Selling a dead or junk Nissan Altima

Before you decide, check two things that could change the math: open recalls on your VIN, and whether a Nissan warranty extension still covers the transmission. Both are covered below, year by year.

Known problems by generation

This page covers the 2002 to 2025 model years. Complaint and recall counts come from our pull of NHTSA's public data on October 10, 2026.

Two recalls span a generation change, so they count in both rows.

2002-2006: the 2.5 engine and the floors

NHTSA holds 1,062 complaints on the 2002 Altima. Of those, 284 mention the catalytic converter and 152 mention burning or losing oil. Wikipedia ties some 2002-2003 2.5-liter engine failures to converters breaking up and forcing debris back into the exhaust manifold, and says most reports came after 100,000 miles.

Stalling is the next pattern. On the 2003, 226 of 883 complaints mention stalling and 187 mention a crank or cam position sensor. Nissan issued three Altima recalls for those sensors (03V455, 06V242 and 07V527). NHTSA also lists recall 06V223 for the 2006 Altima: 2.5-liter engines that can burn too much oil because of the piston rings.

Rust is the other story. On the 2005, 276 of 1,091 complaints describe floors rusted through, some with holes under the driver's or passenger's feet.

2007-2012: the CVT arrives

Nissan's own 2007 press kit says the Xtronic CVT "replaces the previous conventional automatic transmission." Every automatic Altima since then uses a CVT.

The 2009 has the second-highest complaint count of any year from 2002 to 2025: 1,601. Of those, 657 describe the steering lock or a key that won't turn. Owners write of a car that won't start, with lock lights on the dash. The 2008's big complaint is the dashboard: 506 of 1,046 describe it melting, turning sticky or throwing glare on the windshield.

Complaints that mention the transmission or CVT grow through this generation, from 75 of 1,046 on the 2008 to 144 of 426 on the 2012. Nissan doubled the CVT warranty on most 2007-2010 Altimas to 10 years or 120,000 miles, WCPO reported. That coverage has now run out on every one of them.

2013-2018: the CVT years

The 2013 has more complaints than any other year from 2002 to 2025, 2,312, and 435 of them mention the transmission or CVT. On the 2016, it's 195 of 553. Owners describe shudder at highway speed, jerking in slow traffic, and the car slowing down while the engine revs. Separately, 249 complaints on the 2013 describe dim headlights.

On these cars Nissan stretched the CVT warranty to 84 months or 84,000 miles, up from 60 months or 60,000, whichever arrives first. It started May 11, 2020 for 2013-2016 Altimas and May 23, 2023 for 2017-2018. It covers the CVT assembly, valve body, torque converter, cooler kit and computer reprogramming. Most of these cars are now past seven years.

2019-2025: fewer complaints, one engine recall

The newest Altimas have 578 complaints across seven model years. Part of that is age: newer cars have had less time to collect them. The 2.0-liter VC-Turbo is the exception to watch. Recall 25V437, filed June 27, 2025, covers engine bearings with possible manufacturing defects; NHTSA's notice says a failed bearing can mean a failed engine. Dealers update the engine software for free, and Nissan mailed owner letters on April 8, 2026.

Complaints and recalls by model year

Pulled from NHTSA on October 10, 2026. A complaint filed under both Altima and Altima Hybrid counts one time. "Name the CVT" counts complaints whose write-up says CVT or transmission. Recalls are Nissan vehicle recall campaigns listed for that year; one campaign can cover several years. Aftermarket parts recalls are left out.

The component named most often shifts with the generations. On the 2002-2004 it is engine and engine cooling; on the 2005, 2006 and 2008, structure; on the 2009, steering; on the 2011-2012 and 2016-2017, power train; on the 2013, air bags; on the 2014-2015, exterior lighting; and on most years since 2019, the electrical system or forward collision avoidance. NHTSA's "unknown or other" category is left out of that comparison.

Fix it or sell it?

Compare two numbers: the repair quote, and what the car would sell for once it runs again. If the quote comes close to the second number or passes it, selling the car as it sits makes more sense. Work through it in this order.

1. Check recalls first. Put your VIN into NHTSA's recall lookup and ask a Nissan dealer about anything open.
2. Dead CVT on a 2013-2018? Ask a dealer to run the VIN for the warranty extension. If it's not covered, get a written quote, then look up what a running Altima of the same year and mileage sells for. The bad transmission guide explains the symptoms and what the repair tends to cost.
3. Engine gone? Early 2.5-liter cars that burned oil and 2019-2020 VC-Turbo cars are the two patterns in the data. See blown engine for how to weigh it.
4. Won't start at all? On a 2009, a no-start with lock lights on the dash can be the steering lock, not a dead engine. Get it diagnosed before you write the car off.

Want to know what moves the price on a non-running car? See what a junk car is worth.

How to sell your Altima whole

1. Have the basics ready: the VIN, the mileage, what's wrong, and whether it rolls.
2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Tell us where it sits: on the street, behind the house, in a garage or at a repair shop. Mention if it can roll and if it still has all four wheels, so the truck that comes can load it. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
4. Leave it whole. Don't pull the CVT, the catalytic converter or the wheels first. Missing parts change the offer, so tell us about anything already removed.
5. At pickup, have the title and a photo ID ready, and hand over the keys if you still have them. Whether the plates stay with you depends on the state; after you sell has the rules.

No title in hand? Start with our no-title guide. Comparing Nissans? See the Sentra, Maxima and Rogue, or every Nissan we cover.