YearToAvoid

2015 Nissan Altima Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 161 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2015 Nissan Altima, 17% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 61,500. No related recalls are listed for this problem area on this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
161
17% of 953
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
61,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the vehicle unexpectedly rolling or shifting into reverse while parked, sometimes crashing into fences, homes, or rock gardens.
  • Several report the CVT hesitating or refusing to accelerate for several seconds after coming to a stop, especially after highway driving or in hot weather.
  • Owners describe jerking or shuddering while driving, with one noting a burning coolant-like odor and another a strong fuel-like odor tied to the transmission.
  • Some report excessive vibration felt through the floorboards, steering wheel, and gas pedal that dealers could not resolve.
  • One owner reported the transmission independently downshifting and slowing the vehicle without warning.

When 2015 Nissan Altima transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 30, 2014, latest Jun 14, 2026.

2015 Nissan Altima transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter122014 Q42016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22024 Q12025 Q3
161 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q3 (12).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2015 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Altima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201073 (19%)
  2. 201168 (28%)
  3. 2012149 (35%)
  4. 2013505 (22%)
  5. 2014209 (19%)
  6. 2015161 (17%)
  7. 2016235 (42%)
  8. 2017133 (34%)
  9. 201823 (10%)
  10. 20199 (4%)
  11. 202017 (11%)
  12. 20213 (4%)
  13. 20224 (13%)
  14. 20231 (3%)
  15. 20244 (10%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA show for the 2015 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA lists 161 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2015 Altima, which is 17% of the 953 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Nissan Altima transmission?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2015 Altima.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up on the 2015 Altima?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 61,500 miles.
How does the 2015 Altima compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2015 Altima's transmission complaints make up 17% of its total complaints, lower than the 2016 (42%), 2017 (34%), and 2012 (35%) model years, but higher than 2018 (10%) and 2019 (4%).
Were there any serious incidents tied to these transmission complaints?
NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2015 Altima includes 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.