Nissan Altima: Owner & Buyer Guide
What breaks, what it should cost to fix at an independent shop versus a dealer, when routine service comes due, and what to check before you buy.
Last reviewed: July 2026Reviewed by a drivway-verified technicianSedan only (the Altima coupe was discontinued after the 4th generation). Covers the 2.5L 4-cylinder (QR25DE) and 3.5L V6 (VQ35DE) engines, both paired with Nissan's CVT (continuously variable transmission) — no conventional automatic was offered on this generation. TODO confirm any mid-cycle (2016 facelift) powertrain changes.
The short version
The 5th-generation Altima (2013–2018) is a budget-friendly midsize sedan whose reliability story is dominated by one part — the CVT transmission. Widespread judder, shudder, and outright failure reports led Nissan to extend the CVT warranty to 84 months/84,000 miles on 2013–2016 models and settle two separate class-action lawsuits, though the company never issued a formal safety recall for the transmission itself. Separately, 2013–2015 cars carry a real hood-latch safety recall (NHTSA 15V-116, superseded by 16V-029) worth checking by VIN. For this generation, a CVT-focused test drive and warranty/repair-history check matter more than the usual mileage-based shopping rules. This guide is a research skeleton: the CVT history and recalls are sourced, but repair cost ranges are a mix of rough web estimates and TODOs pending real shop quotes.
Reliability: Below average for the segment, driven almost entirely by one component — the CVT. Nissan's own warranty-extension and two separate class-action settlements over CVT failures make this generation's transmission history the single most important thing to check before buying, more than mileage or trim level. TODO confirm current RepairPal/Consumer Reports scores by exact model year before publishing.
What owners like
- Low purchase price relative to other midsize sedans of the same age, reflecting the CVT reputation priced into the used market
- Nissan's CVT warranty extension (to 84 months/84,000 miles for 2013–2016 models) may still cover a failure on higher-mileage used examples — worth checking before assuming a repair bill
- Comfortable ride and strong fuel economy from the 2.5L/CVT combination when the transmission is healthy
- Roomy back seat and trunk for the segment
What to watch
- CVT judder, shudder, and outright failure are widely reported across 2013–2018 model years, serious enough that Nissan extended the warranty and settled two separate class-action lawsuits
- Hood latch safety recall (NHTSA 15V-116, superseded by 16V-029/PC426) on 2013–2015 models built March 2013–December 2014 — the hood could pop open while driving if not repaired
- Premature front lower control arm / suspension bushing wear reported well before typical mileage for the segment
- TODO confirm — EVAP system and Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM) electrical issues reported on 2016–2018 cars; needs a citable source count before stating prevalence as fact
Common problems & what they should cost
Independent ranges reflect typical parts + labor at a competent independent shop. Dealer ranges reflect published estimator averages. Your quote depends on your area, parts choice, and related work.
CVT judder, shudder, limp mode, and failure
Reported across the full 2013–2018 range; owner reports skew toward failures in the 60,000–100,000 mi range but vary widelyThe CVT on this generation is widely reported to develop judder/shudder under light acceleration, enter 'limp mode,' or fail outright — owners and court filings describe fine metal debris and valve-body pressure loss as contributing causes. NHTSA received hundreds of CVT-related complaints on the 2013–2014 model years specifically. Nissan never issued a safety recall for the transmission itself, but in April 2019 set aside $590.5 million to extend the CVT warranty from 60 months/60,000 miles to 84 months/84,000 miles on 2013–2016 Altimas (and related models sold 2012–2017). Separate class-action settlements covered 2013–2016 and 2017–2018 model years. Check whether a used car's mileage/age still falls inside the extended warranty window before assuming any repair cost.
Hood latch may not fully secure (safety recall)
Recall population: 2013–2015 model year, built March 1, 2013 – December 31, 2014The secondary hood latch can bind and stay in the unlatched position when the hood is closed, so if the primary latch is ever inadvertently released, the hood could fly open while driving. Nissan's original 2015 recall (15V-116) didn't fully resolve the issue for all owners, so a second campaign (16V-029, internal code PC426) superseded it and re-notified affected owners. Dealers replace the hood latch assembly free of charge. Always confirm by VIN that the *later* campaign, not just the original 2015 one, shows as completed.
Premature front lower control arm / suspension bushing wear
Reported as early as ~20,000 mi in some cases, though components are rated to last well past 80,000 miOwners report the front lower control arm bushings wearing out earlier than expected for the segment, causing a clicking or clunking noise when turning, a vibrating steering wheel, or uneven tire wear. Replacing both front lower control arms has been cited around $1,600 in aggregate cost data — TODO get an independent-vs-dealer breakdown and a real local quote rather than relying on a single aggregated figure.
