YearToAvoid

2020 Nissan Altima Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Nissan Altima, 11% of its 158 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 14,500 miles. No related recalls are on file for this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
17
11% of 158
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
14,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report jerky or hesitant acceleration from a stop, sometimes with rising RPM and reduced power while driving.
  • Several describe the transmission shuddering or lunging when slowing down and speeding back up, even when the dealer could not duplicate the issue.
  • Some report the CVT going into limp mode with a warning light after high-mileage highway driving.
  • A few describe sudden loss of power or stalling, including one case tied to repeated throttle body replacements.
  • One owner reported a transmission failure at low mileage shortly after purchasing the car used.
  • One report describes an engine check light and a shop quote for camshaft replacement at 42,000 miles.

When 2020 Nissan Altima transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 19, 2021, latest May 13, 2026.

2020 Nissan Altima transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month1Feb 2021May 2022Aug 2023May 2024Nov 2024Mar 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to May 2026; peak Feb 2021 (1).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 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 common are transmission problems on the 2020 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA shows 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Altima, which is 11% of the 158 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2020 Nissan Altima?
No. There are no related recalls listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2020 Altima.
At what mileage do 2020 Altima transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 14,500 miles.
Are the 2020 Altima's transmission complaints linked to crashes or fires?
No. NHTSA records zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries tied to these complaints.

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.