How Much Does Nissan Maintenance Cost?
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If you own a Nissan or are thinking about buying one, it makes sense to wonder how much you’ll pay per year toward Nissan maintenance cost. How reliable are Nissan vehicles, and what are the prices of common Nissan repairs?
In this review, we dive into the true cost of Nissan maintenance and repairs, Nissan’s reliability, and the best extended auto warranty providers that can help make your Nissan maintenance cost more affordable.
Click above to get free quotes from our top recommended providers and see how much a warranty could save you on Nissan maintenance costs.
Table of contents
How Much Does Nissan Maintenance Cost on Average?
When it comes to estimating your yearly Nissan maintenance cost, take a look at Nissan’s reliability and the most commonly reported repairs for Nissan vehicles.
To get accurate data about the average Nissan maintenance cost, our review team turns to RepairPal. RepairPal analyzes car brands, ranks them in terms of reliability, and estimates the cost of repairs for different vehicle makes, models, and years.
Nissan earned a 4.0 out of 5.0 score in RepairPal’s most recent Reliability Rating, placing it above average compared to 31 other car brands. The chart below compares Nissan’s reliability ratings with average ratings across the auto industry:
Nissan Average |
Industry Average |
|
|---|---|---|
Annual Maintenance Cost |
$500 |
$652 |
Number of Visits to a Repair Shop |
0.3 visits per year |
0.4 visits per year |
Likelihood That Repairs Are Severe* |
13 percent |
12 percent |
*In this case, “severe” refers to a repair that costs at least three times the average annual cost of repairs.
The average annual cost of Nissan maintenance is $500, which is $152 less than the average cost of maintenance across all car brands. Overall, this data suggests that Nissans are largely reliable cars that require infrequent maintenance. However, necessary repairs have a higher-than-average likelihood of being expensive.
Nissan Maintenance Cost: Scheduled Services
The chart below breaks down the Nissan recommended maintenance schedule. Nissan maintenance cost estimates are based on RepairPal data for a 2019 Altima. These prices may vary depending on the model of your vehicle and where you choose to have your car serviced:
Maintenance Schedule |
Service |
Nissan Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|---|
Every 3,000 miles/ 3 months |
Change engine oil and filter, check and top off fluid levels, adjust tire pressure, and conduct multi-point inspection |
Free with new car warranty coverage |
Every 5,000 miles/ 6 months |
Rotate tires and inspect brake pads and suspension parts |
$36 to $46 |
Every 10,000 miles/ 12 months |
Check the brake fluid and transmission fluid, perform wheel alignment, change windshield wiper blades, and inspect additional items like shaft bolts and brake lines |
$285 to $341 |
Every 15,000 miles/ 18 months |
Change the key battery and in-cabin microfilters |
$63 to $70 |
Every 20,000 miles/ 24 months |
Inspect the brake system, exhaust system, steering gear and linkage, and axle suspension |
$199 to $252 |
Every 25,000 miles/ 30 months |
Change brake fluid and automatic transmission fluid, and conduct a multi-point inspection |
$144 to $156 |
Every 40,000 miles/ 48 months |
Replace engine mounting insulator and change manual transmission oil |
$205 to $259 |
Every 60,000 miles/ 72 months |
Replace spark plugs |
$173 to $195 per plug |
If you look in your Nissan owner’s manual, you’ll find the recommended maintenance schedule for your particular vehicle model.
Although extended car warranties will not cover the cost of Nissan scheduled services, following the recommended service schedule is typically required to keep warranty coverage valid. If you do not have an extended warranty, following the service schedule is not a requirement, but it is recommended.
Extended Car Warranties and Nissan Maintenance Cost
The Nissan extended warranty offers up to 8 years/120,000 miles of vehicle protection and comes in three plans: Gold, Silver, and Powertrain.
Ultimately, we recommend considering both manufacturer extended coverage and extended protection from third-party providers. A third-party provider may be a smart choice for the following reasons:
- You can purchase third-party coverage at any point in your vehicle’s lifetime.
- Third-party providers typically offer cheaper coverage that isn’t subject to dealer markups.
- There are more plan options available from third-party companies, so you can purchase a plan that best fits your vehicle’s needs and your budget.
- Warranty companies will cover your vehicle for a longer period of time.
On the other hand, there are some benefits to manufacturer warranty coverage. For example, a Nissan extended warranty guarantees that only original parts are used for repairs, and your vehicle will only be worked on by factory-trained technicians. Because third-party plans allow you to have repairs made at any licensed facility, you may not always get Nissan-specific service.
Nissans are largely reliable vehicles that do not come equipped with many specialty parts, so the use of genuine parts is not necessarily required to keep your Nissan in top working condition. Similarly, dealership-trained technicians are a bonus for vehicles that have unique systems. Nissan makes standard vehicles that are able to be properly serviced and repaired by any licensed repair facility.
So, what’s the bottom line? Choosing dealership coverage or a third-party extended warranty will keep your Nissan maintenance cost lower year over year. We recommend getting free quotes from multiple sources and comparing plans side by side so you can see what is best for you.
Third-Party Extended Warranty Recommendations
Endurance: Best Coverage
Endurance is our overall top-rated provider because it provides the industry’s highest-quality car warranty coverage. Endurance offers customers the choice of six extended service plans that cover a variety of items to help make Nissan maintenance costs more affordable after an unforeseen breakdown.
All Endurance plans come with towing, trip interruption, roadside assistance, and rental car reimbursement, as well as a free year of enrollment into the Endurance Elite Benefits program. This entails a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Roadside assistance
- Key fob replacement
- Two tire repairs or replacements per year
- Collision discount
- Total loss protection
- Endurance mobile app
Learn more about coverage in our full Endurance warranty review, and click below to get a personalized quote.
CarShield: Best Value
Thanks to its month-to-month contracts and other low-cost payment plans, CarShield offers one of the most budget-friendly warranties on the market.
CarShield has five plans to choose from, including basic powertrain coverage, an exclusionary bumper-to-bumper extended warranty, and a specialized plan for cars with high-tech systems. It is also one of few providers to offer protection plans for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.
Some benefits that come with all CarShield extended warranties include:
- Rental car reimbursement
- Towing
- 24/7 roadside assistance
Read more about this provider in our full CarShield review, and get a free, custom quote for your Nissan below.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Q & A
Are Nissan cars expensive to maintain?
Nissan owners pay about $150 less to maintain their vehicles than the average driver, according to RepairPal. The average annual Nissan maintenance cost is $500, and the industry-wide average is $652.
Does Nissan have free maintenance?
For 2019 models, the first required car maintenance visit is covered by the Nissan new car warranty that comes with every new vehicle. It provides an oil change, a tire rotation, and a multi-point inspection.
Are Nissan Altimas expensive to maintain?
The average annual Nissan Altima repair cost is $483, making the Nissan Altima inexpensive to maintain and repair when compared to the average maintenance cost of all cars. The average annual maintenance cost of a Nissan Altima, according to RepairPal, is $169 less than the average cost across all car models.
What cars are least expensive to maintain?
The most reliable cars are typically the least expensive to maintain. The top five most reliable cars according to RepairPal’s most recent Reliability Rating are Honda, Acura, Kia, Hyundai, and Mazda. Nissan came in ninth place out of 32 brands analyzed.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
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