2017 Nissan Altima Transmission Problems

133 owners have reported transmission & drivetrain problems with the 2017 Nissan Altima to NHTSA — 34% of all 392 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 67,000 miles. That ranks #6 of 31 Altima model years for transmission complaints (a typical year has 27). No transmission recall has been issued for this model year.

133complaints
67ktypical miles
0related recalls
3crashes
0fires
4injuries

Which parts fail

  • Automatic transmission › Internal › CVT
    1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    812%
  • 25k–50k
    1218%
  • 50k–75k
    2435%
  • 75k–100k
    1421%
  • 100k–150k
    913%
  • 150k+
    11%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact's mom owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while his mom was at a stop light, a one-ton truck crashed into the vehicle. The driver attempted to reverse from the intersection. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had previously reported an incident for acceleration and throttle issues. While his sister was driving and reversing, the vehicle was slow to accelerate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The driver sustained facial injuries, and her forehead and eye were bruised. The patient was taken to the hospital for an MRI and ocular examination. The contact called the same local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. …

74,000 miles · Jan 2024 · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was not functioning as intended. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stalled. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure continued and became persistent. The contact stated that due to the failure, the contact was almost rear-ended by a semi-trailer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …

Automatic transmission › Internal › CVT · 108,000 miles · Jul 2023

Follow-up to issue #11479380 Just 6 days ago, I filed a complaint regarding acceleration issues with my 2017 Nissan Altima. Unfortunately, yesterday (8/20/2022), I was involved in an accident with the car as a direct result of these ongoing acceleration issues. I was the driver in the driveway of a friend's house and as I tried to pull closer to the house (to perform a K-turn in a tight spot), with my foot (lightly) on the gas pedal, the car suddenly surged forward and hit the house. A passenger and I both experienced minor injuries (no medical attention required), and both the car and the house now require repairs. I'm in touch with both my insurance and Nissan about this accident, but no longer feel safe driving this vehicle (which is now pending repairs due to this accident). I wanted to post a follow-up since there was an accident directly related to this issue.

Aug 2022 · crash · 2 injuries

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN was unavailable.

200,000 miles · Feb 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving on the highway, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated and then independently decelerated. The contact stated that he was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence. The contact then stated that after he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the gear shifter failed to engage. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. A case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

118,000 miles · Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine RPM increased; however, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The contact stated that a transmission software update was performed, and the transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The contact stated that after retrieving the vehicle, the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 97,000.

97,000 miles · Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered and hesitated during acceleration with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The VIN was unavailable.

60,000 miles · Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking, inadvertently shifting between gears, and then lost motive power. The contact was able to drive a short distance to the residence with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,960.

137,000 miles · Jul 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact smelled an abnormal odor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the transmission had a defective solenoid. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

137,000 miles · Feb 2023

1).Sometimes I can smell exhaust gas inside the car room like in my previous car Nissan Maxima SE 2008, which is extremely dangerous. 2).The rear camera works no so well - sometimes rearview disappearing completely. Also, approximately a year ago, I received a letter regarding Nissan Altima SV 2017 recall(s). I contacted several different Nissan dealers in Miami but nobody knows about the recall. Could you explain please what is going on with recalls? Thanks.

May 2021 · crash · 1 injury

Transmission complaints in other Altima years

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25277867963934171157962809573681495052091612351332491734141
Transmission complaints per model year, Nissan Altima.

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2017 Nissan Altima?

NHTSA has 133 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2017 Nissan Altima, 34% of the model year's 392 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › internal › cvt (1 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2017 Nissan Altima transmission problems?

No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2017 Nissan Altima, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.

At what mileage do 2017 Nissan Altima transmission problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.