2007 Nissan Altima Transmission Problems

THE VEHICLE IS JUST PAST THE 120K MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE TRANSMISSION/CVT BEGAN HARD-SHIFTING/CLUNKING AT AROUND 40MPH. TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILING CVT AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. CALLED NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID "YUP, THAT HAPPENS." OFFERED NO GUIDANCE, THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE CVT FOR $6,000 (PLUS SHOP FEES, TAXES, ETC.) I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL ALTIMA OWNERS AND THEY'VE HAD VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH CVTS FAILING BETWEEN 125K AND 140K MILES, JUST PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE FAILURE IS BIG, AND NISSAN SAYS THE ONLY OPTION IS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT - NO WAY TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11055076

Incident

Nov 22, 2017

Mileage

128,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW WHEN IT WAS RELEASED IN LATE DECEMBER 2006, ALMOST 2 YEARS LATER, I HAD INFORMED MY TECH WHEN I WOULD BRING MY CAR IN FOR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES THAT I HEAR A SLIGHT NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR AND SOMETIMES A VIBRATION, OVER THESE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND YEAS I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS EITHER A BEND IN MY RIM, NEEDING NEW TIRES, TO HAVING EXHAUST LEAKS OR ALIGNMENT NEEDED. SO I WOULD TAKE IT TO ANOTHER SHOP AND THEY WOULD TELL ME DIFFERENT OR IF THEY CONFIRMED I WOULD GET THE SERVICE DONE AT A LICENSED MECHANIC. OVER TIME THE NOISE GREW LOUDER AND LOUDER AND DISMISSED EACH TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. UNTIL RECENTLY I FIGURED OUT THAT THE NOISE WOULD ONLY BE HEARD AND PRESENT AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR 45MIN OR MORE. SO I REPRODUCED THE CONDITIONS BEFORE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS THEN THE ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS SEVER RUST TAKING PLACE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECH PRECEDED TO TELL ME THAT MAY HAVE STARTED WHEN MY CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT 3 YEARS AGO IN 2008. I CONTACTED THE BODYSHOP THAT DID THE REPAIRS THE PROVIDED PAPERWORK PROVING THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER EFFECTED OR TOUCHED AS PART OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND I EVEN HAVE PAPERWORK FROM THE SAME NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT SHOWS THAT NISSAN DID A MULTIPOINT INSPECTION WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND ITS FLUID JUST 8 MONTHS PRIOR AND FOUND IT TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION N NO PRESENCE OF RUST OR FLUID ISSUES. NISSAN IS REFUSING TO OWN UP TO THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THERE CVT TRANSMISSION AND COST FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10394004

Incident

Feb 26, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE IGNITION START BUTTON WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. SHE STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED AWAY AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN REVERSE AND FORWARD. DEPENDING ON THE INCLINE, THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED SHIFTING TO PARK BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10350300

Incident

Sep 19, 2007

Mileage

1,000 mi

I OWN A 2007 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION NISSAN ALTIMA THAT PERSISTENTLY MALFUNCTIONS. SINCE THAT NOVEMBER DATE AND HAVING REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 5, 2009, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS WITH PASSENGERS, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT, WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, NOR RELEASE FROM THE POSITION IT WAS IN. AFTER REPEATEDLY RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME UNDER WARRANTY REPAIR, THE SAME PROBLEM PERSISTS TO DATE! DESPITE THE DEALERSHIPS CLAIM OF CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, PRESSURE PLATE AND DISC REPLACEMENT, I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL CEASE TO OCCUR, AS IT IS IDIOPATHIC AND THE RE-OCCURRENCE IS UNPREDICTABLE. THUS, OPERATING THIS VEHICLE COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTAL INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I CONTINUE TO REPORT MY CONCERN TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA USA AND TO DATE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SATISFACTION TO QUELL THE UNSAFE FEAR FACTOR IN OWNING AND OPERATING THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER'S MONIKER, "MADE TO DRIVE. BUILT TO LAST." THIS INTERNET CORRESPONDENCE SERVES AS MY OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE 2007 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294687

