Showing the 2017 Altima FWD: as EPA lists it. NHTSA's overall rating for that drive: 5 stars (FWD). Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2017 Altima
The 2017 Nissan Altima has 392 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most for transmission and drivetrain at 133. Combined fuel economy is 26 to 31 mpg, with a 5-year fuel cost of $10,480 to $12,490 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall. There are 3 recall campaigns, covering door latches and locks and body and structure, which may apply to this car.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
26–31 mpgcombined; city 22–27, highway 32–39; the FWD
Five years of fuel
$10,480–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $9,360–$11,160 at local prices; the FWD; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2017 Altima, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 392 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Altima. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
133
3
0
4
Air bags
73
10
0
11
Unknown or other
62
5
2
7
Vehicle speed control
41
2
0
2
Engine
39
1
3
0
Electrical system
27
1
2
2
Service brakes
19
3
0
2
Exterior lighting
18
0
0
0
Structure
18
1
1
2
Fuel/propulsion system
17
1
0
1
Steering
16
2
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
14
1
0
2
13 more parts
Suspension
11
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
6
0
0
0
Seats
5
0
0
0
Seat belts
4
0
0
0
Wheels
4
1
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
3
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
1
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Altima over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Risk: Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owner’s Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
Risk: If the rear passenger door opens while the vehicle is moving, the rear passengers have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
Risk: If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 247 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2017 Altima, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (77), electrical system (65), power train (48), engine and engine cooling (27), exterior lighting (21).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA21002 Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 37 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2017 Altima.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 6–7 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Altima Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 39 / 31
Altima Front-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (AV-S7)
Regular Gasoline
22 / 32 / 26
Altima SR Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S7)
Regular Gasoline
26 / 37 / 30
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data