2015 Nissan Altima MPG
Across its 2 EPA-rated versions, the 2015 Nissan Altima returns 22–27 mpg city, 31–37 highway and 26–31 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 31 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive and is rated 26 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2014 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altima | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 37 | 31 | Regular · 290 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Regular · 352 g CO₂/mi |
2015 Nissan Altima fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2015 Nissan Altima costs about $2,110 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (31 mpg combined), or roughly 14 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (26 mpg combined) comes to about $2,510 a year, $410 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2015 Nissan Altima specs
2015 Nissan Altima buyers could choose between 2 engines, according to EPA records: 2.5 L 4-cyl and 3.5 L 6-cyl. It came with a CVT, with front-wheel drive. The EPA classes it as a midsize car.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
| 3.5 L | 6 | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2015 Nissan Altima problems
Owners have filed 955 complaints about the 2015 Nissan Altima with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Exterior lighting is the most-reported area (22% of component mentions), followed by air bags (15%) and power train (13%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 79 complaints a year: about as many as the 2014 (85 a year) and more than the 2016 (50 a year).
That ranks 4th of 17 Nissan Altima model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 955, 46 mention a crash, 5 a fire and 25 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 270 | 22% |
| Air bags | 177 | 15% |
| Power train | 161 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 93 | 8% |
| Engine | 66 | 5% |
| Suspension | 64 | 5% |
| Structure | 63 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 56 | 5% |
| Steering | 49 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 44 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 38 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 26 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 25 | 2% |
| Wheels | 17 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 10 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 7 | <1% |
| Visibility | 5 | <1% |
| Seats | 4 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 3 | <1% |
| Equipment | 2 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 1 | <1% |
| Other/i am not sure | 1 | <1% |
| Tires | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
When driving at night, the low beam headlights were noticeably dim. The headlight bulbs were replaced and the lenses were cleaned on both headlights. This did not fix the issue. …
My car was hit and airbags did not deploy from driver side. The front driver side of my car is totalled. …
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. …
2015 Nissan Altima recalls
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2015 Nissan Altima.
The most recent, campaign 20V315000 from May 2020, concerns latches/locks/linkages.
Latches/locks/linkages account for 5 of the 10 campaigns, more than any other area.
15V733000 · November 5, 2015 · Hydraulic service brakes
Problem: The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened.
Risk: If the bolts were not properly tightened, the caliper may detach and reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will check the brake caliper mounting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Altima years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V315000 | May 28, 2020 | Latches/locks/linkages | 2013–2018 |
| 18V915000 | December 19, 2018 | Structure, Latches/locks/linkages | 2015–2017 |
| 17V040000 | January 18, 2017 | Latches/locks/linkages | 2015–2017 |
| 16V911000 | December 19, 2016 | Air bags | 2013–2015 |
| 16V244000 | April 26, 2016 | Air bags | 2013–2016 |
| 16V029000 | January 22, 2016 | Latches/locks/linkages | 2013–2015 |
| 15V681000 | October 20, 2015 | Air bags | 2013–2015 |
| 15V486000 | August 4, 2015 | Gasoline fuel system | 2013–2015 |
| 15V116000 | February 27, 2015 | Latches/locks/linkages | 2013–2015 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2015 Nissan Altima; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Nissan Altimas can be compared fairly. Among other 2015 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2015 Hyundai Elantra (31 mpg), 2015 Honda Accord (30 mpg) and 2015 Chevy Malibu (29 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 26 | 426 | 28 | 4 |
| 2013 | 31 | 2,313 | 164 | 12 |
| 2014 | 31 | 1,114 | 85 | 8 |
| 2015 | 31 | 955 | 79 | 10 |
| 2016 | 31 | 554 | 50 | 4 |
| 2017 | 31 | 393 | 39 | 3 |
| 2018 | 31 | 226 | 25 | 2 |
Every Nissan Altima model year compared →
Similar 2015 models
FAQ
Is the 2015 Altima a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2015 Nissan Altima has 79 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (4th most of 17 model years), 10 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 31 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2015 Altima problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are exterior lighting (270), air bags (177) and power train (161). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2015 Altima have?
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2015 Altima get?
The EPA rates the versions at 26–31 mpg combined (22–27 city, 31–37 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Altima per year?
About $2,110 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,510 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).