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Criticism of the Nissan Altima’s continuously variable transmission has been mounting for years. Some consumers, frustrated by the lack of a Nissan Altima transmission recall, have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as various online consumer forums. Others have gone the legal route, filing class action lawsuits against the automaker.
What Are the Transmission Problems in Nissan Altima?
A continuously variable transmission, or CVT, shifts through an endless range of “gear ratios” during driving, as opposed to a standard fixed number of gears that a traditional transmission moves through with “hard shifts,” Car and Driver magazine explains. The design is meant to give drivers smoother acceleration. However, many consumers have reported the opposite occurring.
The CVTs installed in the Nissan Altimas have caused a variety of problems – shaking, losing acceleration and stalling, among others – according to owners who are regularly posting complaints on websites such as Autonews.com, CarComplaints.com, and Cars.com.
This may be due to the vehicle struggling to change gear ratios. Other early signs of CVT transmission problems may include a burning smell coming from the car, weird noises such as whining, grinding, or humming while driving, gears slipping out of place, fluid leaking underneath the vehicle, or the check engine light coming on.
In some cases, the car may stop suddenly or become unresponsive when changing gears, or switching from park to drive. Bringing your car in to the dealership as soon as possible after experiencing symptoms of a possible transmission issue may prevent more damage from occurring to the vehicle.
According to court documents in a 2018 lawsuit against Nissan, the NHTSA “had received 263 complaints regarding the CVT power train on the 2013 Nissan Altima and 99 complaints regarding the CVT power train on the 2014 Nissan Altima.”
In April 2019, AutoNews.com reported that the car company set aside $590.5 million to extend warranties from five years to seven on the CVTs used in 3 million cars sold between 2012 to 2017, including the Altima.
Was Nissan Aware of the CVT Defects?
Was Nissan Aware of the CVT Defects?According to Automotive News, in 2013, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that the automaker planned to ramp up its oversight of the company manufacturing its CVTs because of poor customer satisfaction with the transmission.
A Nissan Altima transmission recall has never been issued.
What Nissan Altima CVT Lawsuits Have Been Filed?
Two class action lawsuits were filed against Nissan Motor Company in federal court in 2018 by three Altima owners who claim their transmissions were defective and Nissan knew it. Both cases were brought to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, where Nissan’s U.S. headquarters is located.
The first lawsuit was initiated by California residents Salome Madrid and Terese Miranda, whose complaints about the Altima are similar.
Miranda claims that she had to take her Altima back to the dealership for transmission problems at least four times in the four years after buying her car. Meanwhile, Madrid in 2014 purchased a new Altima, also with the CVT transmission, and over the next two years, brought the car back to the dealership three times due to problems with the transmission.
On the third trip, the dealership replaced the transmission. A year later, the problems persisted, and the dealership replaced the transmission a second time, Madrid claims.
In September 2018, Christopher Gann said his Altima was also dogged by transmission problems. Three years after purchasing the car new, it began to shake and vibrate and eventually stalled and could not be restarted. Gann claims he was told the transmission would have to be replaced. He paid the dealership $3,754.49 to do the work.
Another Nissan owner claims that she already had two transmission replacements, but now needs a third. Her car only has 130,000 miles on it, but the transmissions keep failing. According to her, the car runs normally at first, but after driving for more than an hour it begins to experience difficulty with the transmission, including over-revving and making whining sounds.
Additionally, as the car is past the warranty period and the manufacturer has not issued a Nissan Altima transmission recall, she worried that she would be on the hook to pay for a third transmission replacement out of pocket. The cost to replace a transmission may be upwards of $3,500. Although Nissan agreed to cover the cost of the third replacement, there is no guarantee that the vehicle won’t require a fourth.
Should You Join a Nissan Altima Class Action Lawsuit?
Consumers frustrated about the lack of a Nissan Altima transmission recall may have grounds to participate in a class action lawsuit against the automaker if they have experienced problems with the CVT.
The Nissan Motor Company Class Action Lawsuits are Madrid, et al v. Nissan North America Inc., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00534 and Gann v. Nissan North America Inc., Case No. 3:18-cv-00966, both in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Join this Free Nissan CVT Transmission Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you own a Nissan vehicle that is newer than a 2013 model year and have been affected by CVT transmission problems, you may be eligible to join this FREE Nissan CVT transmission class action investigation.
