What 544 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Altima

The CVT transmission in my 2016 Nissan Altima causes my vehicle to experience sudden shaking or jerking and to occasionally stall after a traffic stop while driving. I have been in near accidents based on this CVT issue as there is no way to anticipate when my vehicle will experience the aforementioned problems. I have taken my vehicle to an independent service center where technicians confirmed that the issue lies with my transmission. My vehicle was also inspected by my municipal vehicle inspection service which also flagged the problem. I have tried to contact Nissan USA to assist in the resolution of this issue but it has not been helpful in resolving the issue as I am outside the arbitrarily-set extended warranty period due to the vehicle's mileage. The Nissan Altima CVT transmission is a public safety emergency that needs to be fixed and I hope Nissan USA adequately and equitably addresses this problem. As a consumer who has previously only owned and operated Nissan Altimas, I am saddened by the company's inability to fully help consumers who are endangered by its faulty transmission and who may be a danger to others on the road due to this known issue.

NHTSA ODI 11423217

Airbag light is on and Nissan dealership says they may have to replace up to 3 components to find the problem, not covered in warranty

NHTSA ODI 11421533

Air bag lights stays on and has been sense the car had 60,000 miles i spoke to the dealer and would not take care of it back then saying the warranty was out and im at 70,000 light still on dash and ive seen multiple recalls on the lass air bad module. I believe my call is a recall for that as well air bag light stays off when front passenger are in the car or out the car

NHTSA ODI 11421419

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V315000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11420871

On june 10,2021 i had to put my car in the shop bc the engine was running poorly. My car stalled on me at intersection and didnt want to pull. I was in panic thinking a car was going to hit me. Luckly i was able to get it to pull to the nearest vacant lot. I immediately stopped and let all moving traffic clear the way. Then i got my car to go and i had to gain enough speed to make it over the overpass without stalling again. When i finally got tje car home my husband had it put in shop tw next day. Mechanic hooked it up to a machine and the codes for transmission popped up. My life was at risk as i had no oter choice but to play rush and roulette. Li

NHTSA ODI 11420720

2016 Nissan Altima, driving down highway and car would not accelerate, then jerked forward quite intensely. I felt like I did not have control of the car and feared I was going to hit someone or be hit by someone. I was finally able to get the car pulled over to the shoulder and turned it off. I thought it was a bad tank of gas. Let it sit for a bit, restarted, and made it home. We ran it this way for a couple of days so we could run the 'bad' gas out. Filled back up and added additive. Nope, same issue as soon as the car gets warmed up after about 8-10 miles. Took it to my local mechanic to make sure it was not the Mass Air Flow Sensor that I had to pay him to replace a few months back which cost me $600. That came back fine, but he informed me it was the transmission, and is a known issue with Nissans. I began researching, and boy is it ever a known issue all the way back to 2013. What baffles me is they are still using this same transmission, and one day, this will cause someone to get killed because they are allowed to continue doing this. I took it to Nissan Dealership, and opened a case with Nissan HQ Consumer Affairs. They confirmed CVT Transmission. I am at 88,500 miles, warranty out at 84,000. They offered to pay 80% for repair. Not acceptable when this should be a recall. Please have this recalled for goodness sake before someone is hurt. I did not have any warning light at all come on.

NHTSA ODI 11420608

I was driving down the highway and my 2016 Nissan Altima began jerking and trying to stall, then jerking me forward again quite hard. I had to pull over in fear of hitting someone or my car becoming out of control. I have since discovered that it is the CVT transmission.

NHTSA ODI 11420416

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING HER VEHICLE TO #1 COCHRAN NISSAN CRANBERRY (22030 PERRY HWY, ZELIENOPLE, PA 16063) AS A TRADE-IN, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRADE WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED SINCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V315000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) WAS STILL UNREPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO MADE AWARE BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS STILL UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11416064

INSTALLED A BRAND NEW BATTERY WARRANTED FOR 7 YEARS OVER A MONTH AGO AND NOW THE BATTERY WILL NOT START THE CAR AT ALL. MOST DRIVINING IS WITHIN CITY LIMITS.

NHTSA ODI 11413546

HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DIM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. THIS MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT DIFFICULT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MAGNIFIER AND THAT CHANGING THE BULB WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11407167

I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY HEADED TO MISSISSIPPI WITH MY 2 BABIES IN THE CAR AND GOT READY TO GO UP A SMALL HILL AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WOULDN'T GAS UP THE HILL. SO I PUT MY HAZARDS ON, PUT MY CAR IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON, IT THEN PROCEEDED TO GO UP THE HILL WITH SOME HESITATION BUT IT MOVED. I THEN STOPPED AT AN AUTOMOTIVE STORE TO GET A READ OUT EVEN THOUGH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I GOT A P0776 CODE WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT ALL. THAT ALONE IS SCARY! SO I GOT MY TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD FIX IT BUT WEEKS LATER I'M HAVING EVEN MORE ISSUES. THE CAR QUIT MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF CITY TRAFFIC LUCKY ENOUGH NOBODY RAN OVER ME AND MY BABIES. SO I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON ENOUGH TO COAST TO THE GAS STATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND KEEPING IT SERVICED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11407017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V315000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GAINESVILLE NISSAN (3915 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF HIM OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11406935

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR FAIL TO ACCELERATE AND IT HESITATED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CODE SHOWING WAS THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE

