NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 395 owner complaints for the 2017 Nissan Altima. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: latches, locks and linkages and body structure. Most-described problem: hesitation or slow acceleration (55 complaints, 14%). Most-reported area: powertrain (133 complaints, 34%; median mileage when it happened: 66,000).
About a typical Altima year
The 2017 drew 70 owner complaints in its first three years, against 70 for a typical Altima year (63 for a typical year since 2016).
Years to avoid: 2013 to 2015; best years: 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Risk: Corrosion 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Nissan 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 Owner'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 applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles.
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.
Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Nissan 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.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040.
NHTSA listing: ALTIMA. Components: Latches, locks and linkages: doors, latch; Body structure: emergency, escape/egress/exit.
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.
Risk: If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Nissan 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.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles.
NHTSA listing: ALTIMA.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2017 Nissan Altima; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Engineering analysis EA21002Open since Sep 17, 2021
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.
NHTSA listing: ALTIMA. Component: Air bags (frontal, driver side, inflator module, passenger side). This investigation names 352 models.
Rear suspension control arm failure
Engineering analysis EA19002Closed Jun 16, 2025 (opened Jul 29, 2019)
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.
Preliminary evaluation PE18013Closed Aug 21, 2019 (opened Dec 1, 2018)
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.
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 395 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Altima. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Hesitation or slow acceleration55 · 14%
Median 62,000 miles at failure, from 27 reports with mileage
Airbag warning light or airbag fault50 · 13%
Transmission failure or replacement40 · 10%
Median 67,000 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Check engine light36 · 9%
Median 73,200 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode33 · 8%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off30 · 8%
Median 65,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Median 66,000 miles at failure, from 68 reports with mileage
Air bags74 · 19%
Median 62,400 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Speed control41 · 10%
Median 61,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Engine40 · 10%
Median 51,800 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Electrical system28 · 7%
Median 29,100 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Brakes19 · 5%
Body structure18 · 5%
Most named: body (14)
Unknown or other62 · 16%
Median 35,300 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Nissan Altima recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2017 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2013 Altima drew the most (556) and the 2017 drew 70.
Owner complaints
2017: 395 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Nissan Altima
Model year
Complaints
2010
393
2011
246
2012
426
2013
2,315
2014
1,114
2015
956
2016
555
2017
395
2018
226
2019
235
2020
183
2021
71
2022
32
2023
30
2024
44
2025
7
2026
1
Safety recalls
2017: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Nissan Altima
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
1
2012
4
2013
12
2014
8
2015
10
2016
4
2017
3
2018
2
2019
7
2020
6
2021
2
2022
0
2023
0
2024
1
2025
2
2026
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 395 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Nissan Altima, the problems described most are hesitation or slow acceleration (55), the airbag warning light or an airbag fault (50), and transmission failure or replacement (40). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2017 Nissan Altima safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2017 Nissan Altima earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2017 Nissan Altima?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2017 Nissan Altima: desiccated air bag inflator rupture (EA21002, opened Sep 17, 2021). It has closed 2 others. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Altima has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Nissan dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: ALTIMA.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.