Nissan Altima Vibrates When In Drive: Causes And Solutions For The Vibration Issue

Feeling an annoying vibration sensation come on as soon as you shift your Nissan Altima into drive can make for an unpleasant driving experience. Determining what’s causing the shuddering helps you restore smooth acceleration and shifting.

This article will examine the most common sources of vibrations that arise only when in drive gear in the Altima. We’ll discuss transmission mount issues, driveshaft balance concerns, and torque converter problems that provoke shake and shimmy, specifically in the drive. 

The Most Common Sources Of Issues For The Vibration

Worn transmission mounts

• Fatigued transmission mounts no longer dampen engine vibrations from reaching the chassis, which leads to pronounced shaking sensations in the drive when the engine torque is applied.

Driveshaft balance issues

• An out-of-balance driveshaft produces significant vibrations under acceleration that most appear during the drive mode. 

Damaged transmission splines

• Suppose internal transmission input or output shaft splines are damaged. 

• In that case, it can create driveline vibrations, predominantly in the drive when the transmission is under load. 

Faulty torque converter

• A worn, damaged, or improperly sealed torque converter generates vibrations when unlocked in the drive mode. But still, it does not happen when the vehicle is in parked or neutral. 

Engine misfires

• Consistent misfiring cylinders create considerable vibrations that become more noticeable when transmitting torque through the drivetrain in the drive gear.

What is Engine Misfiring?

Loose og engine components

• Bad accessory pulley bearings, loose serpentine belts, or unsecured components like loose motor mounts can worsen normal vibrations in drive mode. 

Solutions For An Altima That Vibrates When Shifted Into Drive

• Use a pry bar to check for cracked rubber and excessive play, which indicates the need to replace deteriorated mounts that are no longer isolating vibrations from the chassis.

• Remove the driveshaft and have it dynamically rebalanced or replaced if it is severely out of balance and causes noticeable vibrations under acceleration in the drive gear.

• For internal issues like damaged gears evidenced by metal particles on the fluid dipstick. Transmission overhaul or replacement is necessary to resolve persistent drive vibrations.

• Use the scan tool to monitor for torque converter slip and excessive RPM variations. Which indicates a worn converter replacement to cure drive vibration issues.

• Replace worn parts like spark plugs, wires, and coils if cylinder misfires are determined to be the root cause of surging vibrations when accelerating in drive gear.

• Inspect pulleys, belts and mounts for play, bearing noise or loose bolts contributing to amplified engine vibrations in the drive. If you find any defective components, tightening the hardware and replacing is ideal to overcome the issue.

• Some mild vibrations originate simply from lugging the engine at too low RPM in the drive. To overcome this issue, adjust driving habits to keep RPMs higher within the powerband.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nissan Altima Vibrates When In Drive

Q: Can transmission fluid problems also lead to drive gear vibrations?

A: Low transmission fluid levels can cause component slippage and vibrations, predominately when in the drive. Contaminated fluid with suspended debris can also generate rattling sensations from worn metals.

Q: How can I tell if engine ignition problems are causing the vibration rather than transmission issues?

A: Engine misfires create vibrations at idle and all speeds. While transmission problems generate only when loaded in the drive. 

Q: Is it okay to continue driving with the vibration, or should I be concerned?

A: You can drive short distances if needed, but persistent vibrations risk further component damage over time. Prompt diagnosis and repairs are ideal to keep your vehicle in good condition.

Q: Are aftermarket modifications like lower profile wheels prone to causing drive vibrations?

A: Yes, non-OEM wheels, tires and suspension components can shift dynamic balances and worsen specific vibrations only when torque is active through modified drivetrains.