Incident

Nov 19, 2008

Mileage

18,587 mi

I OWNED A 2007 ALTIMA AT THE TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. IF EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE SLAMMED AND LOCKUP UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO COMPLETE STOP THE THROTTLE BECOMES TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE FOR UP TO 1 MINUTE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT AN INTERSECTION AND SCARED THE'!@#$% OUT OF ME. SIMILAR THING OCCURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. I DECIDED TO TEST IF THIS ISSUE CAN BE DUPLICATED. IT CAN WITH ALMOST 100% ACCURACY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP. DUPLICATED THE ISSUE FOR THEIR CONFIRMATION AND LEFT CAR FOR EXAMINATION. ACCORDING TO SERVICE REP "IT IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE CAR IN THIS CONDITION\". A FEW HOURS LATER GOT A CALL FROM DEALER WITH THE FOLLOWING EXPLANATION. THEY TESTED THIS ISSUE AND WERE ABLE TO REPEAT IT ON 3 IDENTICAL CARS. APPARENTLY MANUFACTURER TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS AN EXPECTED BEHAVIOR TO PROTECT CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF A CAR TRANSMISSION. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN USA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT BUT A DESIGN TO PROTECT TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL OTHER ALTIMAS FOR TEST DRIVE AND SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. APPARENTLY THIS ISSUE AFFECTS ALL ALTIMAS EQUIPPED WITH CVT BUT NOT WITH ABS. I BELIEVE THAT ABS ALLOWS TRANSMISSION TO ROTATE THUS CORRECTING THE ISSUE. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE A CAR FOR UP TO A MINUTE AFTER AN EMERGENCY BRAKING COULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THEN THE EMERGENCY ITSELF. CAN YOU VISUALIZE YOUR SELF BEING STUCK AT AN INTERSECTION (HAPPENED TO ME) OR ON A HIGHWAY? THIS ISSUE CAN BE EASILY DUPLICATED . I HAVE TRADED MY CAR IN AS I WAS TOO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10287187

Incident

Aug 18, 2008

Mileage

19,000 mi

FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10198578. THE ENTIRE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED WHILE THE CAR HAD ONLY 4500 MILES ON IT. AT AROUND 60,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (8/31/09) SO I TOOK IT TO DO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECEIVED TRANSMISSION CODES. NISSAN HEADQUARTERS GOT INVOLVED AND DETERMINED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TRANSMISSION ON A CAR THAT IS A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT. NISSAN HAS SAID THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAVE HAD FEW PROBLEMS, AND INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THEM, THEY ARE JUST GETTING REPLACED. NO FURTHER EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282523

Incident

Aug 31, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

AFTER 14,000 MILES OF USE THE CLUTCH FAILED TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING UP HILL AND SHIFTING LOST ALL DRIVE GEARS AND FORWARD POWER. STRANDED IN TRAFFIC UNABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED OUT WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH DISC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279535

