How Long Do Nissan Altimas Last? The Scoop on Vehicle Lifespan
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While the market has shifted towards SUVs and crossovers, sedans hold their ground for specific consumer segments. Despite the dwindling popularity, sedans often offer better driving dynamics and are more affordable than their SUV counterparts, both in initial purchase price and maintenance costs. With that said, one of the more popular sedans in the market is the enduring Nissan Altima.
The Nissan Altima midsize sedan has been a cornerstone of Nissan’s lineup for many years and is one of the brand’s best-selling models. The Nissan Altima is undoubtedly worth checking out if you want a solid, albeit unexciting, sedan that delivers on many fronts, including safety and interior space.
If you’re planning to purchase this midsize sedan, you’re likely wondering: how long do Nissan Altimas last? Nissan vehicles are known for their reliability, but does it translate to better longevity? Today, we discuss the longevity of the Nissan Altima and determine if it’s a good long-term investment for used car buyers. Let’s take a look.
Just How Reliable is the Nissan Altima?
How long do Nissan Altimas last? First, we’ll have to evaluate its reliability.
Millions of U.S. buyers have bought the Altima because they want a bread-and-butter sedan that offers comfort, affordability, and, more importantly, reliability. Thankfully, the Altima is one of the more reliable midsize sedans in the segment. According to RepairPal, the Altima has a strong reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it in 11th place out of 24 midsize cars. Furthermore, the Altima boasts a lower cost of ownership with an average annual cost for repairs and maintenance of $483 – significantly lower than the average for all vehicles.
J.D. Power tells a similar tale of Altima reliability, as it consistently received high scores from the automotive research company. For example, the 2022 Nissan Altima was rated as “Great” with a score of 84 out of 100, which means it’s less likely to have significant defects, malfunctions, and design flaws.
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Users from many different forums have also shared their experiences with the Altima sedan’s reliability. People from the Nissan Club Forum believe that the Nissan Altima is a reliable car. However, like any other vehicle, its reliability can be influenced by factors such as maintenance, driving habits, and the specific model year. However, some users have reported issues with the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in specific model years.
Ultimately, the general consensus from both reputable sources and owners is that the Altima is a reliable midsize sedan. However, some specific Altima years must be approached with caution due to various reliability woes. For example, the 2002 year must be avoided at all costs due to serious mechanical issues like excessive oil consumption, catalytic converter failure, and exhaust system problems
How Long Do Nissan Altimas Last?
With reliability comes longevity. Due to the Altima’s reliability, owners will experience fewer unexpected breakdowns. Its essential components, such as the engine and transmission, are less likely to fail prematurely, allowing the car to last longer without significant repairs.
With that said, the Altima is one of the longest-lasting midsize sedans. With proper care and maintenance, a Nissan Altima can last 200,000 to 300,000 miles, according to data from owners. Given an average yearly mileage, this translates to approximately 13 to 20 years of service.
Over at the Altima forums, many Altima owners have reported their vehicles reaching significant mileage milestones. For instance, one user mentioned their Altima was still running strong at 191,000 miles and anticipated it would reach 250,000 miles without any major issues. Another user stated that their CVT transmission was replaced at 46,000 miles, suggesting that the car might reach up to 250,000 miles with the new transmission.
Nissan Altima Longevity Versus Competitors
Below, we compared the Altima’s longevity with its primary segment rivals.
- Chevrolet Malibu: The Altima tends to outlast the Chevrolet Malibu, with the latter averaging between 150k and 200k miles. Additionally, the Altima has a lower average annual maintenance cost ($483) than the Malibu ($532).
- Honda Accord: Both the Altima and Honda Accord have similar longevity, ranging between 250k and 300k miles. However, the Accord is noted to be slightly more reliable and cost-effective in terms of maintenance.
- Kia Optima: The Altima can outlast the Kia Optima by about 100,000 miles, with the Optima averaging around 200,000 miles.
To help you maximize the lifespan of an Altima, it’s recommended to drive cautiously, maintain regular service intervals, use quality parts, and address minor issues sooner rather than later.
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How Many Miles are Too Many for a Used Nissan Altima?
Although the Nissan Altima has higher-than-average reliability and longevity, it doesn’t mean you should buy a high-mileage car and expect not to have issues in the future. For the Nissan Altima, you can probably get away with a unit with 100k-150k miles, provided that it has stellar maintenance and service records. Even so, expect that you’ll run into major reliability woes down the line. Beyond the 150k milestone, you risk too much unless you plan to use the Altima as a short-term beater.
In addition, be wary of buying a high-mileage Altima with CVT. Some older models of the Altima have been reported to experience CVT failures. These failures can be costly to repair or replace, especially when the vehicle is out of warranty. Nissan has faced recalls and lawsuits related to CVT issues in the past, which included the Altima.
Is a Nissan Altima a Worthy Investment?
How long do Nissan Altimas last? We hope this guide has told you everything you need to know about the Altima’s longevity. But is a used Altima an excellent long-term investment? Based on reliability and longevity alone, a used Nissan Altima can be a worthy investment. However, just because this sedan can reach 200k miles in its lifespan, it doesn’t mean you should buy a high-mileage Altima expecting not to run into problems.
Another point of contention is the Altima’s CVT transmission. Some older models have struggled with CVT failures, which may lead to expensive repairs or replacements.
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