Short answer: The Nissan Altima is a comfortable, fuel-efficient midsize sedan, and the current sixth generation (2019 and newer) brought a major redesign with a new platform, available all-wheel drive, and an available variable-compression turbo engine. Recent Altimas are well-regarded daily drivers. As with any car, they benefit from protection once the factory warranty ends, because major repairs can run into the thousands. Security+Plus is the Nissan-backed way to cap that risk.
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Is the recent Nissan Altima reliable?
Yes. The current-generation Altima (2019 and newer) earns solid reliability marks and is a refined, efficient sedan that improved meaningfully over earlier generations, with a styling and technology refresh along the way. It also stands out in the midsize class as one of the few sedans offered with available all-wheel drive, alongside an available VC-Turbo engine. For most owners it delivers dependable, economical daily driving. As always, the experience depends on model year, maintenance, and how the costly systems are protected once factory coverage runs out.
What to know on a recent Altima
Themes below come from owner reports and NHTSA data on recent model years. Most Altimas never see them. They are simply the systems worth understanding before the warranty ends.
- Transmission (CVT). Recent Altimas use an updated CVT that is smoother than earlier Nissan units. Like any transmission, it is among the most expensive systems to repair out of warranty, which is the main reason owners protect it.
- Engine. The Altima's engines, including the available VC-Turbo, are efficient. Engine repairs are among the costliest a car can need once out of warranty.
- Electronics and infotainment. Driver-assist sensors, cameras, and displays are increasingly common, and expensive, to repair across the industry.
- A/C, suspension, and wear items. Routine wear components need service as mileage climbs.
The point is not that the Altima is a problem car. It is that a few systems carry four-figure bills, and that risk rises right as the factory warranty ends.
What Altima repairs can cost out of warranty
Out of warranty, you pay these yourself. A transmission repair commonly runs several thousand dollars (a CVT often $5,000 to $8,000 or more), an engine repair can reach well into five figures, and electrical or A/C repairs range from the hundreds into the thousands. A single major repair can exceed the cost of a full Security+Plus plan.
When to add coverage, and a note on active issues
The biggest factor in both your price and which plan terms are available is your vehicle's mileage when you enroll. The fewer miles on the odometer, the more coverage options you can choose from and the lower your price will generally be. Because mileage only goes up over time, enrolling sooner almost always costs less than waiting. If your Altima is still relatively new and low mileage, this is the most affordable time to lock in protection.
If your Altima has an open recall or an active problem, or you want to confirm a factory warranty extension, those are handled directly by Nissan USA and your local Nissan dealer. A plan purchased here protects against future repair costs and cannot be applied to a problem already happening.
How Security+Plus protects your Altima
Nissan Security+Plus comes in tiers, from Powertrain Preferred up to the most comprehensive Gold Preferred & Wrap. The Transmission/Transfer Case is one of the most extensively covered systems on every tier. On a CVT-equipped Altima, that system spans hundreds of individual components (for example, 445 covered components on Gold Preferred & Wrap, 377 on Silver Preferred, and 348 on Powertrain Preferred). A CVT is built from many of those components and is generally repaired or replaced as a unit when a covered failure occurs. Coverage is defined component by component and the exact list varies by plan tier, model, and year, so your plan documents spell out what is included. Higher tiers also add systems like ADAS, electrical, air conditioning, and electronics.
Every plan also includes rental-car coverage while your Altima is in the shop, trip-interruption reimbursement if you break down far from home, and repairs at any authorized Nissan dealer by factory-trained technicians using genuine Nissan or Nissan-approved parts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the recent Nissan Altima reliable?
Yes. The current sixth-generation Altima (2019 and newer) earns solid reliability ratings. Reliability depends on model year and maintenance, and major repairs can be costly once out of warranty.
Does Security+Plus cover the Altima's CVT?
Security+Plus covers the Transmission/Transfer Case system, one of its most extensively covered systems on every tier. On a CVT-equipped Altima that system includes hundreds of components, and the CVT is generally repaired or replaced as a unit on a covered failure. Exact coverage is defined in your plan documents and varies by tier, model, and year.
What should I know before the factory warranty ends?
The transmission, engine, and the car's electronics are the systems most worth protecting, since out-of-warranty repairs to any of them can run into the thousands.
When is the best time to add coverage to an Altima?
The sooner the better. Your mileage at enrollment drives both the price and which plan terms are available, so a newer, lower-mileage Altima gets more options at a lower cost.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a Nissan Altima?
For many owners, yes, because a transmission or engine repair can cost thousands and a plan converts that risk into a predictable cost. See our worth-it guide.
Protect your Altima before you need to
Coverage must be in place before a breakdown, and pricing depends on age and mileage, so newer, lower-mileage cars get the best rates. Enter your VIN for an instant, personalized quote.