EVAP system faults and IPDM electrical module failures
TODO confirm typical onset mileage — IPDM reports concentrate on 2016–2018 carsSome owners report check-engine lights and difficulty filling the tank at the pump tied to a failing EVAP system, and 2016–2018 cars have reported failures of the Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM), a smart fuse/relay box that can affect multiple electrical circuits at once when it fails internally. TODO confirm complaint volume and typical repair cost from a more authoritative source before treating this as a headline issue rather than a secondary one.
Maintenance milestones
| Interval | What's due |
|---|---|
| Every 5,000 mi / 6 months | Oil & filter change. |
| Every 10,000 mi | CVT fluid level inspection/top-off. |
| Every 30,000 mi | CVT fluid drain-and-fill — commonly recommended even though Nissan has historically not marked CVT fluid as a scheduled service item on some model years; TODO confirm exact factory-stated interval for this generation specifically. |
| Every 3 years | Brake fluid — time-based, not mileage. |
| TODO confirm | TODO — spark plug interval by engine (QR25DE 4-cylinder vs. VQ35DE V6 likely differ). |
| TODO confirm | TODO — coolant change interval; timing chain inspection (see maintenance note below). |
Buying a used one? Check these first
A 20-minute inspection catches the issues that actually cost money on this generation. Bring this list to your pre-purchase inspection.
- Check the CVT's warranty and repair history before anything else. Ask whether the CVT warranty extension (84 months/84,000 miles for 2013–2016 models) still applies, whether the car was part of either class-action settlement, and for any transmission-related service records. This matters more for this generation than mileage or trim.
- Test-drive specifically for CVT judder or shudder. Accelerate gently from a stop and hold a light, steady throttle on the highway — a shudder, hesitation, or the car feeling like it's 'slipping' are the reported early symptoms. Also confirm the transmission doesn't drop into limp mode (stuck at one RPM/speed) under normal driving.
- Check recall-completion status by VIN, and confirm it's the later campaign. This generation had two hood-latch recalls (15V-116, then superseded by 16V-029/PC426) for 2013–2015 cars. A VIN showing the original 2015 recall as complete may still need the later campaign — confirm the most recent one specifically.
- Listen and feel for front-end clunks while turning at low speed. A clicking/clunking noise when turning, or a vibrating steering wheel, can point to the control-arm bushing wear reported on this generation — worth a suspension inspection before buying.
- TODO confirm — scan for stored/pending codes, especially EVAP-related. TODO — standard practice for any used-car purchase; confirm whether EVAP/check-engine patterns are common enough on this generation to call out specifically before publishing.
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Find a Nissan technicianFrequently asked
Does the Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
Yes — the 2013–2018 (5th gen) Altima's CVT is widely reported to judder, shudder, or fail, serious enough that Nissan extended the CVT warranty to 84 months/84,000 miles for 2013–2016 models and settled two separate class-action lawsuits (covering 2013–2016 and 2017–2018 model years). There was never an official safety recall for the transmission itself.
Is there a Nissan Altima transmission recall?
No — despite widespread CVT complaints and lawsuits, Nissan never issued a formal NHTSA safety recall for the transmission. Instead it used a warranty extension (to 84 months/84,000 miles on 2013–2016 models) and class-action settlements. There is a separate, unrelated hood-latch safety recall (15V-116, superseded by 16V-029) on 2013–2015 cars.
How much does it cost to replace a Nissan Altima CVT?
Web-aggregated estimates put a CVT replacement outside warranty around $3,500–4,800 at an independent shop using a remanufactured unit, versus roughly $6,000–8,000 at a dealer. TODO confirm these with real local shop quotes before treating them as reliable — they are not sourced from verified quotes yet.
What are common Nissan Altima problems on this generation (2013–2018)?
The headline item is CVT judder/shudder/failure, described above. Beyond that: a hood-latch safety recall on 2013–2015 cars, front lower control arm bushings reported to wear out earlier than typical for the segment, and — less confirmed — EVAP system faults and IPDM electrical module issues reported more on 2016–2018 cars.
Does the Altima have a timing belt or timing chain?
TODO confirm per engine before publishing — both the QR25DE 4-cylinder and VQ35DE V6 are commonly reported as timing-chain designs (no belt-replacement interval to budget for), but verify against Nissan's specs for each engine individually.