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severe Owners of the 2017 Nissan Altima have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Altima | 99 |
| 2014 Altima | 36 |
| 2015 Altima | 45 |
| 2016 Altima | 22 |
| 2017 Altima (this page) | 17 |
| 2019 Altima | 3 |
| 2020 Altima | 5 |
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.
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.
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.
If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body 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.
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver s
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver s
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Front Member Welds ***** Detailed Information ***** On October 26, 2016, Nissan announced a Quality Assurance Hold certain MY2017 Altima (L33) and MY2017 Maxima (A36) vehicles. A repair procedure, parts, and tools are now available to repair these vehicles. Nissan is requesting that dealers enhance the front member weld on affected vehicles using the procedure included with this announcement. The quality hold can be released once the procedure has been performed. ***** What Dealers Should Do ***** 1. Verify if vehicles currently in dealer inventory are affected by this inventory service action using Service Comm I.D. PC502. - New vehicles in dealer inventory can be also be identified using D
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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 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.
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.
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
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.
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.
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.