This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.
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208 thoughts onIs There a Nissan Altima Transmission Recall?
I have a 2014 Altima Nissan and the CVT in transmission needs to be replaced ASAP so it needs a new transmission. It spudder then catch up after I pump accelerater a couple of times. And the dealer said I need a new transmission, and I can’t afford that. Please email and help me Please. Thank You
I have a 2014 Nissan Altima and one day out of the blue while driving my transmission started acting up I was 2 hours from home praying that I made it home… I have to put it in gear then wait on it to catch before it will move if it does catch I have to turn the car off restart it and try all over again…. Please add me to the group.
Transmission gone out Need 5000to repair it
Me and a coworker both have 2018 Altimas. Transmission went bad in both cars. I’m getting mine replaced for $3000. He bought another car. Took it to the dealer when I first started having issues about a year ago. They tried to tell me that I put bad fuel in it. These assholes know that the CVT Trans n is sion is junk. Please don’t buy any car with this type of transmission.
I have a 2014 Altima Nissan and the CVT in transmission needs to be replaced ASAP so it needs a new transmission. It just cut off at a light, and wouldn’t start back up. And the dealer said I need a new transmission, and I can’t afford that. Please call and help me Please. Thank You Amen
I have a 2018 Altima, at 55k miles the transmission started to hesitate and Rev high sometimes, has left me on side of road twice as the CVT wouldn’t up shift and RPM’S would just go higher pushing accelerator. Now at 62k has issues with shutters sometimes when shifting, and gets stuck in high gear range and continues acceleration of the vehicle on its own
I’m not a genius, but would definitely say
Definitely a safety issue and bad CVT transmission
My 2014 Nissan Altima had been driving fine and made it to 86,000 miles and then out of the blue one day it wouldn’t shift into gear from park. Then after shutting the car off and trying to restart it, it wasn’t wanting to start and kept acting like the battery was dead. Eventually it started and I drove it to a nearby auto parts store to have them check the battery, on the way there it was very shaking and wasn’t driving right. After having the battery checked the guy at the auto parts store the battery was fine, but he had seen me pull up and said I think your transmission is bad, the way it was jerking around isn’t good.
I took it in to a transmission shop and they told me it needs a new transmission and that it would be $5,300. I’m waiting on getting a second opinion, but after some research it seems like this is a very common problem. I would like to be added to this and if there is a Class action suit I would like to be included.
Hi, I have a 2016 Nissan Altima with only around 80,000 miles and the transmission is failing, I bought this car brand new and have taken extra good care of it. I’m beyond enraged I thought Nissan was a good brand, now I will never buy a Nissan again. I would like to be added to this lawsuit.
Mr. Shorty purchased and installed a newly rebuilt CVT transmission for $3,200. He also guaranteed it for 1 year. Good thing, cause he had to repair leak a few months later. He upheld his word and replaced the leaking gasket. I had to borrow the money to fix it. It sure would be great to actually receive money for that. Good luck to you. I will give you his contact info if interested. Bytw I live in Louisiana.
I have a 2010 Nissan Altima and I am also having problems with my CVT transmission. Something really need to be done about this transmission
I have a 2016 and I only have 54.000 miles and the transmission is not working, I will like to be add to the group please! Thanks
2016 nissan altima had it for 11 months has 60,000 miles and transmission went out this is my second nissan that had this problem the first was a sentra. Im tired of paying almost 4,000 for something that obviously is Nissans fault, 11 months bought it 2/14/2022 and transmission went out 1/8/2023
I own a 2013 altima and I’ve had lots of issue’s experience lagging on take off no power sometimes car jerks changed all sensors twice and still have the problem add me to the list please
Add me too I have a 2009 Altima and the band broke in my trans. . it has 160.000 miles . I paid a pretty penny for mine . And it didn’t last no time . There should be something done about this.
I have a 2009 nissan altima 2.5 I have just 140,000 miles.my transmission stop working at a stop light.the nissan company say it cost 35 to 4,000 to fix the car