so soon. I have read online where others with same make and model cars having similar issues and their cars stalled while driving mine hasn't as of yet, but could when I take to mechanic shop. This is a major safety problem. There has been a recall but not for my year model car and needs to be fixed for more cars are having similar issues and is a major concern. Please look more in to this thank you.

- Pryor, OK, USA

problem #76

Dec 162023

Altima

  • miles
If I'm in city traffic with lots of traffic and a red light for a while or in a drive thru, my car takes longer to accelerate after coming to a complete stop. I'll push the gas pedal in to go and it takes a few seconds to get moving up to normal acceleration speed. The first few seconds of pushing the gas pedal my car barely moves, similar to idling forward without gas, even if I floor it, but once it gets going it drives normally. It works well driving long distance and only happens on stop and go trafffic and at a drive thru. I have a 2016 Nissan Altima SV 2.5.

- Elizabeth City, NC, USA

problem #75

Dec 092023

Altima

  • miles

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

I have a 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5SR and have noticed every time I'm on the interstate and I have driven at least 70 miles of driving distance, the vehicle will all of sudden lose power and the accelerator will be all the way down and it won't go any faster. So, if the speed limit is 70mph and will automatically drop down to 60 and it has done this in front of an 18-wheeler one time scared me to death. Mind you no warning lights come on or anything it just loses power Nissan really needs to resolve this issue and fix it before someone gets seriously injured. Now Iam a disabled driver and I'm not trying hurt myself even further or loss of life.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #74

Oct 182023

Altima

  • miles
Failure in active grill shutter. National issue.

- Eastvale, CA, USA

problem #73

Sep 182023

Altima

  • miles
Vehicle will delay acceleration when I have stopped at a stop sign or stop light especially if I was stopped on a hill. When I press the gas pedal it will delay acceleration for a couple of seconds and then finally take off. It was happening every so often but now it is happening more often. If I turn the car off and start it again, it goes away for a little while but comes back. The check engine light doesn't come on when this happens.

- Inwood, WV, USA

problem #72

Aug 242023

Altima

  • miles

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

I was driving on the freeway with my 6yr & 11yr daughters when my car stop accelerating and started to slow down I-??ll hit the gas pedal and the RPMS will go up but the car wouldn-??t advance ! I had to get off the freeway before the car completely stopped in the middle of the freeway as the velocity of the vehicle was getting slower and slower ! Take in mind I try to do this as safe as possible but my car was in the far end of the emergency lane I almost got rear ended my kids were crying scare ! I turn off the car once to the side of the freeway check the hood and nothing out of the ordinary. Turn the car back on and it was driving normal ! On the next day that-??s when the check engine light turn on ! Took it to the dealer and they told me I need a complete new transmission!

- Sylmar, CA, USA

problem #71

Aug 082023

Altima

  • miles
From the Last 1 months, I can see sometimes when I accelerate my car it's not accelerating properly but the RPM is increasing, and sometimes after I stop in traffic when I accelerate my car it's not accelerating immediately and when I press the gas paddle hard suddenly it accelerates. It's a safety concern for me.

- West Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #70

May 042023

Altima

  • miles
2016 Nissan Altima SR has a delayed acceleration issue that nearly caused me to be broadsided while making a left turn. The issue has been ongoing for years and when taken into the dealership they claimed to not be able to reproduce the failure. This is because the issue is sporadic and unpredictable when it may occur. There are many forums I have found identifying a great deal of others experiencing the same failure. This needs to be corrected by Nissan.

- Vancleave, MS, USA

problem #69

Apr 252023

Altima

  • miles
I-??m starting to experience issues with the CTV transmission. I-??m experiencing jerking and stalling while driving on a busy highway with cars traveling 55mph or more. It is extremely dangerous driving when these things occur when cars are traveling at those speeds and the vehicle hesitate without warning.

- Opalocka, FL, USA

problem #68

Oct 102022

Altima

  • miles

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

I believe The failure that i'm experiencing is with the vehicle's transmission. The car stalls or refuses to shift gears, has trouble accelerating, and when the car is trying to accelerating the car makes an unfamiliar noise which is quiet loud and noticeable and sometimes shake or full on just pushes forward randomly. I believe the safety for mine and others can be at risk at times because they would be times where the car will not accelerate, even when your foot is pushed all the way on the pedal and as a result the car begins to slow down. This is can be risk depending on where you're driving for an example if you're on the highway or a congested area going at a specified speed. From my understanding after doing research I have found out that several others have been experiencing this same problem, so to my understanding this is a common issue and I'm not sure why it was never addressed. I have taken the car to a mechanic where they said the problem is the CVT Transmission. The Check Engine Light is on. This vehicle has not been in an accident.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #67

Mar 242023

Altima

  • miles
Vehicle will delay acceleration when I have stopped at a stop sign or stop light. When I press the gas pedal it will delay acceleration for a couple of seconds and then final take off. It doesn't happen often and I find that if I turn the engine off and wait a few minutes and start it again, it goes away for several days but does return.

- Sapulpa, OK, USA

problem #66

Mar 042023

Altima

  • miles
Transmission problem.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #65

Jun 282020

Altima

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and the RPM-€™s revved up and the vehicle started shuddering. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle, the accelerator pedal was depressed and went all the way to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle two more times. The failure persisted but the contact was able to continue driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mass airflow sensor and intake manifold were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact referenced Nissan Technical Service Bulletin Number: NTB16-121a. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Meraux, LA, USA

problem #64

Nov 112022

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
I only had my vehicle(2016NissanAltima) for less than 2 weeks before the vehicles major problems started. The engine consistently Stalls, Surges and Shudders. As well as the Shifter locking itself to where it wont shift out of park. There are no and have never been any warning lights to alert me. The CVT and the Computer are very faulty. To the point the vehicle is now a Death Trap. When driving the car the RPM will randomly accelerate and I have no way to control the vehicle and then vehicle will go into "Limp Mode" consistently and won't go any faster or slower than the speed the car chooses to do. I don't trust anything of what it says on the dashboard as far as Gas amount, Odometer, MILWarnings, Speed or otherwise. If there are no warnings from the car to alert me with, then that is a major issue with the car and is not mechanically sound and very dangerous for me and other drivers on the road. I have had to make the car sit the majority of the short time I have had it. Because I simply won't drive very far because of the dangers it puts me in everytime I have drove it. I have had to spend my money on transportation to and from work instead of making my first car payment. At this point I want to just Opt-out with the vehicle entirely and give it back to the dealership. This car is just unsafe and should not have been sold in the condition it is in. I only got to drive the vehicle 10 days or so before major issues started with the vehicle. I have not a clue what the details of what is wrong with the car. The only warning signal I do see now, is the MIL and that is not even mentioned in the option menu of the car settings etc. This car needs to be re-manufactured so that it can become a safe running vehicle. I don't have the money that it will take to fix the car. It's far too expensive for me or any hard working citizen to ever afford. I don't advise anyone to own a vehicle of this kind.

- Chehalis, WA, USA

problem #63

Aug 152022

Altima

  • miles
The vehicle will randomly stop accelerating while driving. Also will have a delayed acceleration randomly too.

- Sandy, UT, USA

problem #62

Jul 012022

Altima

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and after turning on the air conditioner, the vehicle intermittently stalled with no warning lights illuminated. The contact then stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the check engine light was illuminated as the vehicle was stalling. The contact stated that despite depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate and then lost motive power. The contact managed to pull over and after successfully restarting the vehicle, the check engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer for diagnosis or repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

- Hildebran, NC, USA

problem #61

Jul 062022

Altima

  • miles
Car will not accelerate when depressing gas pedal. Will hesitate from 1 to 5 seconds. Example, driving on the freeway doing 60 mph changing lanes and lose acceleration. This happens at dead stop to 60 mph. MAJOR safety concerns. Brought my vehicle to Nissan dealership and the issue came back the next day. My vehicle is 2016 Nissan Altima

- Bremerton , WA, USA

problem #60

Jun 302022

Altima

  • miles
Vehicle jerks as RPM needle rapidly bounces between 10rpm and 40rpm when accelerating, sometimes subtle jerk when decelerating.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #59

Mar 012021

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
After some driving specially in hot temperature or after long distances, the engine becomes nonresponsive. Particularly when it comes to a complete stop, there is a delay between pushing the gas pedal and when the car starts to move. The delay can be as long as few seconds. This problem does not happen all the time but happens quite often in hot weather and long driving. It is very dangerous. In one occasion I was trying to make a left turn against the coming traffic, I had to make a short break for a pedestrian and then my car did not move and a fast coming traffic almost hit my car as I could not move fast enough due to the transmission delay. I took it to Nissan dealership last year. They did some minor work and it was fixed for a while but the issue is back again. I took it to Nissan dealership for repair last month but they could not reproduce the error code by just driving around for few minutes. They refused to fix it. I complained to Nissan and have talked to few representative about the safety issue I have with this car. They refused to take it seriously and they tell me that unless the dealership can produce the error code they can not fix it. This car is putting the safety of my family and myself in risk and Nissan does not care. Please let me know what I should do. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Monroe, NY, USA

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