The Nissan Altima is one of the cheapest ways into a roomy midsize sedan — but that low price comes with a catch. With 15,580 owner complaints on record, the Altima's story is dominated by one part: the CVT automatic transmission.
The Nissan Altima years to avoid
The 2013–2015 Altimas are the ones to steer clear of. Their CVTs are widely reported to judder, whine and fail, sometimes before 100,000 miles — and a replacement can cost more than the car is worth. The mid-2000s cars (2002–2006) had their own issues with oil consumption and engine problems.
| Model year | Complaints | Top problem area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | CVT transmission | Avoid | |
| 2009 | Steering | Avoid | |
| 2014 | CVT / lighting | Avoid | |
| 2005 | Body / engine | Caution | |
| 2008 | Structure | Caution |
If a used Altima falls in the 2013–2015 window, treat the transmission as guilty until proven innocent — ask for CVT service records or a recent replacement.
The best Nissan Altima years to buy
Nissan strengthened the CVT over time, and the newest Altimas are far more solid. By complaint volume, the recent years are dramatically cleaner:
| Model year | Complaints | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Best pick | |
| 2021 | Great | |
| 2020 | Great | |
| 2019 | Solid |
The 2022 Altima stands out with remarkably few complaints, and the 2020–2021 cars are close behind. If you want an Altima, buy the newest one your budget allows — the difference in reliability is night and day.
Check the exact Altima before you buy
With this car, the transmission history matters more than almost anything. Before you buy, run the VIN through our free VIN check for recalls and title history, see what it's worth with the Altima value estimator, and read the full reliability picture on our Nissan Altima page.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Altima years should I avoid?
Avoid the 2013–2015 Altimas, whose CVT transmissions are widely reported to fail, often before 100,000 miles. The 2009 and 2002–2006 cars also draw heavy complaints.
What is the best year for a Nissan Altima?
By NHTSA complaint data, the 2022 Altima is by far the cleanest, followed by 2021 and 2020. The newest cars have a much more durable CVT.
Do Nissan Altima CVT transmissions fail?
The 2013–2018 Altima CVTs are notorious for juddering, whining and premature failure. Nissan extended some warranties, but replacement is expensive — always verify transmission history.
Is a used Nissan Altima worth buying?
A newer Altima (2020 or later) can be a good, affordable used buy. Older 2013–2015 cars are risky because of CVT failures and are best avoided unless the transmission was replaced.
Denis Kataev is a serial solopreneur and the founder of ForCar. With 15+ years in software engineering and 10 years in SEO, he builds data-driven products end to end — backed by a sharp eye for design. At ForCar he mines proprietary vehicle datasets, turning raw numbers into buying advice you can actually trust.