The 2017 Altima sits in the middle of Nissan's notorious CVT reliability crisis, with the Jatco CVT being the dominant failure point. The 2.5L engine also developed a catastrophic internal failure issue related to oil consumption and bearing wear that can grenade motors unexpectedly.
Symptoms: Shuddering or jerking during acceleration, especially 15-40 mph, Whining or grinding noise from transmission, Hesitation when accelerating from stop, Check engine light with P0868 (transmission fluid pressure) or P17F0 (CVT stepmotor), Sudden loss of power or failure to move
Fix: CVT replacement or rebuild required in most cases. Nissan extended warranty to 84k miles on some units, but many fail just outside that window. Fluid changes every 30k can delay but not prevent failure. Replacement is 8-12 hours labor.
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse), Loud knocking or ticking from engine block, Metal shavings in oil during changes, Sudden loss of power with severe knocking, Catastrophic failure with rod through block in worst cases
Fix: Engine rebuild or replacement necessary — short block minimum, often complete longblock. Issue stems from inadequate oil flow to rod bearings and piston ring wear causing oil consumption. 18-25 hours labor for proper rebuild or swap.
Symptoms: Milky or strawberry-colored CVT fluid, Transmission overheating warnings, Sudden CVT failure after coolant leak, Coolant loss with no visible external leak, White residue in coolant reservoir
Fix: The internal transmission cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant and CVT fluid to mix. Requires radiator replacement AND complete CVT fluid system flush or CVT replacement if contamination occurred. 6-10 hours labor if caught early, add CVT replacement if delayed.
Engine Mount Failure (Especially Transmission Mount)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Severe vibration at idle, especially in Drive, Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive engine movement visible when accelerating, Vibration through steering wheel and floor
Fix: Front and transmission mounts are undersized for the CVT's characteristics and fail prematurely. Transmission mount is the worst offender. Replace all three engine mounts as a set for best results. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Hood Latch Failure (NHTSA Recall)
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Hood pops open while driving, Hood not latching properly on first attempt, Secondary latch not engaging, Hood flutter at highway speeds
Fix: Factory hood latch secondary mechanism fails. Covered under recall (NHTSA 18V-134), dealer replaces latch assembly. If not done yet, get it done — hood flying up at speed is obviously dangerous. 0.5-1 hour labor, free under recall.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall)
Fuel Gauge Sending Unit Failure
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Fuel gauge reading empty when tank is full, Erratic gauge movement, Gauge stuck on full, Check engine light with P0462 or P0463
Fix: Fuel level sensor in tank fails. Requires dropping fuel tank to replace sending unit. More annoying than dangerous but can leave you stranded if you trust a bad gauge. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-600
Owner tips
Change CVT fluid every 30,000 miles with Nissan NS-3 fluid only — it won't prevent failure but may buy time
Check oil level every 500-1,000 miles on the 2.5L engine; consumption above 1 quart per 3,000 miles means internal damage is starting
Verify hood latch recall (18V-134) was completed — check by VIN at Nissan dealer
Inspect coolant and CVT fluid color regularly; any cross-contamination requires immediate attention to save the CVT
Budget for a CVT replacement when shopping — assume it's coming if the car has 70k+ miles
Hard pass unless heavily discounted — the CVT and engine failures are expensive, common, and often happen just outside warranty coverage, making this one of the riskiest used sedans in its generation.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Standard top post battery; verify fitment as some Altima models may use Group 24F
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Every control module on the 2013-2017 Nissan Altima — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
📍 Integrated within BCM; physical BCM location behind driver side lower dash panel
🔧 CONSULT-III Plus (2013-2015) or CONSULT-IV (2016-2017) with NTIS subscription
⚠️ NATS immobilizer integrated with BCM; all keys must be re-registered if BCM replaced; requires security PIN from Nissan
Body Control Module (BCM)1.5 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +1.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Behind driver side lower dash panel, above fuse box, left of steering column
🔧 CONSULT-III Plus (2013-2015) or CONSULT-IV (2016-2017) with NTIS subscription
⚠️ VIN programming and Intelligent Key registration required; controls interior lighting, power windows, door locks, and integrates CAN gateway functions
🔧 CONSULT-III Plus (2013-2015) or CONSULT-IV (2016-2017) with NTIS subscription
⚠️ Mileage programming required by law; VIN must be written to replacement unit; 2016+ models feature TFT display
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Consequence: Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
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.
Consequence: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 17V040000
2017-01-18
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
Consequence: If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
22mpg
Highway
32mpg
Combined
26mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Wiper blades
Fifth generation (L33). Sedan body style has no rear wiper.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2017 Nissan Altima 3.5L V6 VQ35DE and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.