2013-2016 ALTIMA AND SENTRA; REAR OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE INSPECTION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Nissan Altima engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Nissan Altima have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Altima | 22 |
| 2012 Altima | 31 |
| 2013 Altima | 51 |
| 2014 Altima | 28 |
| 2015 Altima (this page) | 21 |
| 2016 Altima | 19 |
| 2017 Altima | 18 |
| 2018 Altima | 5 |
| 2019 Altima | 29 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013-2016 ALTIMA AND SENTRA; REAR OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE INSPECTION SERVICE INFORMATION Nissan is committed to providing the highest levels of product quality and customer satisfaction. Therefore, Nissan is extending the emission warranty on the Rear Oxygen Sensor in the case of a short-to-ground condition to 20 Years or 200,000 miles, whichever occurs first. All other warranty terms, limitations, and conditions remain unchanged. During the warranty extension period, customers are eligible for annual Rear Oxygen Sensor voltage checks, upon request, to determine if a Rear Oxygen Sensor short-toground condition exists. If a Rear Oxygen Sensor short-to-ground condition does exist, Nissan will in
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING 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 2015 Altimas report sporadic delayed throttle response—the engine won't rev for 2–3 seconds when the pedal is pressed, whether stopped or moving. It happens at intersections and highway merges, making acceleration unpredictable and unsafe. Check engine lights often don't illuminate, and mechanics can't reproduce or diagnose the issue on scanner tools.
Multiple owners experienced complete CVT transmission failure, with some reporting loss of drive around 60,000–80,000 miles. The car either won't move or limps along in a neutral-like state. Nissan dealers initially denied transmission problems in some cases, claiming codes cleared without any repair being performed.
Engine stalling while driving is also documented—one owner's engine shut off on the highway and wouldn't restart. Another reported the engine shutting down during stop-and-go traffic. One stall occurred after a dealership valve body replacement failed to fix an underlying issue.
A few owners reported oil pressure warning lights failing to activate during genuine oil loss (one case traced to a service technician's improper oil filter installation), while others describe erratic throttle control, unintended high idle, and uncontrolled acceleration. Engine vibration, sensor faults, and variable valve timing actuator failures also appear in the complaint set. Cost for transmission replacement runs into thousands of dollars, and warranty coverage has expired for many owners.
Same Nissan Altima engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Delayed/No Throttle Response on Acceleration
Engine fails to respond to pedal input for 2–3 seconds, then suddenly accelerates. Occurs at stops and in motion. Diagnostic tools often show no code. Extremely unsafe during merges and intersections.
When: Sporadic; one owner reports primarily when engine is hot. Happens at stops, city driving, and highway speeds.
Symptoms owners cite: No engine rev when pressing accelerator; Delayed acceleration (2–3 seconds); Engine acts as if not running; Happens at stops and while in motion; Frequent occurrence
Codes mentioned: P2101 (Throttle Actuator Control)
Transmission Failure (CVT Non-Functional)
Complete transmission loss of function, leaving vehicle immobile or moving only in neutral-like state. One owner reported failure at 59,700 miles; another at 81,000 miles. Requires full transmission replacement at owner expense.
When: Mileage: 59,700–81,000 miles. One failure after 10 miles of driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Car will not move when accelerator pressed; Acts as if in neutral; Complete loss of drive; Moves very slowly after pressing accelerator repeatedly
Codes mentioned: P0776 (Transmission solenoid malfunction)
Repairs/costs cited: Full transmission replacement required; owners report costs in thousands of dollars.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls available. Nissan dealers denied finding transmission issues in some cases.
Engine Stalling While Driving
Engine shuts down completely while on highway or in traffic. One owner reported stalling after valve body replacement; another stalled and would not restart (only cranked). Creates immediate safety hazard.
When: One failure occurred during stop-and-go traffic; one on highway.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine shut-off; Complete power loss; Engine cranks but will not turn over (restart failure); Car coasts to curb
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan replaced valve body in one case; did not resolve issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Valve body replacement attempted but did not resolve stalling.
Low Oil Pressure Warning Failure
Oil pressure warning light did not illuminate until engine stalled on highway, despite significant oil loss from improperly installed filter. Creates dangerous driving condition.
When: During highway driving, after recent oil change service.
Symptoms owners cite: No warning light during oil loss; Engine stalled on highway; Warning light only appeared after stall
Repairs/costs cited: Oil filter cross-threaded and improperly reattached by service technician at Port City Nissan (Portsmouth, NH), causing oil leak.
Throttle Control Malfunction
Throttle actuator fails to regulate engine speed. Vehicle slows significantly without owner input, then transitions to uncontrolled high idle. RPMs spike to 2,000 in park; car accelerates to 25+ mph without pedal input or warning.
When: During highway driving at 65 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended deceleration from 65 to 30 mph; Inability to accelerate when needed; Check engine light illuminates; High idle (2,000 rpm) in park; Unintended acceleration (25+ mph) without pedal input; Binary behavior: either very responsive or unresponsive
Codes mentioned: P2101 (Throttle Actuator Control)
Engine Vibration and Sensor Failures
Engine vibrates as if downshifting. Check engine light illuminates. Dealer replaces sensor, but problem recurs within days, requiring second sensor replacement. Creates uncertainty about vehicle reliability.
When: Within 4 months of vehicle ownership. Recurs two days after first repair.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine vibration; Check engine light; Engine stalling after sensor replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealer replaced sensors (two separate repairs needed within days).
Mass Air Flow Sensor Fault
Engine struggles to accelerate. Diagnostic code P0101 indicates mass air flow sensor malfunction in fuel injection system.
When: During normal driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine struggles to accelerate; Poor throttle response
Codes mentioned: P0101 (Mass Air Flow Sensor)
VVT Valve Failure
Variable valve timing actuator fails twice despite owner performing timely oil changes. Creates stall risk at low speeds and intersections, presenting safety hazard.
When: Failure occurs twice; timing not specified in complaint.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalling at low speeds; Stalling at intersections during start from stop
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2015 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 engine problem on the 2015 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 47,000 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,000; a quarter make it past 85,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2015/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.