CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Nissan Altima powertrain problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED IN THE TCM This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT JUDDER AND DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT Warranty Extension REVISION 1 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from May 23, 2023 has been revised to include the following: ⢠The voucher program has been updated and the program rules and dealer instructions have been added to the FAQ section of this dealer announcement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT Warranty Extension In an effort to assure customer satisfaction, demonstrate our confidence in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), and to address customer concerns including those expressed by customers in the class actions, Nissan will extend the warranty coverage on the CVT. The warranty extension includes the CVT assembly and internal CVT components, gaskets, and seals, CVT control valve body, torque converter, cooler kit (if applicable) and reprogramming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), on the vehicles listed in this announcement. The warranty is being extended from its original duration of 60 months/60,000 miles to 84 months/84,000 miles (whichever occurs first). Co
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Nissan Altima CVT transmission is failing consistently at mileage well below 100,000 miles, and owners say Nissan is aware of the problem but refuses to take responsibility. Most complaints center on sudden loss of power while driving: vehicles jerking, shuddering, and dropping into neutral without warning—often at highway speeds in traffic. Owners report RPMs surging and dropping erratically, hesitation followed by abrupt lunging from stops, and in several cases complete transmission failure leaving them stranded on busy roads. One owner's CVT failed at a red light on a highway exit, causing the car to roll backward and nearly get hit. Another lost all power on an interstate at 50 mph during a left turn.
Diagnostic code P17F0 indicates CVT failure; transmission belt wear is the cited culprit. Dealers have confirmed this is a known issue across multiple Altima model years, yet the 2018 model was not issued a recall or extended warranty. Replacement costs run $5,500 to $6,200. One owner received only 50 percent goodwill credit after warranty expired at 60,000 miles. Even basic transmission service (flush, fluid change) hasn't prevented failure. Owners report no warning lights in most cases—the transmission simply quit. One owner's extended warranty (85 months/85,000 miles) was denied the moment mileage exceeded the limit. Dealers occasionally reprogram the transmission control module without success.
Same Nissan Altima powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Transmission Failure
Complete or near-complete loss of transmission function, often with sudden loss of power while driving. Belt wear, slipping, and loss of drive reported. Owners report sudden inability to accelerate, transmission shifting into neutral unexpectedly, jerking, shuddering, and juddering sensations. In multiple cases, vehicles lost power on highways or in traffic, creating dangerous situations.
When: Mileage ranging from 68,000 to 107,000 miles; one case at 99,500 miles with CVT service already performed at 65k and 95k; another at 73,694 miles with warranty expired at 60,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while accelerating; RPM fluctuations and surging; Jerking and shuddering sensations; Transmission slipping; Shifting into neutral while driving; Difficulty accelerating from stops (slow response, then lunging); Inability to accelerate above certain speeds; No warning lights in many cases
Codes mentioned: P17F0
Repairs/costs cited: Full CVT transmission replacement reported at $5,500 to $6,200. One owner reports the CVT was towed and still sitting at dealer. One owner had transmission fluid flush and filter replacement attempted without resolution, then full transmission replacement at 75,000 miles. One owner received 50% goodwill credit from Nissan after warranty expiration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealers acknowledged CVT failure in multiple cases. One owner had extended warranty (85 months/85,000 miles) that was denied after the 85,000-mile mark. Some dealers performed software updates to transmission control module without resolving the issue. Owners report Nissan has known about this issue for 10+ years based on previous lawsuits and recalls on earlier model years. One owner notes prior Nissan Altimas received recalls and extended warranties for CVT issues, but 2018 model was not covered.
CVT Transmission Lag and Hesitation on Acceleration
Intermittent hesitation or delayed response when accelerating from a stop, followed by sudden forward lunge. Drivers report having to slam brakes to avoid collision. Some cases involve redlining at higher RPM while vehicle remains in lower speeds. One case involved transmission reprogramming that did not resolve the issue.
When: Occurring intermittently from low mileage (14,209 miles reported in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed acceleration response from stops; Sudden lurching forward after hesitation; Failure to shift from first gear smoothly; Revving to 7,000 RPM while traveling at 45 mph; No warning lights or messages in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved transmission control module software update at dealer that did not resolve the issue after 6 days of dealership testing. Dealer could not reproduce the problem in testing.
Loss of Power/Drive in Neutral Events
Transmission unexpectedly shifts into neutral or loses drive capability while vehicle is in motion, particularly at highway speeds. Vehicle loses all forward propulsion suddenly, creating immediate collision hazard.
When: Occurring at highway speeds; one case at 75,000 miles with replacement performed
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of all drive power; Transmission shifting to neutral unexpectedly; Vehicle coasting to a stop; Inability to restart vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One owner attempted flush and fluid replacement; issue returned after one day. Full transmission replacement performed at 75,000 miles. Another case resulted in vehicle being towed and remaining at dealer.
Front Axle/Driveline Noise
Popping noise from front axles reported by one owner, who was told by independent mechanic that front axles are failing. Owner notes same issue present on another 2018 Altima. Check engine light stays on constantly in this case.
When: Issue present since vehicle purchase in February 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise from front axles when backing out and driving; Front crash light stays on constantly
Transmission Grinding Noise and Hard Gear Shifting
Grinding noise heard when shifting from Park to Drive. Gear shifting becomes difficult and unresponsive.
Symptoms owners cite: Ugly grinding noise during gear shifts; Hard/difficult gear switching; Backup camera failure (goes to black screen intermittently)
Unintended Braking Events
Vehicle activates brakes on its own without driver input while driving on highway. Issue recurred multiple times even after dealer service attempt.
When: Approximately 5,000 miles reported in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended brake activation while driving; No warning lights illuminated; Recurrence of failure after dealer inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Brake switch replacement performed at dealer, but failure recurred three additional times after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of the failure.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
With a little under 68,000 miles on my 2018 Nissan Altima the transmission started shuttering and slipping. No lights came on the dash but the car was difficult to control. After going to get some dry gas and see if it was motor related the car made a loud squealing noise, the check engine light came on and then the car shuttered the rest of the way home . The car goes in to the Nissan dealership…
The car doesn't move and the car shakes above 55 miles and I can smell smoke under the hood.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 21 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 23,642 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 $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/2018/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.