2016 Nissan Altima · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 40owner reports
- 62,000median miles
- $4,000median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Mar 19, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
235 of the 553 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 40 of those describe transmission failure.
Tick what matches of 40 reports
Transmission failure on other Altima years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (40 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
15 of the 40 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,000 to $5,100.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,027 and 80,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The transmission failed in the middle of a traffic controlled intersection. I was almost hit a few times (flashers engaged). No motion was possible in either direction. Was later replaced at a cost of $6100 by a local transmission shop.”
Filed Sep 28, 2024
“During normal operation of the vehicle the car suddenly would not accelerate or go faster than 12mph. The transmission failed without warning. I have filed a claim with the manufacturer.”
Filed Jul 28, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 40 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 85 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 70 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 61 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 37 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 31 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 26 reports