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2017 Nissan Altima body problems

severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →

Complaints
17
Recalls
1
Avg fix
$1,500
1crash
1fire
2injuries

When does it fail?

Of the 17 body complaints filed for the 2017 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.

0-25k
1 (100%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)

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

No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 18V915000 December 19, 2018

Nissan North America, Inc

If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.

The failure pattern owners describe

Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Altima has documented problems with the hood latch (safety risk), overhead console falling into the cabin, and various trim/interior hardware failures. Hood latch issues are tied to a recall, but owners report long wait times and inadequate damage coverage from dealers.

The 2017 Nissan Altima has a track record of interior hardware coming loose or failing. The overhead console clips deteriorate and the console falls into the cabin—one owner reported being struck on the head. The driver's side sun visor has detached independently while driving, impairing visibility. Floor mats come unsecured when eye-hook rings tear, allowing mats to bunch up under the pedals.

The hood latch is a serious problem. Multiple owners report the hood opening without warning during highway driving, completely blocking forward visibility. This is tied to a safety recall, but owners cite appointment backlogs of 8–9 months at Nissan service centers. When the latch fails, it damages the windshield and hood, yet dealers refuse to cover the collateral damage under warranty, telling owners to pursue insurance or personal body shops. Nissan Consumer Affairs has contradicted field service, creating confusion about who pays.

Other failures include the rear passenger door's electric lock switch and child safety lock both failing—leaving the door operable only from outside. The driver's side mirror produces distracting wind noise that only stops when closed, making the mirror unusable. Water has pooled in the rear passenger area with no visible leak source. One owner reported a sunroof spontaneously shattering when the door was closed while parked.

Same Nissan Altima body reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016

Failure modes owners describe

Overhead console detachment

Interior overhead console (roof-mounted between front seats) clips fail, causing console to fall into cabin. One owner reported being struck on the head during occurrence.

When: Approximately 50,000–64,300 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Console falls from ceiling while driving; Striking occupants; Clips securing console to interior roof deteriorate

Repairs/costs cited: Console replacement required; dealer performed repair free of charge on first occurrence in one case

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or warranties provided per owner notification

Hood latch failure

Hood latch disengages while vehicle is in motion, allowing hood to open unexpectedly. Multiple owners report this occurred during highway driving. Related safety recall exists but owners report difficulty obtaining service.

When: Various speeds; one documented at highway speed; one occurred after mechanic service

Symptoms owners cite: Hood opens without warning while driving; Complete loss of forward visibility; Windshield cracked/broken; Damage to hood and front fenders/hinges; No warning lights or messages before failure

Repairs/costs cited: Hood latch replaced under recall at dealership; windshield damage and body damage not covered; owners directed to personal body shops or insurance

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety recall issued; Nissan Consumer Affairs told owner dealership should process through warranty but passed responsibility; service centers cite 8–9 month wait times

Driver's side sun visor detachment

Sun visor assembly on driver's side detaches while vehicle is in motion, impairing driver visibility.

When: Unknown mileage

Symptoms owners cite: Sun visor detaches independently while driving; Impaired driving visibility

Repairs/costs cited: Sun visor assembly replacement needed

Rear passenger door locking mechanism failure

Electric door lock switch fails on rear passenger door; manual locking required. Child safety lock also fails on same door, rendering door openable only from outside.

When: Unknown mileage; failure occurred twice on same door

Symptoms owners cite: Electric lock/unlock inoperative; Child safety lock inoperative; Door cannot be opened from inside; Cabling loosens from door handle

Repairs/costs cited: Locking mechanism replacement; child safety lock replacement

Floor mat eye-hook detachment

Front floor mat eye-hook ring tears away from mat, allowing floor mat to shift under gas and brake pedals, creating entanglement hazard.

When: Unknown mileage

Symptoms owners cite: Eye-hook ring tears away from floor mat; Floor mat migrates under pedals; Potential for pedal entanglement

Driver's side mirror wind noise

Excessive wind noise originating from driver's side mirror distracts driver. Closing mirror stops noise but renders mirror unusable. History of mirror-related recalls on this model.

When: Unknown mileage

Symptoms owners cite: Distracting wind noise from driver's side; Noise persists during normal driving; Noise only stops when mirror is closed

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Prior recalls issued for driver's side mirror on this model year

Water accumulation in passenger area

Water pooling in rear passenger area with no visible source from roof, doors, or windows, suggesting sealed area drainage failure.

When: Unknown mileage

Symptoms owners cite: Visible water collection in rear passenger side; No apparent roof, door, or window leaks

Sunroof spontaneous failure

Sunroof explodes or shatters while vehicle is parked, with no external impact reported.

When: While parked; triggered by closing door

Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof spontaneously shatters; Triggered by door closure

Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

body · 19,000 mi · filed 12/09/2017

My vehicle was parked in the stalls in front of the casey's general store entrance in evansville, wisconsin. I was parked there from 8am-5pm and when I returned to my vehicle, there was damage to the rear right bumper as if another vehicle had swiped mine backing in or out of the neighboring stall. There was no previous damage to my vehicle-it was in perfect condition as it is brand new.

Had body trouble with your 2017 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 body problem on the 2017 Nissan Altima?

It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.

At what mileage does the body typically fail?

Based on the 17 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 51,043 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover body issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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/2017/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.
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