WHEN SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO 5TH GEAR, GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 900 MILES. DEALER INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED.*AK
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
YearTopic reportsRecallsInvestigations
20201
6220182
2420171
3320163
4320153
10320144
8520137
12520123
4120112
10201011
3020094
40200810
41200712
32200626
30200546
10200411
10200320
41200216
5120015
1020006
1019994
0019983
0019977
1019967
00199524
3219943
22Recall 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
540–25K
3625–50K
2450–75K
2475–100K
11100–150K
8150K+
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 reportsCONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH AND PASSING A TRUCK WHEN VEHICLE RAN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER AND IT SPLASHED ONTO MOTOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO LOW AND WHEELS LOCKED UP. CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD, BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME IN LOW GEAR FOR 30 MILES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE NEX…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH AND PASSING A TRUCK WHEN VEHICLE RAN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER AND IT SPLASHED ONTO MOTOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO LOW AND WHEELS LOCKED UP. CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD, BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME IN LOW GEAR FOR 30 MILES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE NEXT DAY, VEHICLE SHIFTED OKAY. *SLC
WHEN TRAVELING AT 40 OR MORE VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
LEVER GETS STUCK IN PARK, AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL CHANGE GEARS ON ITS OWN. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, WILL NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND GEAR, ALL REQUIRED MAINTAINANCE, SERVICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED.NISSAN WILL NOT HELP. COST OF NEEDED REPAIRS APPROX $5,000. *AK
WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT.THERE ACTUALLY WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT & WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE CORRECTED IF WE BOUGHT THE CAR.WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN ABOUT THIS & THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT FAILED WHEN…
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WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT.THERE ACTUALLY WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT & WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE CORRECTED IF WE BOUGHT THE CAR.WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN ABOUT THIS & THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT FAILED WHEN MY WIFE & KIDS PULLED OUT ONTO A BUSY ROAD & WERE ALMOST HIT BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO STAY IN GEAR. THE GARAGE KEEPS TELLING US THAT THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS AND WE ARE AFRAID TO USE THE CAR NOW.*AK
WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS AND PUSHING CLUTCH DOWN SHIFT LEVER IS LOCKED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. NISSAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, AND THE RADIATOR, AUTO TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY AND THROTTLE VALVE SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD DUE TO CONTROL…
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THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. NISSAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, AND THE RADIATOR, AUTO TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY AND THROTTLE VALVE SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD DUE TO CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. NEXT, THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *YH
Related Official recalls
194V165000 · 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
0No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.