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Nissan Altima hesitation problems

280 of the 15,497 owner complaints about the Nissan Altima describe hesitation when accelerating, most of them for the 2013 model year.

owner complaints
280
worst model year
2013
typical repair cost reported
$3,500
typical mileage
69,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Stalling 67Check engine light 57Jerking 46CVT failure 38Transmission failure 26Shudder 20Loss of power 18Won't start 12

Trouble codes mentioned

P0776 7P0335 2P2813 1P17F1 1P17F0 1P0430 1P0345 1

What owners say

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · LA

The components and systems experiencing problems in my 2020 Nissan Altima S 2.5L include the engine, throttle body, and mass airflow (MAF) sensor system. The vehicle has experienced severe engine performance issues, including excessive fuel consumption, jerking, hesitation during acceleration, reduced engine power, and unexpected limp mode. The safety of myself and others were put at risk because the car did not accelerate anymore in the middle of on going traffic. It was me and my 2 underaged children in the car. Yes it has been confirmed by an independent service center. Yes, insurance representatives and others including mechanics. Check engine light appeared

Filed Oct 4, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · DC

While operating my 2018 Nissan Altima on September 19, 2026, at approximately 9:20 a.m., during daytime highway traffic, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of propulsion, leaving me entirely immobilized on a highway ramp with no ability to accelerate or move out of danger. I was stranded in an extremely hazardous location with vehicles, including large commercial trucks, traveling nearby at highway speeds. I feared for my life because I had no way to move my vehicle to safety or protect myself from a potential collision. The situation was so dangerous that a State Trooper with Highway Patrol had to intervene and arrange assistance to have my disabled vehicle removed from the highway. Had Highway Patrol not arrived, I genuinely believe I could have lost my life. This was not a minor inconvenience or an ordinary vehicle breakdown. It was a potentially fatal safety incident caused by the vehicle's sudden and complete inability to move. Following the incident, an independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and determined that the transmission requires replacement. The diagnostic findings included P17F0 (CVT Judder), P0776 (Pressure Control Solenoid B performance/stuck off), and P2813 (Pressure Control Solenoid G control circuit range/performance). Before the complete failure, the vehicle had experienced hesitation, vibration, and difficulty accelerating. I am extremely concerned that this type of transmission failure can occur suddenly while a vehicle is operating in active highway traffic, potentially resulting in a serious or fatal collision. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this incident as a significant vehicle safety concern and determine whether a safety-related defect exists in the CVT transmission system of the 2018 Nissan Altima. I have supporting diagnostic documentation and towing records, and the vehicle is available for inspection.

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Acceleration, Transmission · CA

My 2016 Nissan Altima has approximately 68,900 miles. When I am stopped and press the gas pedal, the vehicle sometimes hesitates before it begins moving. It does not accelerate normally, which is dangerous when I am pulling into traffic, crossing an intersection, or making a turn. At other times while driving, the vehicle will not accelerate properly and appears to become stuck in a low gear. The engine RPM may rise to approximately 4,000, but the vehicle does not shift or increase speed normally. Turning the vehicle off and restarting it may temporarily make the problem go away, but it can happen again without warning. There is currently NO CHECK ENGINE light or other warning light that has ever come on. So I had the auto parts store attach an OBD-II scanner and the ONLY error code was P0776. This prompted me to research further and that is when I learned of the CVT issues with Nissan. Because the loss of acceleration and failure to shift are intermittent, I cannot predict when the vehicle will hesitate or fail to respond. I am concerned that I could be struck by another vehicle if this happens while entering traffic, crossing an intersection, or attempting to maintain speed.

Filed Jun 14, 2026 · Transmission · NY

Subject: Dangerous Transmission Failure in 2015 Nissan Altima While my 2015 Nissan Altima has always exhibited questionable performance—including abnormal acceleration, hesitation during throttle response, and mismatched RPMs relative to acceleration—the transmission has now begun to severely slip. I have also experienced sudden loss of power, pronounced shuddering, and complete power failure while driving. On multiple occasions, these issues have placed me in dangerous driving situations. It is important to note that I have regularly maintained the vehicle and kept it in mechanically decent shape throughout my ownership. I believe it is critical for other drivers to be aware of these ongoing problems, especially since Nissan appears to be avoiding responsibility for manufacturing such faulty powertrains. New car buyers and those purchasing used vehicles are becoming victims of this defective transmission, which poses a serious risk to passengers, drivers, and others on the road.

