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2017 Nissan Altima: common problems and reliability
An average Altima year.
391 owner complaints, most about power train. 3 recalls.
Should I buy a 2017 Altima?The 2017 Nissan Altima has 391 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and air bags. Owners most often flag cvt transmission failure: catastrophic failure requiring full replacement, often between 80,000-150,000 miles; symptoms include jerking, shuddering, loss of acceleration, lurching at low speeds, and inability to rev beyond a certain rpm. associated with multiple class-action lawsuits, especially for 2010-2020 models.
Safety record for the 2017 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2017 Nissan Altima vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Altima years only. How we score it
Is 2017 a good year for the Altima?
Across the 31 Altima model years we track, complaint volume runs from 20 (2022) to 3,148 (2009). With 391 complaints, the 2017 Altima sits above the model's median of 276.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2017 Altima
structure:emergency:escape/egress/exit
Campaign 18V915000Nissan 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.
latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Campaign 17V040000Nissan 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.
latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Campaign 20V315000Nissan 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.
What owners say across generations
Extremely negative sentiment regarding long-term reliability, dominated by widespread and severe criticism of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
- Very frequentCVT transmission failure
Catastrophic failure requiring full replacement, often between 80,000-150,000 miles; symptoms include jerking, shuddering, loss of acceleration, lurching at low speeds, and inability to rev beyond a certain RPM. Associated with multiple class-action lawsuits, especially for 2010-2020 models.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Altima. See the full Altima owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Altima listings typically run $9,439–$20,988.
Other Altima model years
Compare every Altima year side by side to see how 2017 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Altima against its rivals
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