2014 Nissan Altima — What to Check Before You Buy
The 2014 Nissan Altima is a widely available used sedan, but its CVT transmission has a well-documented reputation in this generation that makes a thorough pre-purchase inspection especially important.
CVT Transmission — The Most Important Thing to Check
The CVT used in this generation of Altima is widely regarded as one of the more problematic transmissions of its era, and owner communities discuss failure rates frequently. Symptoms to watch for include shudder or juddering from a stop, a shaking sensation during acceleration, hesitation, or unusual noise. A smooth, vibration-free experience during a comprehensive test drive — including city traffic, highway, and full acceleration — is essential. Have an independent mechanic evaluate the transmission before any purchase.
Power Steering System
The 2.5L Altima uses hydraulic power steering, and owners commonly report seeping or leaking around the hoses and rack assembly on older examples. Inspect underneath the vehicle near the steering rack for any fluid residue. Check steering feel during the test drive for any unusual play or effort.
Sunroof Drains & Interior Water Intrusion
If equipped with a sunroof, the drain tubes can become clogged with debris over time, leading to water pooling inside the cabin. Signs include musty odors, damp carpet near the front pillars, or water stains on interior trim. This is worth checking on any used Altima with a sunroof.
NHTSA recalls · 5
- Air bags:sensor:occupant classificationRemedied
19/12/2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. 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.
- Electrical system:softwareRemedied
25/03/2014
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
- Fuel system, gasolineRemedied
04/08/2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the July 31, 2015 notification. 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.
- Air bags:frontalRemedied
20/10/2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. 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.
- Air bags:sensor:occupant classificationRemedied
26/04/2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. 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.
Recall data is pulled from the NHTSA public database. Always verify current recall status at nhtsa.gov.
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