2015 Nissan ALTIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Nissan ALTIMA has 1197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 15.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: low beam headlights dangerously low light levels while driving during night time conditions. high beams are almost always used to drive at night, as the cars low beams are unfit to drive. contacted manufacturer, supposedly did an investigation with the dealer. they didn't even contact the correct de. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 47 crash reports 25 injuries

1197

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

15.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

268 complaints

22%

• LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DANGEROUSLY LOW LIGHT LEVELS WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHT TIME CONDITIONS. HIGH BEAMS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS USED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, AS THE CARS LOW BEAMS ARE UNFIT TO DRIVE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, SUPPOSEDLY DID AN INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALER. THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONTACT THE CORRECT DE
• I RECENTLY SWITCHED FROM AN AUDI A6, WHICH USES HID BULBS TO A 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 L. THIS MODEL USES HALOGEN BULBS, AS I HAVE DISCOVERED. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNING THE NISSAN AND HAD POOR VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY TOWARD A STOPLIGHT AND COULD NO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADJUSTED THE LIGHTS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DANGEROUSLY LOW LIGHT LEVELS WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHT TIME CONDITIONS. HIGH BEAMS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS USED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, AS THE CARS LOW BEAMS ARE UNFIT TO DRIVE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, SUPPOSEDLY DID AN INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALER. THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONTACT THE CORRECT DE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

173 complaints

14%

• THE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WE NOTICE IT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED PRIOR TO THE PASSENGER GETTING IN. IF WE TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN THE LIGHT GOES OUT. OUR VIN # WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BU
• WHILE DRIVING ALONE ON 03/12/2015 NOTICED THE AIRBAG AUXILIARY LIGHT COME ON IN MY NEW 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE ALTIMA WAS SERVICED FOR THIS ON 03/18/2015 AND THE LIGHT WAS RESET WITH THE TECHNICIAN STATING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS UNDER RECALL. THEN, WHILE DRIVING ON 03/22/2015 THE AIR
• `DRIVING FROM A CUSTOMER BUSINESS MY RED LIGHT FOR SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG CAME ON . I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED AND ORDERED A AIR BAG MODULE. WHEN PART CAME IN ON APRIL 13TH 2015 WITH MILES OF 11276 DEALER REP SAID THAT THE MODULE DID NOT TURN RED LIGHT OFF. SERVICE ORDERED A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 22 crashes

“THE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WE NOTICE IT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED PRIOR TO THE PASSENGER GETTING IN. IF WE TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN THE LIGHT GOES OUT. OUR VIN # WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

161 complaints

13%

• I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC SO IT WAS SORT OF STOP AND GO AND LOTS OF IDLING. EACH TIME I PRESSED ON THE GAS, IT SEEMS THE CAR HESITATED TO GO. AFTER I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, I THEN DROVE ONTO INTERSTATE 85 IN GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND THE CAR STAR
• CVT TRANSMISSION VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY IN INTERIOR (FLOORBOARDS, STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, AND AND ME) NOISE LEVEL EXTREMELY HIGH INSIDE CAR. DEALER AND NISSAN AMERICA SAY THEY WILL NOT FIX OR BUY BACK CAR. PURCHASED NEW IN SEPT 2014. HAD SAME CAR 2014 MODEL THAT HAD NO VIBRATION OR NOISE. DEALE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE BUT INCREASED IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC SO IT WAS SORT OF STOP AND GO AND LOTS OF IDLING. EACH TIME I PRESSED ON THE GAS, IT SEEMS THE CAR HESITATED TO GO. AFTER I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, I THEN DROVE ONTO INTERSTATE 85 IN GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND THE CAR STAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

96 complaints

• I JUST PURCHASED A 2015 ALTIMA SV WITH THE TECH PACKAGE. THIS INCLUDE SEVERAL SAFETY FEATURES, BUT THE ONE I WANTED MOST WAS THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM. I DISCOVERED IN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS THAT WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR THE ROADS WERE WET, THE BSW COULD GIVE FALSE ALARMS LIKE A CAR WAS NEXT TO ME, WH
• THIS VEHICLE WAS LEASED NEW ON DEC, 2, 2014 FROM A NISSAN DEALER LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, PA. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A BURNING AND SULFUR ODOR SINCE DAY ONE AND THE SULFUR ODOR IS GETTING WORSE. THE VEHICLE IS RATED FOR 38 MPG HIGHWAY AND 27 MPH CITY. THE VEHICLE MPG IS GROWING WORSE AND IT GETS ABOUT
• I DROVE THIS RENTAL CAR AND PARKED IT INSIDE MY DETACHED GARAGE AT 7:30 PM. I NEGLECTED TO PUSH THE START/STOP BUTTON UPON EXITING THE CAR. CONSEQUENTLY, THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. AT 10:30 PM, NEEDING A TOOL, I WENT BACK AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR. A RUSH OF HOT AIR HIT ME IN THE FACE. TO MY HORROR,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“I JUST PURCHASED A 2015 ALTIMA SV WITH THE TECH PACKAGE. THIS INCLUDE SEVERAL SAFETY FEATURES, BUT THE ONE I WANTED MOST WAS THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM. I DISCOVERED IN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS THAT WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR THE ROADS WERE WET, THE BSW COULD GIVE FALSE ALARMS LIKE A CAR WAS NEXT TO ME, WH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

66 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE BUT INCREASED IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REP
• NISSAN ALTIMA 2015 PURCHASED ON 8/15/15 WITH 6 MILES ON THE ENGINE. ON 8/19/15 CAR WAS DEAD WITHOUT POWER. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND TWO DAYS LATER IT STARTED POWERING OFF AGAIN AS THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, AND AS I WAS IDLE AT RED LIGHTS. HAS TURNED OFF 6 TIMES TOTAL SINCE PURCHASING CAR 17 DAYS A
• CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN LATE APRIL 2015. WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I NOTICED THERE WAS RUST IN THE SPOT WELDS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. FRONT BUMPER ALSO STARTED TO POP OUT ON BOTH SIDES AFTER DRIVING IT THE FIRST DAY AND IS RUBBING AND PEELING PAINT FROM FRAME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE BUT INCREASED IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1197 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DANGEROUSLY LOW LIGHT LEVELS WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHT TIME CONDITIONS. HIGH BEAMS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS USED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, AS THE CARS LOW BEAMS ARE UNFIT TO DRIVE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, SUPPOSEDLY DID AN INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALER. THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONTACT THE CORRECT DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: THE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WE NOTICE IT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED PRIOR TO THE PASSENGER GETTING IN. IF WE TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN THE LIGHT GOES OUT. OUR VIN # WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC SO IT WAS SORT OF STOP AND GO AND LOTS OF IDLING. EACH TIME I PRESSED ON THE GAS, IT SEEMS THE CAR HESITATED TO GO. AFTER I GOT TO MY DESTINATION, I THEN DROVE ONTO INTERSTATE 85 IN GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND THE CAR STAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I JUST PURCHASED A 2015 ALTIMA SV WITH THE TECH PACKAGE. THIS INCLUDE SEVERAL SAFETY FEATURES, BUT THE ONE I WANTED MOST WAS THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM. I DISCOVERED IN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS THAT WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR THE ROADS WERE WET, THE BSW COULD GIVE FALSE ALARMS LIKE A CAR WAS NEXT TO ME, WH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)