2016 Nissan Altima transmission and drivetrain problems
235 of the 553 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Altima name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 78 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 235 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 5 · 2018: 26 · 2019: 61 · 2020: 35 · 2021: 25 · 2022: 31 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 18 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 4
Half of the 132 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 51,000 and 81,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
553 complaints in all about the 2016 Nissan Altima, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Nissan Altima transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I was driving on the freeway, as I approached the ramp, my car started moving slow. I press the accelerator to pick up speed, my car jerked a bit. As I proceed to exit the freeway it picked up speed. I arrive at the traffic signal, stopped, when the light changed, I had trouble with my car picking up speed.
My car only has 40,000 miles I bought it brand new at least they sold it new in july 2016 at serra Nissan in bormingham al. And now 2 years as of 2 mths ago 40,000 miles later . The repair shop here in chattanooga, tn informwd me that they had to take the whole transmission out and rebuild it, what?
I was driving the car pulled up at stop light when light turned green I press the gas call would not get power until a few second the car would jerk an shift while driving was almost hit from the rear by another car due to this issue took it to autozone code read P0841 something with transmission I just got the car rarely drive it it has…
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. While driving 40 MPH, the speed decreased to less than 20 MPH and the transmission hesitated. In addition, the RPM gauge raced each time the failure occurred. The manufacturer advised that the dealer diagnose and replace the transmission. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was not repaired.
I was driving on the highway at about 80 MPH when my RPM started to go up and down in a way that i'd never seen. Immediately following that, my check engine light came on. I took my car to advance auto parts to see what was wrong and it read, 'P0841 transmission fluid pressure sensor/switch a circuit range/performance'.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications78 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- NTB12-103I Service bulletinJun 7, 2024
- CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P17F0 P17F1 P0776 P0841 P1715 P2813
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Nissan Altima names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Nissan Altima
Source: the same files- engine problems 86 complaints
- airbag problems 70 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 235 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (42% of everything owners filed about it), and 78 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Nissan Altima?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 67,000 miles; half of them between 51,000 and 81,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.