Is the Nissan Altima 4th Gen reliable?

Our reliability score for the Nissan Altima 4th Gen is 7.5/10 (75/100), which puts it as reasonably reliable. Expect ordinary maintenance plus a few known issues by 150,000 miles. RepairPal rates it 4/5.

How much does it cost to own a Nissan Altima 4th Gen per year?

Total estimated annual ownership cost for a Nissan Altima 4th Gen is approximately $2,383 for a 25-year-old male driver. This includes fuel at current US average prices, insurance, scheduled maintenance, tires, and oil changes. The 40-year-old female estimate is $2,163.

What is the Nissan Altima 4th Gen gas mileage?

EPA combined fuel economy for the Nissan Altima 4th Gen is 28 MPG, with 23 MPG city and 32 MPG highway.

What years does the Nissan Altima 4th Gen cover?

This generation of the Nissan Altima was sold from 2007 to 2012.

Is the Nissan Altima 4th Gen safe?

Our safety score for the Nissan Altima 4th Gen is 9.5/10 (95/100), which means it is genuinely safe by current data. IIHS rates the crash protection good. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Is the Nissan Altima 4th Gen a good first car?

Not according to our criteria. Good first cars need a safety score 7.5+, insurance under $2,200/yr for a 25-year-old male, repairability score 7.0+, low rollover risk, and compact dimensions. The Nissan Altima 4th Gen misses on at least one of these.

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Nissan Altima 4th Gen

07-12 · Nissan Altima

86out of 100

The Nissan Altima 4th Gen is a roomy, fuel-efficient family sedan with low repair costs — as long as the CVT holds up.

Scores last updated: January 1, 2025

Score breakdown

75/ 100Reliability×2.5 85/ 100True Annual Cost×3.0 95/ 100Safety×2.0 87/ 100Practicality×1.5 100/ 100Repairability×1.0

68/ 100Long-Distance Comfort

30/ 100Enthusiast Appeal

Solid economy sedan held back by CVT failure risk. Sub-$500 RepairPal annual cost is compelling. Best years (2010-2011) are the buy.

Our take

What it really is

A well-packaged family sedan with a spacious interior and good fuel economy. The CVT transmission is the defining risk factor for this generation.

Why it's on this list

The 4th gen Altima offers genuine spaciousness, 5-star safety, and sub-$500 average annual repair costs. The engine is solid. The CVT is not.

The honest trade-offs

CVT failure between 80k and 120k miles is common and costs $3,000-4,500 to replace. Buy a car with under 70k miles or a verified CVT replacement and budget for the possibility.

What to buy and what to avoid

The 2010 or 2011 with the 2.5L I4. Avoid 2007 and 2008 CVTs if you can. Get a pre-purchase inspection that includes a CVT fluid check and test for shudder under acceleration.

Annual cost of ownership

Regular fuel. CVT repair amortized at $300/yr over expected ownership.

Fuel (12k mi)

$1,640 (USD)^[5]

Maintenance

$483 (USD)^[1]

Tires (prorated)

$500 (USD)

Insurance (25yr male)

$1,280 (USD)^[8]

Insurance (40yr female)

$1,060 (USD)^[8]

Total (25yr male)

$2,383 (USD)

Total (40yr female)

$2,163 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined

28^[5]

MPG city / hwy

23 / 32^[5]

Tank

20 gal^[5]

Engine

2.5L I4 / 3.5L V6

Horsepower

175 hp

Torque

180 lb-ft

Seats

Cargo (behind 2nd row)

15.4 cu ft

Cargo max

15.4 cu ft

Tow capacity

0 lbs

Ground clearance

5.6"

Stock tires

215/55R17

Body

Sedan (trunk)

Rear seats

60/40 split

Also available in coupe. The score reflects the primary body style listed above.

Safety

NHTSA overall

5/5 ★^[2]

Rollover risk

22%^[2]

IIHS rating

Good^[4]

ESC standard

Yes

Driver assists

None standard

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity

Low

Frame rust risk

Minimal

Salt belt impact

Moderate

Generally clean. Inspect rocker panels and undercarriage in salt belt states.

Known issues by mileage

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

CVT failureSafety-critical$3,750 (USD)

CVT failure between 80k-120k costs $3,000-4,500. The defining risk of this vehicle.

Best and worst years

Best years

2010CVT most reliable in this year; mid-cycle updates addressed early issues
2011Final development of CVT before 5th gen; good reliability record

Years to avoid

2007First model year; early CVT issues most prevalent
2008CVT failures continued; avoid unless CVT recently replaced
2012CVT problems persist in final year; high failure rate at 80k-120k

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost

$483 (USD)^[1]

Industry avg annual cost

$652 (USD)^[1]

RepairPal rating

4/5^[1]

Unscheduled visits/yr

0.3^[1]

Severe issue probability

11%^[1]

250k-mile survival

25%^[7]

Repairability

Headlight type

Halogen

DIY replacement cost

$25 (USD)

At major retailer

Yes

Headlight benchmark

10/10

Excellent parts availability. CVT replacement is the main cost concern at 80k-120k miles.

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

[1]dataset
RepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
[2]government
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
[3]government
NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
[4]dataset
IIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
[5]government
EPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
[6]forum thread
CarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
[7]dataset
iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
[8]publication
Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Nissan Altima?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist