2017 Nissan Altima MPG
The 2017 Nissan Altima gets 22–27 mpg in the city and 32–39 on the highway (26–31 combined), across the 3 versions the EPA rated.
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 2016 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altima | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 39 | 31 | Regular · 287 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima SR | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Regular · 297 g CO₂/mi |
| Altima | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | Regular · 347 g CO₂/mi |
2017 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 2017 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.
2017 Nissan Altima specs
2017 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); Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 3.5 L | 6 | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2017 Nissan Altima problems
Owners have filed 393 complaints about the 2017 Nissan Altima with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Power train is the most-reported area (25% of component mentions), followed by air bags (14%) and vehicle speed control (8%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 39 complaints a year: fewer than the 2016 (50 a year) and more than the 2018 (25 a year).
That ranks 7th of 17 Nissan Altima model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 393, 24 mention a crash, 7 a fire and 19 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 133 | 25% |
| Air bags | 74 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 62 | 12% |
| Vehicle speed control | 41 | 8% |
| Engine | 39 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 27 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 18 | 3% |
| Structure | 18 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 17 | 3% |
| Steering | 16 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 15 | 3% |
| Suspension | 12 | 2% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 9 | 2% |
| Seats | 5 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 4 | <1% |
| Wheels | 4 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 3 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | <1% |
| Equipment | 1 | <1% |
| Interior lighting | 1 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 1 | <1% |
| Tires | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle lost motive power. …
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Transmission: this is the 2nd transmission in about 22,000 miles. Car will start to stall out and then high rev the rpm’s. This has caused significant power loss suddenly in traffic. …
2017 Nissan Altima recalls
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Nissan Altima.
The most recent, campaign 20V315000 from May 2020, concerns latches/locks/linkages.
All 3 campaigns concern latches/locks/linkages.
| 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 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2017 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 2017 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2017 Chevy Malibu (30 mpg), 2017 Honda Accord (30 mpg) and 2017 Nissan Sentra (32 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2019 | 32 | 233 | 29 | 7 |
| 2020 | 32 | 160 | 23 | 6 |
Every Nissan Altima model year compared →
Similar 2017 models
FAQ
Is the 2017 Altima a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2017 Nissan Altima has 39 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (7th most of 17 model years), 3 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 31 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2017 Altima problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are power train (133), air bags (74) and vehicle speed control (41). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2017 Altima have?
NHTSA lists 3 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 2017 Altima get?
The EPA rates the versions at 26–31 mpg combined (22–27 city, 32–39 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 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).