COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Nissan Altima transmission problems

241 distinct owner reports with a transmission-specific component in this snapshot.

General power-train reports are not automatically counted as transmission problems. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

16 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

157 reports with mileage · 84 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

241 reports
2007 model year · 18,587 miles · Dec 7, 2009
Power Train

I OWN A 2007 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION NISSAN ALTIMA THAT PERSISTENTLY MALFUNCTIONS. SINCE THAT NOVEMBER DATE AND HAVING REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 5, 2009, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS WITH PASSENGERS, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT, WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, NOR REL…

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I OWN A 2007 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION NISSAN ALTIMA THAT PERSISTENTLY MALFUNCTIONS. SINCE THAT NOVEMBER DATE AND HAVING REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 5, 2009, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS WITH PASSENGERS, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT, WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, NOR RELEASE FROM THE POSITION IT WAS IN. AFTER REPEATEDLY RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME UNDER WARRANTY REPAIR, THE SAME PROBLEM PERSISTS TO DATE! DESPITE THE DEALERSHIPS CLAIM OF CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, PRESSURE PLATE AND DISC REPLACEMENT, I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL CEASE TO OCCUR, AS IT IS IDIOPATHIC AND THE RE-OCCURRENCE IS UNPREDICTABLE. THUS, OPERATING THIS VEHICLE COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTAL INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I CONTINUE TO REPORT MY CONCERN TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA USA AND TO DATE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SATISFACTION TO QUELL THE UNSAFE FEAR FACTOR IN OWNING AND OPERATING THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER'S MONIKER, "MADE TO DRIVE. BUILT TO LAST." THIS INTERNET CORRESPONDENCE SERVES AS MY OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE 2007 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294687

1998 model year · 150,000 miles · Nov 13, 2009
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

1. WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 60 MPH. 2. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR DOWN, ONLY RELEASED AN ODOR AS THE PADS APPEARED TO BE SMOLDERING. ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE FROZEN AND FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. 3. APPLIED BRAKES REPEATEDLY, PULLED ON HAND BRAKE, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL ON OFF SWITC…

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1. WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 60 MPH. 2. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR DOWN, ONLY RELEASED AN ODOR AS THE PADS APPEARED TO BE SMOLDERING. ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE FROZEN AND FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. 3. APPLIED BRAKES REPEATEDLY, PULLED ON HAND BRAKE, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL ON OFF SWITCH, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL AND SET SWITCHES. UP UNTIL THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL ANYWAY. BUT, IT APPEARED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND NON-RESPONDING TO THE BRAKES. WENT PAST EXIT AND CONTINUED DOWN HIGHWAY TOWARD GILROY, CA WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF AND I EXITED. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ON THE SAME DAY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC BY PULLING FORCEFULLY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE AUTO SHOP, I WAS SHOWN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED BRAKEPAD ON THE LEFT AND A PAPER THIN BRAKEPAD ON THE RIGHT. BOTH ROTORS WERE 80% COVERED WITH LARGE BLACK BLOTCHES. BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONE WEEK LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292115

2005 model year · 32,000 miles · Nov 1, 2009
Power Train

I HAD THE CLUTCH DROP TO THE FLOOR, GET SPONGY AND REALLY LOW WHEN I'M DRIVING. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, EACH TIME COSTING ME MONEY TO SIT UP IN A HOTEL OR MISS WORK MANY STATES AWAY. EVERY SINGLE TIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290523

2002 model year · 110,485 miles · Oct 28, 2009
Power Train

MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING PROPERLY. I WOULD START THE CAR AND IT WOULD RUN ROUGH, SPUTTERING, AND ENGINE SOUNDS HAD CHANGED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ON SOME OCCASIONS IT IS HARD TO START. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE FIXED BY A PRIVATE GARAGE ON 08/05/2009 AND WHEN IT WAS PUT ON THE …

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MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING PROPERLY. I WOULD START THE CAR AND IT WOULD RUN ROUGH, SPUTTERING, AND ENGINE SOUNDS HAD CHANGED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ON SOME OCCASIONS IT IS HARD TO START. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE FIXED BY A PRIVATE GARAGE ON 08/05/2009 AND WHEN IT WAS PUT ON THE COMPUTER A CODE CAME UP. THE CODE WAS P0420: CATALYST EFFICIENCY: RECALL- POTENTIAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE AND THE RECALL BULLETIN ATTACHED TO THE CODE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT NISSAN. I DID CONTACT NISSAN AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD A COPY OF THE 8 PAGE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND THAT MY VIN # WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL. AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS AN OLD CAR THAT HAD NO WARRANTY ATTACHED TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290131

2005 model year · 76,250 miles · Oct 20, 2009
Power Train

I AM UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEARSHIFT IN MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 L.. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA HAS ISSUED TSB 04098 IN JULY 2005 ON THE ISSUE. I UST USE A SMALL SCREWDRIVER TO PRESS THE SAFETY SWITCH TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COST FOR CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS $590.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289124

2008 model year · 8,900 miles · Oct 20, 2009
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA I CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP GOING UPHILL TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS I TRIED TO PROCEED THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CRANK INTO GEAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE POSITION. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING IT I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289188

2007 model year · 19,000 miles · Oct 13, 2009
Power Train

I OWNED A 2007 ALTIMA AT THE TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. IF EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE SLAMMED AND LOCKUP UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO COMPLETE STOP THE THROTTLE BECOMES TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE FOR UP TO 1 MINUTE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT AN INTERSECTION AND SCARED THE'!@#$% OUT OF ME. SIMILAR THING OCCURRED A FEW DAYS LATER.…

