COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Nissan Altima transmission problems

241 distinct owner reports with a transmission-specific component in this snapshot.

General power-train reports are not automatically counted as transmission problems. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

16 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

157 reports with mileage · 84 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

241 reports
1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 1999
Power Train

SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 7/98, I'VE HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN TO THE SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 7 TIMES. RECENTLY, I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANICE THAT MY COOLANT AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE LEAKING. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I'VE CONTACTED NISSAN ONCE, AND WROTE LETTERS TWICE, BUT NOTHING HAS…

Read full complaint

SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 7/98, I'VE HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN TO THE SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 7 TIMES. RECENTLY, I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANICE THAT MY COOLANT AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE LEAKING. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I'VE CONTACTED NISSAN ONCE, AND WROTE LETTERS TWICE, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN ESCALATED. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #709746

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 1999
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

GEAR STICK WOULD NOT MOVE INTO PARK. YH

NHTSA ODI #547543

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1999
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708152

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
Power Train

THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE IN NEUTRAL TO START. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. RECALL 94V-165. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841178

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I AM AWARE OF TECH. SAFETY BULL. NTB 96-009; 009A; 009B. TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL GEAR WAS A FORWARD GEAR. DRIVE GEARS WERE NOT CORRECT, OFTEN NEUTRAL. 1ST 2 TIMES, PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 1 HR. DEALER REFUSED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM UNTIL 3RD FAILURE, CLAI…

Read full complaint

I AM AWARE OF TECH. SAFETY BULL. NTB 96-009; 009A; 009B. TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL GEAR WAS A FORWARD GEAR. DRIVE GEARS WERE NOT CORRECT, OFTEN NEUTRAL. 1ST 2 TIMES, PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 1 HR. DEALER REFUSED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM UNTIL 3RD FAILURE, CLAIMING THEY NEEDED TO SEE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM BEFORE DEALING WITH IT. THEY DID INSPECT CAR AFTER 1ST FAILURE BUT FOUND NOTHING. 3RD TIME THEY DID LINE AND PRESSURE (?) TESTS, WHICH THEY COULD HAVE DONE 1ST TWO TIMES BUT DID NOT. TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEY DID NOT ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE, CLAIMING THAT NISSAN CORPORATE INSTRUCTED THEM TO REPLACE AND NOT INVESTIGATE. TOLD ME THEY WERE PUTTING A "NEW" TRANSMISSION IN. FOUND OUT AFTER WORK DONE THAT IT WAS A REMANUFACTURED ONE. THEY ALSO REPLACED RADIATOR. NISSAN CORPORTATE CONTACTED AFTER 1ST FAILURE, BUT REFUSED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED OVER SAFETY AND INSTALLATION OF REMANUFACTURED TRASMISSION. I OWN 2 OTHER ALTIMAS, A 96 AND A 94. SHOULD THIS BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND SHOLD NISSAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHARING DATA ON INVESTIGATION OF FAILED TRANSMISSIONS WITH YOUR OFFICES IN LIGHT OF TSB? *AK

NHTSA ODI #707511

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · May 12, 1999
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS MISTAKENLY PUT INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF PARK POSITION, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO A POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH UPON IMPACT DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND LESS THAN 3 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837801

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1998
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN REVERSE

NHTSA ODI #701415

1997 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 1998
Power Train

RECALL WORK PERFORM ON THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER FOUND THE TRANSMISSION DAMAGED AND IN NEED OF COMPLETE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #543015

1997 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1998
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

AIRBAG - DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. BRAKES - BRAKES DID NOT ADEQUATELY STOP THE VEHICLE IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS, TAKES FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ENGINE - ENGINE WON'T STA…

Read full complaint

AIRBAG - DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. BRAKES - BRAKES DID NOT ADEQUATELY STOP THE VEHICLE IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS, TAKES FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ENGINE - ENGINE WON'T START AT RANDOM. DEALER FINDDS NO PROBLEMS. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #700742

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1998
Power Train

VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826258

Related Official recalls

1

94V165000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 2, 1994

THE SHIFT LEVER LOCK PLATE, WHICH PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING INADVERTENTLY MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR NEUTRAL POSITION, CAN BE BROKEN BY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION PIN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTION CAN CAUSE VEHICLE MOVEMENT WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET TO PREVENT THE SHIFT POSITION PIN FROM BREAKING THE SHIFT LEVER LOCK PLATE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.