2015 Nissan Altima: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Body · MA

The rear control arm on my 2015 Nissan Altima broke after driving over a very small speed bump at ~10-15 MPH. Had this happened at highway speed, my family’s lives could have been at risk. A suspension component should not fail under such ordinary driving conditions. This incident has left me deeply concerned about the safety of my vehicle and the potential danger to other Nissan owners. Similar failures appear to have been reported online, yet I am unaware of a recall covering my vehicle. I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this issue and require a recall if warranted before someone is seriously injured. Please explain what action the federal safety agency has taken or plans to take. I can provide photographs and repair records. Thank you.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Suspension · OH

The passenger side rear spring mount/Lower Control Arm separated at the weld and failed at highway speed. Control of the vehicle was momentarily lost and I was able to safely pull to the side of the highway to await a tow truck. Vehicle is not drivable. Mechanic confirmed it was an "Insufficient Weld" consistent with a safety bulletin that expired less than a year ago. Nissan corporate would not assist in getting this repaired, but stated I could pay to have it towed to them for a customer-paid diagnostic.

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Suspension · NY

The rear lower control arms (lower links) on my 2015 Nissan Altima are actively cracked and broken at 91,359 miles. An authorized Nissan dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed the severe structural failure on video, explicitly stating it is an immediate safety hazard. However, the manufacturer is refusing to repair this dangerous manufacturing defect under Campaign PC690 due to an expired calendar date, forcing an unstable, hazardous vehicle back onto public roads where I transport my children. Nissan chose not to notify owners of this defect by mail, and the dealership network actively delayed my scheduling for weeks. The vehicle is completely unsafe to operate.

Filed Aug 15, 2026 · Suspension · OH

Today (8/15/26) the vehicle broke down while driving. A component to the rear left suspension has busted off that appears to be the rear lower control arm/link. Not drivable. Steering wheel and tire are crooked. I have read that for the years 2013-2018 this is a known issue for these makes and models.

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Suspension · 108,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while making a right turn into a parking space, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. While inspecting the vehicle, the son discovered that the rear passenger’s side wheel was turned inward due to a fractured rear passenger’s side suspension control arm. After additional inspection of the vehicle, the son discovered that the rear driver’s side suspension control arm was cracked. The son replaced the control arm, and the local mechanic replaced the rear driver's side control arm. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not eligible for a Manufacturer's extended warranty coverage associated with the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.

Filed Jul 20, 2026 · Suspension · MA

Suspension control arm is snapped off and rusted out well below advertised maintenance recommendations per the manufacturer. I contacted my dealership and they gave me 1 week of "were checking if it's covered" and various run around instead of telling me yes/no. I can't afford not to have my car anymore so I'm getting it repaired somewhere else. NFTSA was investigating this for a recall, you closed the case in June 2026 and now Nissan is no longer covering the repairs. The bolt connecting the tire is still attached but the walls of the arm have shattered off. Perhaps my dealership would have done the right thing I'd I arrived onsite via tow-truck but because I noticed it in my driveway, I'm not getting any straight forward answers.

Filed Apr 2, 2026 · Suspension · IL

At speed, my wife was driving and without warning was pulled into oncoming traffic. Thank goodness, no accident. A completely failed and broken rear control arm (photo attached). I was told Nissan offered an extended 10 year warranty for this. We were 10 months beyond that. This is no exaggeration, people will be killed because of this. The part literally separated in 2, causing the wheel to immediately slant at a near 45-degree outward angle and shoot ther car forcefully across the lane. One day prior she was on the expressway in [XXX] . I can’t imagine the outcome there. To make this an extended warranty item and not a recall to me is this agency not looking out for the citizens of this country. Nissan is protected, but that should not be this agencies mission. This should be a recall. I can’t imagine how many thousands of people are out there this very day with this suspension part right at the breaking point. We received no notice about this extended warranty, no notice that would have prompted me to have it checked out. It was an accident-bomb waiting to explode. The repair was $1500, and despite having a part Nissan themselves admit is prone to failure, they are dodging the financial ramifications of their inadequate part. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 19, 2026 · Suspension · IL

I made a left turn out of my work parking lot and felt a clunk. Shortly afterward, the car started shaking violently at about 10 mph. I relocated it to the Nissan dealer near my workplace and they discovered the rear lower link/control arm was fractured from rust deterioration. I was advised that they had previously had an extended warranty for that item. I told them i was never made aware of that warranty and reached out to Nissan. They told me that because I “failed” to keep track of my warranty i was out of the window on that repair being covered. I asked how i was to know about the issue if not for the part snapping? He insisted that they sent notices (to the address i lived at when i purchased the car in 2015). He then advised that since work was already started on the car there was likely nothing they could do to offer a goodwill adjustment since I’d agreed to the repair. He advised me that i should have called before bringing the car in (to check the status on a warranty i had no idea existed). I take the tollway home. 5 minutes later and i could have died.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Suspension · MA

I drove the car and 1min after it loses control and we checked it and found out the rear suspension lower control arm broke off from the subframe

Filed Feb 11, 2026 · Suspension · NE

When backing out of my garage the driver's side rear lower control arm catastrophically broke. Thankfully, I was traveling at slow speed so it did not cause and accident. This is a major safety concern for other Altima drivers and the drivers and occupants of vehicles around them if this type of failure would occur at highway speeds. This is a known issue for as there was an investigation which closed last year. That is unacceptable and there should be a recall. This is a severe product defect and the manufacturer should be held responsible.

Filed Jan 28, 2026 · Suspension · WI

Rear lower passenger side control arm snapped

Filed Jan 21, 2026 · Suspension · 196,000 miles · NH

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel jerked and caused the vehicle to shift into the left lane. The contact immediately slammed on the brake pedal and repositioned the vehicle into the intended lane, but the vehicle felt unstable as if the vehicle was driving on ice. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to inspect vehicle but found no cause for the failure. The contact drove to the residence. The contact’s husband reversed the vehicle into the garage, exited the vehicle and became aware that the rear passenger’s wheel was pushed into the wheel well, revealing that the rear control arm was fractured. The contact stated that the rear control arm had fractured while driving, causing the vehicle to veer into another lane. While reversing in the driveway, the control arm completely detached, and the wheel fell inward. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 196,000.