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I OWNED A 2007 ALTIMA AT THE TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. IF EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE SLAMMED AND LOCKUP UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO COMPLETE STOP THE THROTTLE BECOMES TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE FOR UP TO 1 MINUTE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT AN INTERSECTION AND SCARED THE'!@#$% OUT OF ME. SIMILAR THING OCCURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. I DECIDED TO TEST IF THIS ISSUE CAN BE DUPLICATED. IT CAN WITH ALMOST 100% ACCURACY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP. DUPLICATED THE ISSUE FOR THEIR CONFIRMATION AND LEFT CAR FOR EXAMINATION. ACCORDING TO SERVICE REP "IT IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE CAR IN THIS CONDITION\". A FEW HOURS LATER GOT A CALL FROM DEALER WITH THE FOLLOWING EXPLANATION. THEY TESTED THIS ISSUE AND WERE ABLE TO REPEAT IT ON 3 IDENTICAL CARS. APPARENTLY MANUFACTURER TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS AN EXPECTED BEHAVIOR TO PROTECT CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF A CAR TRANSMISSION. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN USA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT BUT A DESIGN TO PROTECT TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL OTHER ALTIMAS FOR TEST DRIVE AND SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. APPARENTLY THIS ISSUE AFFECTS ALL ALTIMAS EQUIPPED WITH CVT BUT NOT WITH ABS. I BELIEVE THAT ABS ALLOWS TRANSMISSION TO ROTATE THUS CORRECTING THE ISSUE. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE A CAR FOR UP TO A MINUTE AFTER AN EMERGENCY BRAKING COULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THEN THE EMERGENCY ITSELF. CAN YOU VISUALIZE YOUR SELF BEING STUCK AT AN INTERSECTION (HAPPENED TO ME) OR ON A HIGHWAY? THIS ISSUE CAN BE EASILY DUPLICATED . I HAVE TRADED MY CAR IN AS I WAS TOO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287187

2005 model year · 300,000 miles · Sep 28, 2009
Power Train

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SER WITH A KNOWN CLUTCH PEDAL ISSUE, IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY 2 TIMES AND THE 3RD TIME THEY REFUSED BECAUSE I WAS A FEW MILES PAST THE 35K MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE REPAID WAS WITHIN THE 12K MILES THAT IT IS WARRANTIED FOR, I HAD TO GO ELSEWHERE TO FIX IT BECAUSE I NEED MY CAR. I THAS HAPPENED 2…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA SER WITH A KNOWN CLUTCH PEDAL ISSUE, IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY 2 TIMES AND THE 3RD TIME THEY REFUSED BECAUSE I WAS A FEW MILES PAST THE 35K MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE REPAID WAS WITHIN THE 12K MILES THAT IT IS WARRANTIED FOR, I HAD TO GO ELSEWHERE TO FIX IT BECAUSE I NEED MY CAR. I THAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SINCE THAN WHERE I HAVE TO KEEP PURCHASING PEDALS BECAUSE THE WELDS ON THE PEDAL DO NOT HOLD, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I WILL LOST MY CLUTCH AND CANT' SHIFT FEARS IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS. THIS PEDAL HAS BEEN REPLACED 5TIMES AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 6TH TIMES AND IT HAS DAMAGED MY CLUTCH, MY MECHANIC SAID DO TO THE STRESS FROM THE BAD PEDAL THE FORCED SHIFT ON MY CLUTCH HAVE CAUSE IT TO "SLIP" AND NOW I NEED TO PURCHASE AND HAVE INSTALLED A BRAND NEW CLUTCH THAT NISSAN WILL NOT WARRANTY EITHER. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2005 AND 2006 SER MODELS AND NISSAN WILL NOT DO A RECALL OR FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH IT. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT IT IS BAD ENGINEERING AND THE ISSUE WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN SO I HAVE A SPARE PEDAL WITH HIM AT ALL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285502

2004 model year · 93,000 miles · Sep 18, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. GEAR SLIPPAGE HAS INCREASED THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A LOCAL MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. NO REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. GEAR SLIPPAGE HAS INCREASED THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A LOCAL MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. NO REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10284534

2005 model year · 15,000 miles · Sep 15, 2009
Power Train

THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR DURING DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL SINK SO LOW THAT IT LAYS ON THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AM UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AT ALL. I WILL HAVE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A…

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THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR DURING DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL SINK SO LOW THAT IT LAYS ON THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AM UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AT ALL. I WILL HAVE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PARTICULAR EVENT DURING DRIVING. IT OCCURS DURING DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY, DIFFERENT WEATHER TYPES AND AT DIFFERENT TRAVELING SPEEDS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT 3-4 YEARS ON MY CAR. IT WAS FIRST REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER FULL WARRANTY WITH ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS. THE LAST VISIT I TOOK IT IN THE TECHNICIAN TOPPED OFF THE CLUTCH FLUID, BUT THIS DID NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284076

Related Official recalls

1

94V165000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 2, 1994

THE SHIFT LEVER LOCK PLATE, WHICH PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING INADVERTENTLY MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR NEUTRAL POSITION, CAN BE BROKEN BY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION PIN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTION CAN CAUSE VEHICLE MOVEMENT WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET TO PREVENT THE SHIFT POSITION PIN FROM BREAKING THE SHIFT LEVER LOCK PLATE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.