Nissan Altima maintenance schedule
On a 2019 or newer Nissan Altima 2.5, the oil change reminder in the meter tells you when to change oil, and Nissan’s limit is 10,000 miles or 12 months. Tires get rotated every 5,000 miles through 2025 (every 10,000 miles in the 2026 manual), and the CVT fluid is inspected every 10,000 miles. The VC-Turbo Altima runs a tighter schedule, with oil at 7,500 miles or 12 months at most. A 2013–2018 Altima is on a fixed 5,000-mile or 6-month oil schedule.
On this page (9 sections)
Reminders on the Altima
From 2019, the Altima’s meter has an engine oil information screen with an oil change reminder. The 2020 manual says to follow it, but not to go past the mileage or time limit in the schedule. The reminder covers oil only. Filters, brake fluid, the CVT, and coolant follow the schedule tables, so set your own reminders for those.
The 2013–2018 Altima doesn’t calculate oil life: its schedule is fixed by miles and months. If its display has a maintenance reminder, it only knows the interval you set; the steps are in your owner’s manual. More about Nissan’s reminders and where to find each schedule: Nissan maintenance schedule.
Service intervals by generation
Each item is due at the miles or months shown, whichever comes first.
6th generation, 2.5L (2019–2026)
Reminder system: Oil change reminder in the meter (engine oil information), plus the schedule in the owner’s manual.6 Oil changes: when the meter asks, never more than 10,000 miles or 12 months.
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation (2019–2025) | every 5,000 miles6 |
| Tire rotation (2026) | every 10,000 miles or 12 months (severe use: every 5,000 miles or 6 months)11 |
| In-cabin microfilter (2019–2025) | every 15,000 miles or 18 months6 |
| In-cabin microfilter (2026) | every 10,000 miles or 12 months11 |
| Brake fluid | every 20,000 miles or 24 months (severe use: every 10,000 miles or 12 months)6 |
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles or 36 months (more often in dust)6 |
| CVT fluid (NS-3) | inspect every 10,000 miles or 12 months; with a roof carrier or on rough or muddy roads, replace every 60,000 miles unless the fluid is checked6 |
| Spark plugs | every 105,000 miles6 |
| Engine coolant | first at 105,000 miles or 84 months, then every 75,000 miles or 60 months6 |
6th generation, 2.0L VC-Turbo (2019–2024)
Reminder system: Oil change reminder in the meter (engine oil information), plus the schedule in the owner’s manual.6 Oil changes: when the meter asks, never more than 7,500 miles or 12 months.
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation | every 7,500 miles6 |
| In-cabin microfilter | every 11,250 miles or 18 months6 |
| Brake fluid | every 15,000 miles or 24 months6 |
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles or 48 months (more often in dust)6 |
| CVT fluid (NS-3) | inspect every 7,500 miles or 12 months; with a roof carrier or on rough or muddy roads, replace every 60,000 miles unless the fluid is checked6 |
| Spark plugs | every 105,000 miles6 |
5th generation (2013–2018)
Reminder system: Fixed schedule (standard and severe); in the owner’s manual from 2017, in the Service and Maintenance Guide before that.5 Oil changes: every 5,000 miles or 6 months.
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation | every 5,000 miles4 |
| In-cabin microfilter | every 15,000 miles or 18 months5 |
| Brake fluid | every 20,000 miles or 24 months5 |
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles or 36 months (more often in dust)5 |
| CVT fluid (NS-3) | inspect every 10,000 miles or 12 months; with a roof carrier or on rough or muddy roads, replace every 60,000 miles unless the fluid is checked5 |
| Spark plugs | every 105,000 miles5 |
| Engine coolant | first at 105,000 miles or 84 months, then every 75,000 miles or 60 months5 |
4th generation (2008–2012)
Reminder system: Fixed schedule in the Nissan Service and Maintenance Guide (standard and severe).8 Oil changes: every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months).
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation | every 7,500 miles3 |
| CVT fluid (NS-2) | inspect every 15,000 miles or 12 months8 |
CVT fluid on the Altima
Every Altima here uses a CVT except a few early manual-transmission versions. Nissan’s normal schedule only inspects the CVT fluid: every 10,000 miles on the 2.5-liter since 2013, every 7,500 miles on the VC-Turbo. The 2018 and 2020 manuals call for a change at 60,000 miles if you carry loads on a roof rack or drive on rough or muddy roads, unless a dealer checks the fluid. Because the Altima can’t tow, towing isn’t on its list.
The 2008–2012 Altima used NS-2 fluid and inspection every 15,000 miles; later cars use NS-3. Use the exact fluid your manual names. Related: transmission fluid change.
2.5-liter vs VC-Turbo schedule
If you own a 2019–2024 Altima SR or Platinum with the VC-Turbo, use its own column. Compared with the 2.5-liter, it has oil at 7,500 instead of 10,000 miles, tire rotation at 7,500 instead of 5,000 miles, the cabin filter at 11,250 instead of 15,000 miles, and brake fluid at 15,000 instead of 20,000 miles. The engine air filter goes to 48 months instead of 36.
What changed for 2026
The 2024 and 2025 manuals keep the 2.5-liter schedule above. The 2026 manual moves tire rotation and the cabin filter to every 10,000 miles or 12 months, the same step as the oil change limit; in severe use, tires are still rotated every 5,000 miles. Brake fluid stays at 20,000 miles, or 10,000 miles in severe use.
Normal or severe?
Nissan’s severe schedule covers driving such as short trips, heavy traffic, dusty roads, and long idling. A commuter Altima that sits in traffic every day often fits it. Read normal vs severe maintenance to decide which column is yours.
Keep the record
Log the date, odometer, and work at every visit. With both a meter reminder and a printed schedule, a log is the simplest way to know what’s due next. Guides for the common jobs: tire rotation, cabin air filter, brake fluid flush, spark plugs, and the car maintenance log.
FAQ
How often should a Nissan Altima get an oil change?
On 2019 and later, when the meter reminds you, at most every 10,000 miles or 12 months for the 2.5-liter and 7,500 miles or 12 months for the VC-Turbo. On 2013–2018, every 5,000 miles or 6 months.
Does the Nissan Altima need CVT fluid changes?
Nissan inspects it on the normal schedule and calls for a change at 60,000 miles with roof loads or rough roads, unless a dealer checks the fluid.
When does an Altima need spark plugs?
Every 105,000 miles on the 2013 and later 2.5-liter and on the VC-Turbo, per the 2018 and 2020 manuals.
How often should Altima tires be rotated?
Every 5,000 miles on the 2013 and later 2.5-liter, and every 7,500 miles on the VC-Turbo and on 2008–2012 cars.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by Nissan North America. Nissan, Altima, and VC-Turbo are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the vehicles.
Sources
- 2008 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual (capacities, fuel, tires, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid Owner’s Manual (capacities, tires) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2012 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual (capacities, fuel, tires, tire rotation) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2015 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual (capacities, fuel, tires, tire rotation) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2018 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, maintenance schedule, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2020 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, tires, oil reminder, maintenance schedules, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2023 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, tires, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- Nissan USA, 2010 Altima maintenance schedule by component (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2024 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, fuel, tires, towing, maintenance schedules) (checked November 13, 2026)
- 2025 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, fuel, tires, towing, maintenance schedule) (checked November 13, 2026)
- 2026 Nissan Altima Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, fuel, tires, towing, maintenance schedule) (checked November 13, 2026)