2018 Nissan Altima Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 223 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Nissan Altima overview page.
What owners report
“AIR COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. IT WILL NOT BLOW ANY COLD AIR. ATTEMPTED TO PUT FREON ONLY FOR IT TO BURST OUT A PIPE…”NHTSA complaint 11321061 — filed 04/14/2020
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN…”NHTSA complaint 11298119 — filed 01/09/2020
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, DURING THE MORNING, MY CAR ACTIVATED THE BRAKES ON ITS OWN, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENS THE FIRST…”NHTSA complaint 11280707 — filed 11/18/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 Nissan Altima have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Nissan Altima: 21 of 223 complaints on file (9.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2018 Nissan Altima have in total?
223 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 6 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