Incident

Jun 23, 2009

Mileage

14,000 mi

PURCHASED A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. 1. FIRST PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN I START THE CAR (THIS WAS 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR). INCREASE RPM TO 1.5 RPM TO GET A LOUDER, CRISPER NOISE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAT SHIELD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOOK 2 WEEKS FOR THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOISE WENT AWAY. 2. NOISE CAME BACK AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER AFTER IT WAS FIXED. BROUGHT IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT TO GET DIFFERENT OPINION. FINDS OUT THE HEAT SHIELD WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. RESOLVED, AND LATER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS NOISE. 3. HAD A 110LB PASSENGER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT TURNED ON. HAVE YET TO GO TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. 4. AFTER ALL THIS, I START THE CAR ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2008 AND DID NOT WARM UP CAR. WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE CAR ON STREET, CLICKING NOISES STARTED TO EMERGE. WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH MOTOR OR THE BELT. NOISE STARTS DISAPPEARING WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP (AFTER 8 MINUTES) DECIDED TO TEST IT OUT BY WARMING UP THE CAR FIRST LATER IN THE DAY AFTER IT HAD COOLED DOWN, AND THEN DRIVING IT, CLICKING SOUND EMERGED AGAIN. BOUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TOLD THEM TO MAKE SURE TO CHECK NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD (GIVER OR TAKE 3 HOURS), THEY DID NOT LISTEN AND CHECKED IT WHEN WARM, WHEN THERE IS NO CLICKING OCCURS. DEEMED FINE. 5. BRAKE SQUEALS ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN USED. HAVE YET TO CHECK THIS ONE OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP. 6. ON A MORNING OF JAN. 2, 2008, I HAVE STARTED THE CAR ONLY TO NOTICE THAT THE AIR MODE HAS SWITCHED FROM DEFROST/FOOT AIR MODE TO FOOT MODE. I THOUGHT THE AIR CONTROL UNIT WAS SUPPOSED TO MEMORIZE THE LAST TIME I HAD THE MODE ON BUT ONCE EVERY OFTEN, IT SWITCHES BACK TO THE FOOT AIR MODE PLUS TURNING ON THE A/C EVERY TIME THE CAR STARTS. COMPUTER PROBLEM MAYBE? HAVE YET TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216774

Incident

Jan 2, 2008

Mileage

7,420 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AS THE PASSENGER WAS EXITING. THE DOOR BENT BACKWARDS AND SCRATCHED THE ENTIRE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT JUMPED INTO THE MOVING VEHICLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER INJURED HER ARM, WHEN SHE TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ROLLING VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ID

10204729

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

2,500 mi

AFTER HEATING UP (AN HOUR OR SO OF DRIVING), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO FAIL. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND THE RPM'S GO WAY UP, BUT CAR BARELY ACCELERATES. FIRST ATTEMPT AT DEALERSHIP, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. A DAY LATER, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE SECOND ATTEMPT, THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. A DAY LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME. CAR ONLY HAS 4,500 MILES ON IT. BEGINNING TO GET PRETTY FRUSTRATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198578

Incident

Jul 13, 2007

Mileage

3,700 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTACT PULLED OVER, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND CONSUMED THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH IT'S CONTENTS IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOOSE POWER WHILE IT WAS ON FIRE, BUT BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT DID LOOSE ITS GAS PRESSURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE THE CONTACT COULD SEE LIQUID BURNING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SMELL GAS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED BRUISES EXCITING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,500. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHEN HE STOPPED. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10195234

Incident

Jun 30, 2007

Mileage

3,500 mi

ON SOME MINOR SLOPES, BUT NOT ALL, THE CVT TRANSMISSION-EQUIPPED 2007 ALTIMA WILL ROLL BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET WHILE IN "DRIVE" POSING A HAZARD TO OBJECTS AND PERSONS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THIS IS CONSISTENTLY REPRODUCIBLE IN OUR HOME DRIVEWAY BUT NOT ON STEEPER SLOPES SUCH AS A PARKING GARAGE. THE SURPRISING CONDITION CAUSED MY WIFE TO PANIC AND ALMOST LOSE CONTROL, NEARLY STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE. HOWEVER, AS OF THIS POSTING, NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGES BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10189034

Incident

Apr 18, 2007

Mileage

343 mi

1.)WHEN THE CAR WARM UPS AFTER 15-20 MINUTES, THE SLIP AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT COME ON. 2.) THE SPEEDOMETER FAILS, THE WIPERS SOMETIMES FAIL (IN THE RAIN!), AND NOW THE HEADLIGHT GO ON OFF BY THEMSELVES (AT NIGHT!!!) 3.) THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THEY ADJUSTED A LOSE WIRE 1ST, SECOND THEY REPLACED AN ABS ACTUATOR, THE 3RD TIME AT THE DEALER THEY ORDERED A TRANSMISSION COMPUTER GIZMO (IS ON ORDER AND NOT REPLACED). *NM

NHTSA ID

10180871

Incident

Jan 26, 2007