Filed Oct 16, 2025 · Transmission · PA

My 2022 Nissan Altima has been experiencing transmission issues for about a month. The car hesitates, lunges, and shudders when accelerating from a stop. At around 60,000 miles, I had the transmission fluid flushed, and the shop confirmed the transmission fluid was clean with no metal debris. Despite that, the symptoms continued getting increasingly dangerous in high traffic areas. Today 10/16/25(the car is still at 60k miles) while turning at an intersection, the car hesitated and lunged before finally moving. This delay in acceleration created a dangerous situation in traffic, and another driver honked because my vehicle wouldn’t go. Immediately afterward, the car went into what seemed like “limp mode” and would not accelerate at all. There were no warning lights or messages before or during this incident. (which can be verified by the transmission place i got the car serviced at) After pulling into a parking lot and shutting the car off for about 10 minutes, I restarted it and the check engine light came on with a message stating: “CVT malfunction – service now.” The vehicle had to be towed because it felt unsafe to drive on busy highways. I believe this is a serious safety concern because the car can fail to move in traffic without warning.

Filed Aug 22, 2025 · Airbags, Fuel system · VA

Fuel System: Car hesitates and cut off after pumping fuel.\n' + 'Outer Tie rods torn rubber, vehicle never been realigned, but tires were worn on both front sides. \n' + 'Takata Air bag light has been on for over 2 years.\n' + 'Transmission over heats. Engine cuts back between 45 and 60 mph on the freeway. So we stop and allow it to cool off.

Filed Aug 3, 2025 · Acceleration, Engine · IL

I am writing to formally request a recall for my 2016 Nissan Altima due to a known issue with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Recently, my vehicle has exhibited concerning symptoms, including an inability to exceed 20 mph while hitting 3 RPM, and significant hesitation when accelerating, followed by abrupt lunging. Notably, these issues occurred without any prior warning lamps or indicators until recently with the RPM issue. Despite taking my vehicle to Nissan for diagnostic scans, which cost approximately $600, no specific issues were identified. These problems have not been reproduced during dealer inspections or by law enforcement, yet they pose a significant safety risk to myself and others on the road. I would like to qualify for the free recall service to have this issue inspected and resolved by an authorized Nissan dealer. Please provide me with the necessary information to proceed with this request. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Filed Jul 16, 2025 · Engine · 30,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle was hesitating. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the vehicle was sluggish while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence. While attempting to start the vehicle the following day, the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer found metal shavings inside the oil pan. The vehicle was repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2025 · Acceleration, Transmission · CA

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly hesitated before accelerating. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Then VIN was not available.

Filed Apr 25, 2025 · Transmission · CA

As I was driving on the highway , I experienced loss of power, acceleration issues, slipping between gears, whining noise, hesitating, and jerking I had no warning signs no lights come on on my vehicle to notify me of any type of problems. This all happened when I was driving on the highway. My car went from driving perfectly normal to no longer working. I took my car to a mechanic they run a diagnostic. They also test drove in and inspected the car and said my transmission is failing and it needs to be replaced and that this has been a common issue in Nissan Altima between 80,000 and 100,000 miles

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)Reported September 2, 1994 · 1,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
The shift lever lock plate, which prevents the shift lever from being inadvertently moved from park to drive or neutral position, can be broken by the transmission shift position pin.
Risk
Inadvertent movement of the transmission shift lever without operator action can cause vehicle movement which can result in a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will install a bracket to prevent the shift position pin from breaking the shift lever lock plate.

Recall number 94V165000 · Recall details

Questions about the Nissan Altima hesitation

Which Nissan Altima years have hesitation when accelerating problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2013 (44 complaints), 2016 (31 complaints) and 2003 (28 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix hesitation when accelerating on the Nissan Altima?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,500 (median of 24 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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