2017 Nissan Altima Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2017 Nissan Altima has a Complaint Index of 55, ranking 10th worst out of 21 model years, with 391 complaints and 3 recalls. It carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by transmission and airbag complaints, though it's less troubled than 2013-2015.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 55/100
- #10 of 21 Altima years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 391
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 24
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 7
- Injuries
- 23
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 26 city / 37 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 0
Top 2017 Nissan Altima problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain133 (34%)
- Airbags73 (19%)
- Engine73 (19%)
- Other63 (16%)
- Electrical System44 (11%)
- Structure & Body36 (9%)
- Brakes21 (5%)
- Fuel System17 (4%)
- Steering16 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed frontal or side-impact crashes, leaving occupants to strike the dashboard or interior.
- Engines stall unexpectedly at low speed and in some cases catch fire under the hood shortly after.
- Vehicles catch fire in the engine compartment without warning, sometimes while parked or shortly after starting.
- Brake pedals reportedly fail to slow or stop the vehicle, contributing to collisions.
- Rear door latch-lock cables were misrouted, prompting related recalls for door and hood latch issues.
2017 Nissan Altima recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V315000May 28, 2020Structure & Body1,831,818 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
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.
Risk: 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 OwnerÂs 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.
- NHTSA 18V915000Dec 19, 2018Structure & Body341,003 vehicles
Structure:emergency:escape/egress/exit
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V040000Jan 18, 2017Structure & Body341,005 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.
Risk: 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.
2017 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 37 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Nissan Altima reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Altima a Complaint Index of 55 and a Caution verdict, ranking 10th worst among 21 model years of the Altima. It has fewer complaints than the 2013-2015 model years but more than the 2018-2025 years.
- What are the most common problems on the 2017 Nissan Altima?
- Transmission and powertrain complaints make up 34% of reports, followed by airbags at 19% and engine issues also at 19%. Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 55,000 miles.
- Does the 2017 Nissan Altima have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Altima, all related to structure and body issues, including door latch-lock cable routing and hood latch springs. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2017 Altima compare to other years?
- The 2017 Altima's Complaint Index of 55 is better than 2013 (100), 2009 (95), and 2014 (90), but worse than 2018 (25) and 2021-2025, which all earn Best or Good verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Nissan Altima?
- EPA rates the 2017 Altima at 30 mpg combined, 26 city and 37 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.