2017 Nissan ALTIMA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2017 Nissan ALTIMA has 506 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 344. The most common issue is transmission problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: the insulation that wraps the electrical cabling to engine and other working parts to car are wrapped with a corn and soil product and rats ate the inside of my car to the point that the car would not work. it is 5 months old with 7,000 miles.. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.
506
Total Complaints
3
Recalls Issued
5/5
Safety Stars
1.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
132 complaints- • THE INSULATION THAT WRAPS THE ELECTRICAL CABLING TO ENGINE AND OTHER WORKING PARTS TO CAR ARE WRAPPED WITH A CORN AND SOIL PRODUCT AND RATS ATE THE INSIDE OF MY CAR TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT WORK. IT IS 5 MONTHS OLD WITH 7,000 MILES.
- • MY TRANSMISSION IS TROUBLING WHEN ON D CAR DONT OR IF THE CAR DRIVING ALL THE CERTAIN GOES TO NEUTRAL MAKE LOUD NOISE ON THE STREET
- • HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. 1ST THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN, AND NOW ALL ELECTRICAL FEATURES ON THE VEHICLE DOESN'T WORK ( POWER LOCKS, REAR VIEW CAMERA, TURNING SIGNALS, DOORS DONT LOCK WITH REMOTE, AND CAR DOESNT SHIFT OUT OF PARK UNLESS I USE THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON). VEHICLE
“THE INSULATION THAT WRAPS THE ELECTRICAL CABLING TO ENGINE AND OTHER WORKING PARTS TO CAR ARE WRAPPED WITH A CORN AND SOIL PRODUCT AND RATS ATE THE INSIDE OF MY CAR TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT WORK. IT IS 5 MONTHS OLD WITH 7,000 MILES.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2017 Nissan ALTIMA
Based on 217 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 57K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.
ENGINE
OTHER
ELECTRICAL
BRAKES
STEERING
LIGHTING
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (3)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
High theft risk
The Nissan ALTIMA was the #4 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 15,200 thefts reported to law enforcement.
Notes: Widely available, high resale demand
Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2017 Nissan ALTIMA
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2017 Nissan ALTIMA
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Nissan ALTIMA Service Intervals
CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2017 ALTIMA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 506 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: THE INSULATION THAT WRAPS THE ELECTRICAL CABLING TO ENGINE AND OTHER WORKING PARTS TO CAR ARE WRAPPED WITH A CORN AND SOIL PRODUCT AND RATS ATE THE INSIDE OF MY CAR TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT WORK. IT IS 5 MONTHS OLD WITH 7,000 MILES.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: NONE YET. RECEIVED A POSTCARD TO FILL IN INFORMATION FOR FUTURE RECALL TAKATA AIRBAGS/
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: BLUETOOTH MALFUNCTIONS. CANNOT MAKE CALLS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: THE INSULATION THAT WRAPS THE ELECTRICAL CABLING TO ENGINE AND OTHER WORKING PARTS TO CAR ARE WRAPPED WITH A CORN AND SOIL PRODUCT AND RATS ATE THE INSIDE OF MY CAR TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT WORK. IT IS 5 MONTHS OLD WITH 7,000 MILES.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Nissan ALTIMA — Year Comparison
How does 2017 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 506
- Recalls
- 3
- Fire reports
- 8
- Crash reports
- 26
- Injury reports
- 30
- Segment avg
- 344
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2017 Nissan ALTIMA