STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Nissan Altima suspension problems
moderate 117 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
117
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 117 suspension complaints filed for the 2007 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 117 suspension complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 14 model years of Nissan Altima in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin provides information to identify: - A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty. - A strut or shock absorber that has slight oil seepage, a condition which is considered normal, does not affect strut/shock absorber operation or performance, and does not require replacement. - A strut or shock absorber that should be replaced due to rod resistance/noise issues. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: AXLE BOLT AND TORQUE INFORMATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Altima suspension has a well-documented rear sway bar failure pattern. Owners describe the bar snapping in half at the bushing mounting bracket or center mount during normal driving—pulling out of a driveway, making parking-lot turns, or highway driving. No prior impact or collision occurs. The bar is constructed as a hollow steel tube rather than solid steel, and when it fractures, rust is visible inside, indicating water infiltration through earlier cracks. The break is clean with no surrounding damage to the suspension. Failure typically occurs between 22,000 and 100,000 miles, with most complaints clustering around 37,000 to 75,000 miles.
Owners notice a piece of metal hanging under the rear or hear clunking and popping noises. Some report degraded handling and rear-end instability during highway curves and ramp transitions. Repair costs range $200 to $1,013 depending on whether end links, shocks, or other components need replacement; typical sway bar replacement alone runs $400–$600 plus labor.
Nissan dealers and customer service claim they have never encountered the defect, despite owners finding hundreds of complaints online describing identical failures. No recall has been issued. One owner reported a master cylinder recall existed but was not related to the sway bar problem.
Secondary issues include rear shock corrosion and seizure (at least one case at 42,000 miles) and one instance of left rear coil spring breakage with the top section snapped off. Excessive rear tire cupping and wear requiring replacement every 20,000 miles is also reported; replacing springs, shocks, bearings, and aligning the wheels did not correct the wear pattern.
Same Nissan Altima suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Rear sway bar fracture/snapping
The rear sway bar breaks or snaps in half, typically at the bushing mounting bracket or just inside the center mount. Owners report clean breaks with no prior impact or collision history. The bar is constructed as a hollow tube rather than solid steel, and rust is often visible inside the fractured section, indicating water infiltration through earlier cracks. Breaks occur during normal driving, parking, or low-speed maneuvers like pulling out of a driveway or entering a parking lot.
When: Typically 22,000–100,000 miles; most failures reported between 37,000–75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Piece of metal or pipe hanging visibly under rear of vehicle near wheels; Clunking or popping noise from rear suspension during driving or maneuvers; Degraded vehicle handling and rear-end instability, especially during highway curves or ramp entry/exit; Noise when pulling into driveway or at low speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite replacement costs ranging $200–$1,013 depending on ancillary repairs (end links, shocks, brake work); most single sway bar replacements $400–$600. Some owners replace with solid steel sway bars rather than OEM hollow-tube design. Labor typically 1 hour.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealers and customer service claim no awareness of the defect despite hundreds of complaints. No recall issued. No service bulletins or special policies to address the failure. One owner noted a recall was issued for the master cylinder, but not for the sway bar defect.
Rear shock corrosion and seizure
Rear shocks become rusted and seize into the knuckle, likely secondary to sway bar failure or broader corrosion issues in the rear suspension assembly.
When: 42,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Noise in rear of vehicle during driving
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported Nissan and extended warranty would not cover repair due to it being outside factory warranty.
Rear coil spring breakage
Left rear coil spring breaks, with approximately two-thirds of a turn snapped from the top. One owner discovered this defect during self-repair and noted the dealership failed to detect it during a tire rotation visit, instead recommending unrelated expensive repairs.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Degraded ride quality
Repairs/costs cited: Owner performed replacement themselves; cost not provided.
Excessive rear tire wear (cupping and belt showing)
Rear tires wear excessively and cup severely, exposing steel belts, necessitating replacement every 20,000 miles. Replacement of rear springs, shocks, wheel bearings, and realignment did not resolve the issue, suggesting a structural suspension defect.
When: 20,000 miles per replacement cycle
Symptoms owners cite: Cupping and uneven wear on rear tires; Steel belts visible in tires; Excessive tire wear despite maintenance
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple rear suspension component replacements and alignment performed without resolving wear pattern.
Synthesized from 117 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
The stabilizer sway bar for the Nissan altima just broke on its own under normal conditions. I was just driving going speed limit on a local road and the bar snapped. Although I had an accident with this vehicle 4 years ago, the car still ran smoothly because it was minor. The bar snapped on its own and we drive this vehicle with care. *kb
2007 Nissan altima w/ 30k; rear sway bar broke for no apparent reason; not covered under regular warranty but told(by dealer) it is not safe to drive without a repair;if it can cause an accident or is unsafe it should be recalled! *tr
I recently discovered the rear sway bar snapped on my 2007 Nissan altima. A look at the bar shows it was a clean break with no signs of damage to any areas around the bar. A quick search online turned up other complaints of 2007 altima drivers that say they have the same problem with the sway bar snapping in the same place and with no signs of damage. It appears there is a larger issue at hand…
As I was driving home from work I noticed a noise in the rear of my vehicle. I made an appointment to have it looked at and it was said to me that my rear shocks are bad and that they had seized into the knuckle and were rusted. I then proceeded to contact Nissan north america to see if they would help out with this issue due to the vehicle only having 42000 miles. They told me that because I had…
Was at the repair shop picking up my other car when the mechanic noticed something hanging from the bottom of my car. He threw the car up on a lift and discovered that it was a broken sway bar. He was shocked and said he'd never seen or heard of anything like that. I have no idea of the safety implications, but after a quick search online it seems as if there are hundreds of others with this same…
During routine oil change and inspection I was informed by dealer that the rear sway bar on my car was broken. There has not been any rough road conditions or accident to have caused this. Upon research I have discovered that this is a frequent and known problem with this year and model and it is documented extensively on the internet. *tr
I was just driving normally and the sway bar on rear passenger side snapped and broke. I am in the process of trying to have it repaired, the cost is astronomical at around 500 dollars. *tr
Had suspension trouble with your 2007 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2007 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 117 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 109 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 42,114 and 81,000 miles, with the median around 60,300. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,114; a quarter make it past 81,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.