The issue happened multiple times but seems to happen more, the longer the vehicle is running. The first time I was waiting in a parking lot with the air condition running. I was leaving the parking lot and the vehicle paused and lost accelertion power for a few seconds and started going. I though it was an issue with the air condition so I turned off the air condition to see if it would…
2017 Nissan Altima powertrain problems
severe 129 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
129
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
3crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 129 powertrain complaints filed for the 2017 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 129 powertrain 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.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Transmission started to slip in early 2019. Went to dealership immediately to be informed that the CVT transmission needed to be replaced. Dealership quoted us $5600 for the repair of a rebuilt. We looked at the error code and saw that all other years and models had already been recalled due to the exact same error. Nissan told us they would give us "assistance" at 60%, which still was over…
While driving at highway speed (75mph), my RPM's shot up. I let off the accelerator briefly and when I attempted to push the accelerator again, nothing happened. My car continued to slow down and I was almost hit from behind. I was able to pull off to the side of the highway. I had my car towed to a garage and they said the car had 4 error codes, all having to do with the transmission. I…
Car is not shifting properly by itself when accelerating get stuck in the first gear. Also periodically the pedal has a three second delay when pressing on it to accelerate this happens almost daily. The only remedy that fixes it is to shut the car off and restart it. This happens when the car is stopped as far as the pedal goes. The acceleration where it does not shift can happen at any time but…
Just bought a 2017 Nissan Altima SR. Took it for a ride. Attempted to merge into traffic and the car had zero acceleration once I merged and then the transmission seemed to completely disengage. The RPMs week to around 3500 so I quickly had to pull off so as not to get rear ended. Brought the car to a stop and attempted several times to push the gas but the car would not pick up any momentum.…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2017 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 129 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 62 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 50,000 and 88,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 88,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/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.