Nissan Altima CVT Class Action Settlement: Affected Years, Warranty Extension & Reimbursement

Background: The Madrigal Settlement

Madrigal v. Nissan North America consolidated thousands of Altima CVT complaints (shudder, jerking, harsh engagement, sudden RPM flare, complete failure). The court-approved settlement provides: (1) an extension of the powertrain warranty from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 7 years / 84,000 miles on the CVT, (2) reimbursement for prior CVT repairs paid out of pocket, (3) reimbursement for towing and rental costs while the CVT is being repaired, and (4) a binding arbitration program for vehicles with two or more CVT replacements within the extended window. The settlement notice was mailed to affected owners and is documented on a settlement administrator website.

Nissan Altima CVT Affected Years

Data sourced from NHTSA recall database (nhtsa.gov/recalls), manufacturer technical service bulletins, and publicly filed class-action documents. Always verify with your VIN before purchase or repair.

How to Check Your VIN for Open Recalls

Recalls are tied to specific VINs, not just model years. Run yours through these free tools before you buy, sell, or schedule a repair:

1. NHTSA VIN Lookup - nhtsa.gov/recalls. Enter your 17-character VIN; shows every open federal safety recall.
2. Manufacturer site - Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Stellantis, Nissan, Tesla, and VW all run their own recall portals. These sometimes list service campaigns, TSBs, and customer support programs that NHTSA does not.
3. Dealer service department - Open recall work is free for the life of the vehicle. No appointment fee, no parts fee.

Use our free VIN decoder to pull build info, or run a free AI diagnosis if you already have symptoms.

Class Actions & Legal References

Madrigal v. Nissan North America, Inc., No. 3:18-cv-00534 (S.D. Cal.) received final settlement approval, providing the warranty extension and reimbursement framework described above. Class counsel and a settlement administrator manage claims and a binding arbitration path for repeat-failure vehicles.

What To Do If You Are Affected

If your Altima is shuddering, file the complaint at the dealer in writing and reference the Madrigal settlement on the RO. If the CVT fails or is replaced and fails again, file an arbitration claim through the settlement administrator. State lemon-law deadlines can run in parallel.

• Document the symptom at every dealer visit. Same complaint phrasing, video evidence, RO copy in hand.
• Save every receipt - oil changes, towing, rental, prior repairs. Class-action reimbursement requires proof.
• Know your state lemon-law clock. Most states reset the clock with each unresolved repair attempt for the same defect.
• Open a customer-care case with the manufacturer if the dealer cannot resolve the issue. Goodwill assistance is often available out of warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions