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).

8.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,020
Average Mileage:
64,300 miles
Total Complaints:
35 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace transmission (24 reports)
  2. not sure (7 reports)
  3. transmission rebuild (3 reports)
  4. replace cvt sub assy (1 reports)
2016 Nissan Altima transmission problems

transmission problem

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2016 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #35

Nov 082023

Altima LX 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

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

Needed new transmission and after 16,000 miles went out again and Nissan wouldn't cover it because they only warranty new ones for 12,000 miles even after the computer in the car said it was going out after 4,000 miles what a joke I would never buy another Nissan again in my life.

- David K., BROOKVILLE, IN, US

problem #34

Dec 202019

Altima 2.5L V4

  • CVT transmission
  • 89,000 miles

Complete transmission failure. This is a known issue with most dealers and mechanics. I have it at an independent mechanic now and he says these transmissions are the worst he has seen. I called the dealer and they want to charge me over $4,000.

The problem is if I get it fixed with my mechanic and there is ever a recall I will probably only get reimbursed for $1,000. This happened with my 2010 Volkswagen CC. They offered $2,000 if VW fixed it or $1,000 if an independent fixed it.

A used transmission would be $1,000 plus labor. What then? I get 30,000 more miles and trade it in and let the next guy deal with it. I was hoping to have this car for at least 6 years.

Terrible Car.

- Kevin H., Woonsocket, RI, US

problem #33

Aug 232019

Altima 2.7L

  • CVT transmission
  • 64,000 miles

My daughter was coming home from college on the interstate with cruise on doing 72 mph and she felt this huge lunge, she described it like a horse bucking. She turned off cruise and no change. She then said the rpm went to 6k and stayed there for a few miles and the car would not accelerate. The car began to shift on its own power so she pulled over and turned off the car. She let it set for a while and started going down the interstate again. Within a couple miles the car started bucking again.

She limped the car back home doing about 20 mph and parked it. I went out the next day and started the car. The rpm's were about 1200. I called the parts store for a throttle body. Replaced the throttle body and reset the idle. Started the car, and the idle is now good. Took the car out for a ride. About 12 minutes into the ride the car started jerking really bad and lost power. Car was then very slow to accelerate, only obtaining around 20 mph. Called Nissan dealer and they said bring it in for $140 code check. I said I can go to auto zone for free so I did. They told me auto zone could not download all the codes. That's a lie! I had three code all beginning with 07 - 0744, 0715 and I believe 0776.

Nissan says the car is out of warranty and they will not replace the transmission. Cost is approximately $4200. Hopefully enough problems will be reported so Nissan will be forced to up the factory transmission warranty period to 120,000 miles instead of 60,000 just like to earlier Altima models. Do your homework before buying an Altima, folks. Will save you lots of headaches and money in the long run. I will never buy another Nissan product because of the hate and discontent I felt from the Nissan dealer when I first reported the issue.

- Rick W., Newalla, OK, US

problem #32

Sep 242019

Altima LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,500 miles

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

I brought the vehicle a little over a year ago and this is the first issue I’ve had. Had to take it to the dealership to have them see what happened. Talked to corporate and I'm waiting to see if they will cover any or all the cost. I don’t understand how a car that less than 83,000 miles to it has the transmission go. All the miles are highway miles, so there’s no real stress as I always use cruise control. In this vehicle the cruise control keeps you from hitting another car, so I never even have to hit my brakes the vehicle does all the stopping for me. I hope Nissan can help me here.

- Ernest O., Nanticoke, PA, US

problem #31

Apr 132021

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 10,109 miles

I bought my 2016 Nissan Altima with 64,000 miles two years ago. Work at my credit score and got it to where I could get it. Always liked the looks of the Altima and after I took it for a test drive I loved it. For the first two years it drove great, no problems. Then check engine light came on started idling a little higher then normal and surging forward and finally the transmission just went luckily I was at my friend's farm and thats were it's at until I can fix it. I never heard of a CVT transmission. I wish the dealer would have said something. But he's there to sale cars not tell people that the CVT TRANSMISSION SUCKS!!

- Russell M., Pipestone, MN, US

problem #30

Jun 022019

Altima SR

  • CVT transmission
  • 66,000 miles

2nd Nissan. 2nd CVT. 2nd failed transmission!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! Stop selling lemons.

- Sheena S., Baytown, US

problem #29

Jul 032018

Altima SV 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 44,306 miles

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

I purchased this vehicle on 5/21/2018 from McDonough Nissan in McDonough Georgia for the amount of $14,241. I put $1000 as a down payment, it was financed at a 17.74 APR, which brought it to a total of $26,818.46. I was told that It still had the factory warranty on the vehicle because of the miles on the vehicle when I purchased it (42,001 miles). I also paid a $699.00 customer service fee and a $1650.00 for a "First Mile" additional maintenance contract.

I took my car in to Nissan several occasions telling them that I felt a jerk while driving and it felt like something may be wrong with my transmission and the would check it each time and they would say they did not feel anything and would put on my paperwork "Customer stated feeling jerk and hearing noise while driving, could not duplicate concern". My payments were $358.00 per month and I paid on this car for a year and was never late, and when I took my car back on 5/29/19, they said they changed the transmission fluid and it did not perform and they recommend a new CVT unit. I was told this after and only after the factory so-called warranty was out, and was told that the extended warranty that I purchased did not cover the transmission - and I would have to pay $5000 out of pocket to have the transmission repaired.

I have all of my paperwork from each time I took my car there and I even tried to get them to let me trade that vehicle in and get another one, because my wife is disabled and that is the only vehicle we had in order for me to get to work and for her to get to doctor's appointments. After they would not trade it in, they said because we had only had the car for about a year and owed too much to trade BUT they put us in a 2018 Nissan Altima with a payment of $558.00 per month - AND had to put another down payment on this new car.

I feel that I have been sold a lemon and that since Nissan knew that they had a Nissan Altima CVT Litigation until I received a notice from the settlement administration. And now I have a $26,818.46 bill on my credit report for a car that was a lemon that I am responsible for paying and had not had the car a year before I start having these problem with the car and Nissan knew it. I feel that I should get the money owe for that car, my down payment back, the money I paid for the extended warranty and have it removed from my wife and my credit reports.

- Glenn J., McDonough, US

problem #28

Nov 262019

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 58,000 miles

I can't believe the transmission on my 2016 Nissan Altima went out at 58,000 miles. Yes, it was covered by Nissan. How long will the new one last? It's the same as the original. This is awful for my confidence in Nissan and its resale value. Why is the new one only good for 12 months/12,000 miles?

- crich, Commerce Township, US

problem #27

Jan 102020

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 98,151 miles

Car is barely 4 years old and CVT transmission failed at less than 100K miles. This is a KNOWN shortfall of Nissan products and the CVT transmission has been the subject of numerous lawsuits. There is a class action suit against NISSAN for the 2016 Altima's, but the mileage coverage stops at 84,000 miles. NO modern transmission should fail at less than 100,000 miles. I have previously had good experience with Nissan. My last Altima was a 2005 and I got 331K miles out of it. I own a 1999 Frontier that I bought new and it has 250,000 miles on it. I also own a 2017 Altima. My 2016 failed at 98,151 so I am excluded from the current litigation.

I contacted Nissan for a Goodwill repair, and they told me to go file for lawsuit and that the mileage was being extended for that. I checked with the lawyers on the case and that was patently false. My mileage excludes me from that settlement. So I'm out $4200 after having been a loyal Nissan customer for 20 years. Anyone reading this should SERIOUSLY reconsider buying a Nissan. The CVT transmissions are a VERY high risk venture and when they fail they are hideously expensive to replace. I've heard of some people getting upwards or 150K on theirs, but WHY would you take the risk? And given Nissan's reluctance to make even a good faith effort to help out owners, you are taking a very unnecessary risk. Unless Nissan were to make me whole on this, I'd never buy another one again. There are simply better options, better warranties, and better products out there. The CVT is just not a high mileage transmission.

- Scott P., Bainbridge, US

problem #26

Jul 262020

Altima SR 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 110,500 miles

Nissan's CVT transmissions are garbage. My Altima's trans crapped out last weekend. I am attempting to speak to Nissan regarding the issue since there was a class action lawsuit against them over these transmissions. They extended the transmission warranty to 120,000 miles, and now I am on hold trying to verify it and see what I need to do in order to have my car repaired. I will never buy another Nissan ever.

- Louis N., West Milford, US

problem #25

Apr 032020

Altima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,000 miles

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

Worst car in the world. They are manufacturing a lemon. Do not purchase this car even if it is the last resort. I would have rather paid more for a reliable vehicle.

- Coscina B., Knightdale, NC, US

problem #24

May 162020

Altima S 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 95,000 miles

I bought this car 3 months ago. The car started to stall and not want to accelerate. Took it to a Nissan Dealership and they told me it needs a new transmission, I contacted Nissan consumer affairs to see if they would cover any portion of the cost. They told me that they only extended the warranty to 84,000 miles. They should have done it to 120000 miles. I will never buy a Nissan again. They do not stand behind their vehicles.

I will let as many people know not to buy Nissan cars with CVT transmissions. They are JUNK!

- Jenny N., Chapmansboro, TN, US

problem #23

Oct 082019

Altima 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 62,200 miles

That's the worst can I could buy, paid cash and 2 more months the transmission went out, first and last Nissan on my life.

- Hardys P., Tampa, FL, US

problem #22

Jul 022019

Altima LX V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 92,000 miles

We were returning from a family vacation in Florida and the car stopped accelerating. Nissan had to replace the entire transmission.

- Bridget D., Poplarville, MS, US

problem #21

Jul 192019

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 65,454 miles

I've only had this car for almost 9 months. After I dropped my 3yr old daughter off I noticed the car jerking and shaking as I drove. I thought it was strange so I called my husband to ask him is the car safe to drive. It started to jerk more and hesitate when you hit the gas. He said it sounds like my transmission, take the car to Pep Boys and have a diagnostic done, while he calls a good friend of his that used to work at a Nissan dealership. I make it to a repair place and they say it sounds like your transmission is going bad. I get a quote of possibly $4500-$5,000 to repair it. I contact my the place I purchased the car from and then the warranty company. The warranty company advised me to take it to a dealer immediately.

As I was driving to the dealer, the car completely stalled on the interstate in Georgia during rush hour traffic. I was almost rear ended by a tractor trailer and numerous cars. After a few minutes if pressing on the gas with no luck, the car started. I continued to drive as my GPS said I was 5 minutes from the dealership and the damn car stops again and I am almost rear ended again. I can see the dealership but cannot get the car to move as I am pressing on the gas.

The car finally starts and I make it to the dealership parking lot before it shuts off again. This happened on Friday, July 19, 2019. I got a call on Saturday, July 20, 2019 saying that they are going to have to rebuild the transmission. I contacted the company I purchased the car from to inform them that they will have to give me a trade in. I refuse to keep this car.

I could have been killed. I have never been so afraid as I was this day when the car just shut off on the highway during rush hour traffic. I will NOT put my 3yr old child in this car ever again, IT IS UNSAFE. I am seeing so many complaints about this same issue. It would have been nice if Nissan would realize these transmissions are dangerous and they could get someone killed. I never want to drive this car again.

- Marissa R., Decatur, GA, US

problem #20

May 012019

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 57,598 miles

Purchased the 2016 Nissan Altima in May of 2018. The car never seemed to pickup speed when trying to accelerate in traffic. Around March or April of 2019 the car started to accelerate on its own and started to jerking and seem to feel like the car is losing power when stopped at a red light or etc. The morning of May 8, 2019 while driving to work the car jerking had gotten to the point where I didn't know if the car would stop or not. I immediately turned the car around and went back home.

Scheduled an appointment with the Nissan dealer the next day. While at the dealership I was told that it was the transmission. The car was there from May 9 until May 16th. When I picked up the vehicle, the paperwork states that it was necessary to replace CVT Sub Assy. Also replaced Transmission and other work that pertains to replacing transmission.

The car seemed to drive okay after that. Then again, a few weeks has passed and it seems as though the car is starting to repeat some of the same problems, as stated before. Acceleration and a little puttering.

I will keep an eye on these issues and hope that all will be well.

Letitia Woulard

Chicago, Illinois 60419

- Letitia W., Chicago, IL, US

problem #19

Apr 172019

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 42,000 miles

I would not consider buying a Nissan with this type of transmission, and me and my family have always owned Nissan until now. I just bought this car and signed papers and it went out the next week literally. Took it to a dealership because it was acting like it didn't want to accelerate and they said transmission was bad and it would be 5,000. We were on vacation so its sitting in another state. Just made my first payment and have no car!!!

- Veronica V., Carrollton, US

problem #18

Apr 192019

Altima SR 2.5L I4

  • CVT transmission
  • 26,000 miles

WHILE IN MOTION GOING FREEWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND JUTTERS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN CRUISING SPEED AND RPMS FLUCTUATED INTENSELY UP AND DOWN. FELT VERY UNSAFE WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND FEARED OTHER VEHICLES COULD HAVE STRUCK ME WHILE HAVING NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE SPEED.

BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND CONFIRMED IT IS AN ISSUE WITH CVT TRANSMISSION REQUIRING $4K CVT TRANSMISSION SUB-ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT, LUCKILY COVERED UNDER 5 YEAR, 60K MILE WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE SEEMS COMMON WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND NISSAN SHOULD HAVE ITS POWER TRAIN CVT TRANSMISSION WARRANTY EXTENDED ON NEWER MODELS TO 10 YEARS, 120,000 MILES JUST LIKE THE 2003-2010 YEAR MODELS WITH THE CVT HAVE RECEIVED.

- Tony H., Elk Grove, US

problem #17

Nov 302018

Altima SR

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I bought this car new and last November started having some transmission problems. I do a lot of highway driving, but I noticed if I was in stop and go traffic, the transmission would start to give me problems. Once I struggled to go up a hill but it finally started to correct itself. Even the engine light appeared, but went off later that day. I was getting rid of the car, so I never went to have it checked out.

- Paul G., Haverford, PA, US

problem #16

Apr 012019

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 30,000 miles

I bought my 2016 Nissan Altima only a year ago from the dealership with extended warranty included. For the most part, it had been wonderful. Anyway, when I started and drove the car on Sunday, I was not able to accelerate it. I got to the highest speed of 10MPH. No matter how hard I pressed on the gas pedal, it would not drive more than 10MPH. I used my OBD2 code reader and found that there were two OBD2 codes: P2101 and P507. When brought to the dealership, they told me that the transmission need to be replaced. I was so upset since the car is only ~30K. Even though the repair will be covered by standard warranty, I expect such a problem would not exist for such mileage.

- traucon@yahoo.com, Egg Harbor Township, US

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