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2017 Nissan Altima

Gas
Midsize Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
80 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA390
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA31 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 390 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AltimaGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273931$2,000
Altima SRGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl263730$2,100
AltimaGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl223226$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38150, 38149, 38151.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 Nissan Altima is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

R20A7
1,831,818 vehicles
ProblemNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.RiskCorrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.FixNissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an OwnerÂ’s Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall ap
NHTSA campaign 20V315000reported May 28, 2020Nissan North America, Inc.
●moderate

Latches/Locks/Linkages

341,003 vehicles
ProblemNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.RiskIf the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.FixNissan 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V915000reported Dec 19, 2018Nissan North America, Inc.
●moderate

Latches/Locks/Linkages

341,005 vehicles
ProblemNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.RiskIf the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.FixNissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign 17V040000reported Jan 18, 2017Nissan North America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Suspension:Rear — Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure closed

On July 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened EA19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 Nissan Altima and 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened ODI had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.ODI was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged an increased steering effort or loss of vehicle control.At the time these complaints were received, ODI was also aware of a proactive service campaign addressing 2013 Nissan Altima in salt-belt states for a similar concern. Since opening the investigation, ODI has confirmed, based on

Opened Jul 29, 2019 · closed Jun 16, 2025 · action EA19002

Suspension:Rear — Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure closed

PE18-013 was opened on December 1, 2018, with 4 complaints to ODI alleging incidents of the lower control arm fracturing at a connection point to the vehicle chassis due to corrosion. ODI has received an additional 87 complaints since the PE was opened. During PE18-013, Nissan indicated model years 2013-2018 shared a common rear lower control arm design. Nissan provided complaint and warranty data regarding 48 incidents of the subject failure. The majority of the complaints are from vehicles registered in salt belt states. There have been no crashes, injuries, or fatalities confirmed as of this date. Nissan advised that it has conducted testing to assess safety risk. Nissan states that due t

Opened Dec 1, 2018 · closed Aug 21, 2019 · action PE18013

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
390complaints filed

24 involved a crash · 7 a fire · 23 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 9 · 2018: 23 · 2019: 38 · 2020: 78 · 2021: 46 · 2022: 45 · 2023: 50 · 2024: 44 · 2025: 38 · 2026: 19

Most-cited components

Power Train133
Air Bags72
Unspecified62
Vehicle Speed Control41
Engine39
Electrical System26

What owners describe

“Hello I’m not sure how to actually go about this. Just looking for a little clarification or guidance, I purchased my 2017 Nissan Altima from a dealership March 2020. Two weeks ago the airbag popped on that it’s no longer working and I’m not understanding why I haven’t been in any accidents or anything. It does…”Oct 29, 2021 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“1. Air Bag: Car was released from towing company to Progressive as total loss vehicle. 2. Component did not deploy when hit by an 18 wheeler. 3. Unknown, being in the crash as well as post crash visual evidence proves non deployment. 4. Total loss was declared and car was released to Progressive. 5. No warning or error…”Oct 13, 2021 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“I am driving for about 40min my nissan stop accelerating. I can floor the gas pedal. It will not increase speed. My speed starts to decline . I can't go faster. I have to put my hazard lights on and coast to get of freeway. No check engine lights no warning. I have taken it to nissan to get updated soft ware. Still no …”Oct 10, 2021 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2017 Altima with

2017 Honda Civic →

Other Altima model years

A

2026 Nissan Altima

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2025 Nissan Altima

2 recalls · 6 complaints

A

2024 Nissan Altima

1 recalls · 41 complaints

A

2023 Nissan Altima

0 recalls · 29 complaints

A

2022 Nissan Altima

0 recalls · 30 complaints

B

2021 Nissan Altima

2 recalls · 69 complaints

F

2020 Nissan Altima

6 recalls · 158 complaints

F

2019 Nissan Altima

7 recalls · 229 complaints

B

2018 Nissan Altima

2 recalls · 225 complaints

C

2016 Nissan Altima

4 recalls · 553 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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