NHTSA ODI 11404807

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 16 ALTIMA THAT JUST CROSSED 50K MILES ON 3/20/21 WHEN SHE COULD NOT ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. SHE NOTICED THE RPMS WERE MOVING HIGHER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. AFTER RESTARTING SHE COULD NOT EXCEED 40MPH. WHILE DRIVING THE RMP BOUNCED BETWEEN 1000 AND 3000 AND THE CAR "JERKED" WHILE SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME. BY THE TIME SHE MADE IT HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I USED A CODE SCANNER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THE CAR RETURNED THE FOLLOWING CODES (P0776PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID B PERFORMANCE OR STUCK OFF; P0841 TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE SENSOR/SWITCH A CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY DID THEIR DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE, NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH ONLY 50K MILLS AND NOW NEEDS A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TECH FROM THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS A COMMON THING WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS, ESPECIALLY ON NISSANS; WHICH IS WHY HE RECOMMENDS CUSTOMERS BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL OR REDESIGN TO FIX THE ISSUE? IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE YOUR VEHICLE ACCELERATE WHEN YOU NEED IT TO. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED OR LIVES LOST BY DEFECTIVE CVTS? IT IS A VERY SCARY THING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOME ABOUT THIS. WE DO NOT WHAT THIS TO TURN INTO A TAKATA AIRBAG SITUATION. AFTER BEING WARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU GOOGLE NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, YOU WILL FIND VIDEOS AND FORUMS WITH COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE FIXED. MY WIFE AND I BOTH HAVE VIDEOS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11404932

TL* THE CONTACT WAS AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CHILD DEATH REVIEW FOR LA COUNTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OWNER OF A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA, EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED AND LEFT HER 2-YEAR-OLD CHILD IN A CAR SEAT LOCATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 HOURS UNATTENDED. THE CAR SEAT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CHILD WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED DUE TO A HEAT STROKE. THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 117 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT TO MAKE THE DRIVER AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE COULD REACH FATAL HEATER TEMPERATURES OR THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS REACHING HIGH LEVELS OF HEAT TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY MECHANISM TO AVOID THE VEHICLE REACHING INTERIOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE LEVELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT

NHTSA ODI 11404352

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. UPON DRIVING A FEW TIMES, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT APPEARS AND STAYS ON MY DASH ALONG WITH WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT TURN OFF. IT IS NOW MARCH AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. ACCORDING TO THE CARFAX REPORT I RECEIVED WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A MAINTENANCE CHECK WAS CONDUCTED BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER CLOSE TO ME IN JANUARY, IT ONLY SHOWS THE CURRENT RECALL OF A HOOD LATCH (20V315 - THAT APPARENTLY NO PART IS AVAILABLE FOR). I WAS ADVISED BY A SERVICE REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT ARE BROKEN AND WERE NOT REPAIRED DURING THAT MAINTENANCE CHECK. I QUESTIONED AS TO WHY WITH NO EXPLANATION GIVEN. I ADVISED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD FALL BACK UNDER THE RECALL FROM 2016 (16V244) WITH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATING THAT IT DOESN'T!! IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THIS TO BE FIXED UNDER THAT RECALL OR DOES A NEW RECALL HAVE TO BE IN EFFECT?? LOOKING OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND FELLOW PASSENGERS. THANK YOU FROM A VERY CONCERNED VEHICLE OWNER.

NHTSA ODI 11402630

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V315000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE REMEDY TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11402673

THE CAR OFTEN HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL TAKE OFF SWIFTLY. IT'S STARTING TO DO IT OFTEN AND THERE ARE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED WITH MY DAUGHTER DRIVING AS SHE MADE A LEFT HAND TURN & ALMOST CAUSED HER TO BE HIT.

NHTSA ODI 11400154

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE REACHING HER DESTINATION. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM HER RESIDENCE TO JIM BROWNE CHEVROLET, INC. (11300 N FLORIDA AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO MAUS NISSAN OF NORTH TAMPA (11011 N FLORIDA AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11399793

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, AN WHEN I WOULD START FROM 1ST GEAR MY VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN TAKING OFF. I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TAKE LOOK AT IT. THE TECH HAD TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE HAD THEM LOG THAT INFO. NOW IT'S FUTURE AND THAT PROBLEM HAD ESCALATED TO WHERE IT STILL DOES THE SHAKING BUT ALOT WORSE. NOW IT DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR. AT THE TIME OF ME DRIVING THE VEHICLE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE HAD SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AN IT SEEMED AS IT CAME OUT OF GEAR AN DROPPED TO A LOWER GEAR ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11399838

I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED BY TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY FOR PASSENGERS WEIGHING LESS THAN 140 POUNDS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT CHILDREN; HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY, MANY ADULTS WEIGHING LESS THAN 140 POUNDS AND THIS WOULD PUT THEM AT SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. ANDREA OLIVERA

NHTSA ODI 11399076

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN VISOR DETACHED AND OBSCURED THE DRIVING VIEW. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11398696

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SECONDARY HOOD LATCH CEASED IN THE OPEN POSITION. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE SECOND TIME AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED WHEN THE HOOD UNLATCHED AND OPENED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA NUMBER: 20V315000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11397687

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A DRY ROAD AND MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SO I PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED OFF AGAIN. AS SOON AS I STARTED MOVIE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11397075

THERE IS STILL NO REMEDY FOR THE RECALL OF THE SECONDARY LATCH FOR THE HOOD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND THE HOOD HAS BECOME UNLATCHED. THIS IS UNSAFE AND A DRIVING HAZARD. A REMEDY NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP OR SOMEONE MAY GET HURT. I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE THAT NISSAN HAS NOT COMPLETED THIS REMEDY.

NHTSA ODI 11396043