Is the 2015 Nissan Altima a bad year?
956 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2015 Nissan Altima are in line with other Altima years. Exterior lighting, body structure, suspension and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 Altima owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 270 (28%) | 45k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 64 (7%) | 36k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 64 (7%) | 60k–115k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Latches and locksSTANDS OUT | 44 (5%) | 50k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 161 (17%) | 33k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 66 (7%) | 27k–78k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 56 (6%) | 19k–75k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 38 (4%) | 24k–76k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 31 (3%) | 10k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 28 (3%) | 23k–71k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 26 (3%) | 15k–73k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 177 (19%) | 10k–60k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 48 (5%) | 0k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 17 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 956 complaints: 46 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 25 report an injury · 40 say the car was towed.
44 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The vehicle was parked. It rained and the water flooded in through some drain. Now the vehicle had 2 inches of water on the passenger side, front and back.
Greetings, I am writing this complaint to notify the NHTSA of a deadly problem with the CVT transmission in the Nissan Altima!
My wife was driving our Nissan Altima 2015 in ca when the car without warning stalled in the middle of traffic .
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 69,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Nissan Altima: 10
If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time. Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
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. If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
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. If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant. If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash. If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened. If the bolts were not properly tightened, the caliper may detach and reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated.
In the affected vehicles, due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the time of assembly, fuel may leak during a crash from the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank. If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 157
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Nissan Altima. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
DTC P17F0 or P17F1 stored in the TCM
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
Enhanced diagnostic logic for CVT judder
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Neighbouring years
2014 Altima: 1,113 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2016 Altima: 555 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Nissan Altima year
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Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2015 Nissan Altima a bad year?
956 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Nissan Altima?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (270), body structure (64), suspension (64), latches and locks (44), transmission and drivetrain (161).
How many recalls does the 2015 Nissan Altima have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Latches and locks (NHTSA 20V-315), Body structure (NHTSA 18V-915), Latches and locks (NHTSA 17V-040), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-911) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.