Used Nissan Altima — common problems and service
Common issues, reliability information, and service offers to review before buying this model used.
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Request an offerNissan Altima common issues
The 2019-2021 Altima equipped with the Jatco CVT-8 transmission frequently suffers from judder, slipping, hesitation, and intermittent loss of propulsion. Owners report shuddering on acceleration from a stop, surging during light throttle, and in severe cases the car fails to move after parking. Independent-shop CVT replacement typically costs between $3,000 and $5,500, while dealer prices often exceed $5,500; fluid reflashes do not cure the mechanical issue.
Nissan recalled certain 2019-2020 Altimas (both 2.5L and 2.0 VC-Turbo) under NHTSA recall 20V-353 because the low-pressure fuel pump can fail, causing sputtering, sudden engine stall, and difficulty restarting. The repair is free at participating dealers under the recall. If the same part fails outside the recall campaign, typical non-warranty replacement costs approximately $200 to $500 for parts and labor.