Reliable Auto DB

2017 Nissan Altima reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2017 Nissan Altima has 391 complaints with NHTSA after 10 years, or 23 per year. That is about even with the other Altima years here. Their median is 25 complaints per year. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Latch and Emergency escape/exit.

2012 Nissan Altima
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

391

Per year

23

Recalls

3

Years on the road

10

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (133 of 391), then Air bags (73) and Speed control (41). Those filings include 24 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 19 that report an injury.

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 Altima has 553 complaints, 31 per year, and the 2018 has 225 complaints, 37 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2017 Nissan Altima. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall latches, locks, and linkages, hood, latch 2020-05-28 · NHTSA campaign 20V315000
Summary 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.
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 Owner’s 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.
Recall Emergency escape/exit 2018-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 18V915000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall latches, locks, and linkages, doors, latch 2017-01-18 · NHTSA campaign 17V040000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (391 total)

Powertrain
133
Air bags
73
Speed control
41
Engine
39
Electrical system
27
Service brakes
19
Exterior lighting
18
Structure
18
Fuel and propulsion system
17
Steering
16
Latches, locks, and linkages
14
Suspension
11
Forward collision avoidance
6
Seat belts
4
Seats
4
Wheels
4
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
Visibility and wipers
3
Back-over prevention
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Equipment
1
Interior lighting
1
Lane departure
1
Tires
1
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

24

Fire-flagged

7

Injury reports

19

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

92017232018382019782020462021452022502023442024382025202026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with an electrical…"
    Electrical system, Air bags · filed 2026-09-10
  • "1. Headlights. The headlights are dim to the point that vision at night is greatly impaired unless I use my high beams. It is available for inspection. 2. Impaired vision at night, I cannot see very well when driving at…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-08-12
  • "I was driving home from the store like 4 blocks away and on the road there’s dip n the road you can’t avoid it so after i drive over it the airbag light comes on with hitting anything."
    Steering, Air bags · filed 2026-08-11
  • "Shuddering and loss of acceleration/vehicle slowed on its own while driving on the highway. Managed to get to Firestone and diagnostic codes P0776 and P0841 came up. Advised to take vehicle to dealer shop as work could…"
    Powertrain, Speed control · filed 2026-08-05
  • "The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle with a passenger inside the vehicle, the air big warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-07-21

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2017 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Altima 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) Front-wheel drive 22 32 26 MPG $2500
Altima 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 27 39 31 MPG $2100
Altima SR 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) Front-wheel drive 26 37 30 MPG $2150

Specs and fitment

5th generation (L33), 2013–2018
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 (2.5L); 5W-30 (3.5L V6)
Tire size 215/60R16 to 235/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Nissan ran voluntary service campaign PC490 on certain 2013-2016 Altima (L33) vehicles to reprogram CVT software after hydraulic pressure could drop and allow belt slip (MIL P0776 and poor acceleration); Nissan states that campaign is not a safety recall. Separately, Nissan extended CVT assembly warranty coverage on 2013-2016 Altima (L33) to 84 months/84,000 miles. Safety recall 20V-315 covers certain 2013-2018 Altimas: if the primary hood latch is released, the secondary latch may corrode and bind unlatched so the hood can open while driving; dealers install a stronger release spring, a warning label, and an Owner's Manual addendum. Safety recall 18V-915 covers certain 2015-2017 Altimas previously remedied under 17V-040 whose rear door latch-lock cable may be misrouted and open the rear door when the window is lowered; dealers secure the cable.

Compare

Previous year 2016 Nissan Altima Next year 2018 Nissan Altima See every Nissan Altima model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Nissan Altima reliable?

The 2017 Nissan Altima has 391 complaints with NHTSA after 10 years, or 23 per year. That is about even with the other Altima years here. Their median is 25 complaints per year. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Latch and Emergency escape/exit.

What are common problems with a 2017 Nissan Altima?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (133 of 391), then Air bags (73) and Speed control (41). Those filings include 24 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 19 that report an injury.

Is the 2017 Nissan Altima more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2016 Altima has 553 complaints, 31 per year, and the 2018 has 225 complaints, 37 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

Has the 2017 Nissan Altima been recalled?

The 2017 Nissan Altima has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2017 Nissan Altima?

Owners have filed 391 complaints about the 2017 Nissan Altima with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2017 Nissan Altima get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2017 Nissan Altima is 29 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Altima take?

0W-20 (2.5L); 5W-30 (3.5L V6)

What does Nissan service campaign PC490 cover on the Nissan Altima?

Nissan ran voluntary service campaign PC490 on certain 2013-2016 Altima (L33) vehicles to reprogram CVT software after hydraulic pressure could drop and allow belt slip (MIL P0776 and poor acceleration); Nissan states that campaign is not a safety recall.

What generation is the 2014 Nissan Altima?

5th generation (L33) (2013-2018).