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 ↗2014 Nissan Altima suspension problems
moderate 116 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
116
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 116 suspension complaints filed for the 2014 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 116 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 #3 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.
Rear Lower Suspension Link Warranty Extension Dealer Notification In October 2019, Nissan launched a Voluntary Service Campaign (P9324) on MY2013 Nissan Altima vehicles registered in high road-salt-usage states (Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin). In the interest of customer satisfaction, Nissan is providing a warranty extension to certain MY2013 Nissan Altima vehicles that were not included in P9324 and certain MY2014-2018 Nissan Altima and MY2016-2018 Nissan Maxima vehicl
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013-2018 ALTIMA AND 2016-2018 MAXIMA; REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK IF YOU CONFIRM The customer experiences a knocking or rattling noise from the rear of the vehicle, Or The rear wheel and tire assemblies have a large amount of positive camber. ACTION Replace both rear lower links.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2014 Nissan Altimas in salt-belt regions describe sudden, violent failure of the rear lower control arms—the structural links that keep the rear wheels aligned and attached to the frame. The part cracks and separates due to corrosion from road salt, with no warning signs until it fails abruptly. Drivers report losing control of the vehicle mid-turn or mid-highway, with the car fishtailing, pulling sharply to one side, or the rear end dropping as the wheel tilts inward. Traction control and ABS lights illuminate, but often too late. Owners note they heard clicking or clunking from the rear suspension for months beforehand, yet multiple visits to Nissan dealerships went unaddressed.
The failure pattern is bilateral: one arm breaks, and inspection reveals the other is severely cracked and ready to fail within days. Nissan issued service bulletin P9324 and extended the warranty on this part to 10 years from manufacture date—but only for 2013 Altimas in the U.S. salt belt. The 2014 is excluded in the U.S., though covered in Canada using the same design. Owners report Nissan never mailed notifications of the defect, the warranty extension, or the service campaign, even though the company acknowledges the corrosion risk in salt-belt states. Repairs cost $500–$2,700. Owners left out of warranty have been denied coverage and told Nissan is not responsible.
Same Nissan Altima suspension reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Rear lower control arm cracking and separation due to corrosion
The rear lower control arm (also called lower link or control link) cracks and separates, typically due to rust and corrosion from road salt exposure. The crack can initiate at the chassis connection point and progress until the arm fractures completely or separates from its mounting bolts. The failure occurs despite no prior warning signs and can happen abruptly during normal driving.
When: Typically occurs between 72,000 and 230,000 miles; corrosion progresses over years of operation in salt-belt regions. Many failures reported at 100,000-160,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of vehicle control, swerving, or fishtailing without warning; Vehicle pulls sharply to one side (typically the side of failure); Steering wheel becomes loose or unresponsive; Traction control, ABS, or stability control warning lights illuminate; Loud clunking, popping, rattling, or grinding noise from rear suspension; Rear wheel wobbles or tilts inward noticeably; Vibration or shaking from the rear, especially over bumps; Vehicle feels like it is on ice or has lost alignment; Clicking noise from rear suspension when driving over bumps (precursor symptom, can occur for months before failure)
Codes mentioned: Traction control warning light, ABS warning light, Electronic stability control warning light, Suspension-related diagnostic codes in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of one or both rear lower control arms; owners report costs ranging from $500 to $2,700 depending on labor and parts. Many cases involve replacement of both arms even if only one fractured, as the other side often shows severe cracking or corrosion. Related suspension components may also require replacement (springs, shocks, struts, knuckles, axles in some cases).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued service bulletin P9324 and an extended warranty campaign (10 years, unlimited miles) for 2013 Altimas in salt-belt U.S. states. 2013 and 2014 Altimas in Canada were included in the recall. 2014 Altimas in the U.S. are NOT covered by the service campaign despite the same design and failure mode. Nissan has acknowledged the problem and issued a service bulletin but claims it does not apply to 2014 U.S. vehicles. Owners report Nissan refused to notify customers of the defect or warranty extension, denied coverage beyond the extended warranty period, denied towing reimbursement and rental car assistance, and required VIN confirmation of recall eligibility before providing any assistance. From 2018 onward, Nissan redesigned the control arm, indicating they identified and corrected the defect.
Bilateral rear lower control arm failure (sequential or simultaneous)
Both the driver-side and passenger-side rear lower control arms fail or are on the verge of failure, typically within a short time of each other. One arm fractures completely while the other exhibits severe cracking and corrosion. This pattern suggests a design vulnerability affecting both sides equally under salt-belt conditions.
When: Sequential failures occur within days to weeks of each other, or both are found severely damaged during inspection after one fails. Occurs across mileage range from 79,000 to 230,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: One control arm fractures and causes immediate loss of control; Within days or weeks, the other control arm fails or is found to be severely cracked during inspection; Initial failure symptoms precede second failure; Inspection of failed arm reveals the opposite side is ready to fail
Codes mentioned: Traction control warning light, ABS warning light, Stability control warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Both arms require replacement; dealers typically recommend replacing both after discovering one has failed, as the other side is often found to be cracked or severely corroded. Repair costs for both arms typically range from $1,300 to $2,700 including labor, parts, and sometimes associated components.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service campaign P9324 and extended warranty available for 2013 Altimas in U.S. salt-belt states and 2013–2014 Altimas in Canada. 2014 Altimas in the U.S. are not covered. Nissan acknowledges the corrosion issue but limits coverage to specific model years and regions. Owners outside warranty periods are denied coverage.
Front coil spring breakage
The front suspension coil spring, which uses approximately 3/8-inch steel, breaks under compression. This is reported as a separate but related suspension defect on at least one 2014 Altima.
When: At 44,000 miles, 4 years old at time of failure.
Symptoms owners cite: No warning signs reported before failure; Part failure occurred when vehicle was parked locally (not on highway)
Repairs/costs cited: Spring was replaced by independent mechanic within one week. No cost figure provided.
Synthesized from 116 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Vehicle is driven several miles so the engine is warm. Three times the car has stalled when stopping at a light or slowing at an intersection to make a left turn or right turn. When moving from the waiting position the car will stall and as an oncoming car is coming poses a left threatning situation as it will not move forward immediately. Car has been taken to Nissan dealership 2 times and both…
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 38 MPH, the traction control warning light illuminated, and the rear suspension lowered abruptly. The contact stated that the passenger’s side rear lower control arm had snapped from excessive corrosion. The contact was able to drive to her residence at a reduced speed. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the rear…
Vehicle traveling straight on highway at approx. 65 MPH. Vehicle jerked in a fishtail manner to the left hand drivers side. I immediately pulled off the highway, discovered a completely flat tire (purchased only 2 weeks ago). Vehicle towed to dealership and was told that rear lower control arm was severely cracked, unsafe to drive. Service member also advised me that this is an ongoing issue with…
Had suspension trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 116 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 72 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 80,000 and 126,000 miles, with the median around 101,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 80,000; a quarter make it past 126,000. 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/2014/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.