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2016 Nissan Altima cruise control problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
4injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 cruise control 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 16 model years of Nissan Altima in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Nissan Altima has widespread transmission and throttle control issues that show up unpredictably—delayed or no acceleration from stops, sudden power loss at highway speeds, involuntary acceleration, and brake failure. These aren't isolated complaints; owners report dealers can't diagnose or fix them, and a CVT recall expired in 2023.
Multiple owners describe a pattern of delayed acceleration after stopping at lights or signs, where the car doesn't respond to the gas pedal for 5 to 25 seconds before lunging forward. RPMs rev but power doesn't transfer to the wheels. Powering the car off and back on temporarily clears the problem, but it returns randomly.
At highway speeds, owners report the vehicle loses power and won't accelerate above 10–20 mph even with the pedal pressed all the way down. One owner dropped from 70 mph to 10 mph on an interstate with an 18-wheeler nearby. The transmission reportedly shifts roughly, shakes during takeoff, and sometimes slips out of gear.
Several owners experienced involuntary acceleration with brakes failing to engage, resulting in collisions. One crash injured the driver's back, neck, and face; another hit a guardrail.
Cruise control drops speed on empty roads and won't deactivate in some cases. Nissan dealers generally cannot retrieve fault codes or reproduce the faults during diagnostics. One owner was charged $600 for diagnostics that found nothing. A recall expired April 2023, though one owner was never notified despite prior dealership visits. Estimates for transmission replacement run $4,500.
Same Nissan Altima cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Delayed/Failed Acceleration After Stop
When stopped at lights or stop signs, pressing the accelerator produces no response for several seconds to 25 seconds, then the vehicle suddenly lunges forward. RPMs may rev but power doesn't reach the wheels. Power cycling (turning vehicle off and back on) temporarily resolves the issue.
When: Occurs randomly after in-town stop-and-go driving or after extended highway driving; reported at various mileages from 15k to 100k miles
Symptoms owners cite: No vehicle response when accelerator pedal pressed at stops; Delayed acceleration of 5-25 seconds before vehicle moves; RPMs rev but no power delivery; Sudden lunge forward after delay; Issue temporarily clears after power cycle
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealers unable to retrieve fault codes or replicate issue during service visits; one transmission repair mentioned under warranty; dealer diagnostics cost approximately $600
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty transmission repair mentioned in one narrative; recall expired April 2023 per one owner (was never notified)
Unintended Acceleration/Loss of Brake Control
Vehicle accelerates involuntarily with full power while cruise control is engaged or engine revs without driver input. Brakes fail to engage or respond to pedal pressure. Can occur at highway speeds and result in collision.
When: While cruise control engaged at highway speeds; one incident at 45 mph, another turning into parking lot
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver input; Full RPM surge while cruise control active; Brakes unresponsive or delayed response to brake pedal; Cannot deactivate cruise control; Vehicle lunges or jerks suddenly
Repairs/costs cited: Two incidents resulted in vehicle collisions with property; one caused driver injury (back, neck, facial trauma)
Transmission Power Loss and Stalling
Vehicle loses power intermittently while driving at highway speeds, dropping from set speed to 10-20 mph even with accelerator fully depressed. RPM climbs but vehicle will not respond. May stall or shut off completely while driving. Jerking and rough shifts occur.
When: After 70+ miles of driving; reported at 40k, 53k, 73k, and 100k+ miles; throughout vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power at highway speeds; Cannot accelerate above 10-20 mph despite full throttle; RPM rises but speed doesn't increase; Vehicle stalls or shuts off while driving; Jerking, bucking, rough gear shifts; Vehicle feels like it's in neutral despite being in Drive; Sudden speed drops from 70 mph to 10-20 mph on interstate
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light (some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics diagnosed CVT transmission failure; one estimate $4,500 for transmission replacement; one case warranty transmission repair; another dealership diagnosed transmission issue but could not provide specific remedy
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall expired April 2023; one owner never notified of recall despite prior dealership visits
Cruise Control Speed Irregularity
While cruise control is engaged on empty roadway with no vehicles in front, vehicle speed drops 3-5 mph below set point without driver input or vehicles detected by crash avoidance system. Driver must reapply throttle to maintain speed.
When: Continuously since purchase (03/30/2016 onward in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Speed drops from set point (e.g., 65 mph down to 62-65 mph) on empty roadway; No cars in sight or detected by crash avoidance system; Occurs repeatedly throughout use of cruise control
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan mechanic stated this is normal operation of cruise control; no repair performed
Transmission Shaking and Gear Slippage
Vehicle shakes when starting from first gear and taking off. Shaking escalates over time. Transmission slips out of gear or drops to lower gear unexpectedly, especially on freeway driving, creating hazardous situations.
When: Shaking reported from first gear; slippage reported during freeway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking during takeoff from first gear; Shaking escalates in severity over time; Won't shift out of second gear; Slips out of gear unexpectedly; Drops to lower gear suddenly
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan technician identified transmission as source; logged for future reference but no repair completed
Erratic RPM Behavior and Sputtering
RPMs jump, fluctuate, or rev excessively while driving. Engine sputters, jerks, and changes gears are not smooth. Vehicle may lose all power and dash lights turn off temporarily.
When: Random occurrences while driving; reported throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs jumping and fluctuating while driving; Engine sputtering and jerking; Rough, non-smooth gear changes; All dash lights turn off during power loss event; No throttle response when power loss occurs; Vehicle restarts on its own within 10-15 seconds after shutdown
Codes mentioned: No specific codes retrieved in cases checked
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2016 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 cruise control problem on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 29,114 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 53,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,114; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2016/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.