# Nissan Altima 2007–2012 Maintenance Schedule & Cost to Maintain

Canonical: https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/cost-to-maintain/

> What routine maintenance costs on the 2007–2012 Nissan Altima, by mileage interval: what's due, why, independent-shop cost ranges, and which jobs are realistic DIY.

Case file · NISSAN-ALTIMA-2007-2012 · Cost ledger

# Nissan Altima 2007–2012 · Maintenance schedule & cost to maintain

CarCaseFile editorial · filed 07-03-2026 · updated 09-17-2026

Scheduled service only, not the documented problems (those are on the [case file's problem list](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#own), with their own cost calculator). Every interval and cost range below is sourced, not estimated.

Where the manufacturer publishes separate normal and severe-condition schedules, this ledger defaults to the **severe** interval and says so. That's not us padding the numbers: a manufacturer's own severe-duty list usually describes ordinary driving, things like short trips, stop-and-go traffic, extended idling, dust or road salt. But the list is written per manufacturer and sometimes per model year, and some are far narrower than others, so each item's "why" text names what *this* manufacturer actually wrote and gives the normal-schedule number alongside it. Read the item, not this paragraph.

[← Full case file](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/)

Track Nissan Altima 2007–2012

## What's due on MY 2007–2012 Nissan Altima right now?

Enter your mileage. We'll check it against this car's full schedule below.

Get a reminder before the next thing comes due. No account. Reply to the email anytime with your new mileage to keep it accurate.

Cumulative cost

## What routine maintenance adds up to, by mileage

Running total of the independent-shop cost ranges below. Each bar is everything due by that point, added to everything before it.

Solid bar = low estimate, tint = high estimate. This is a routine-maintenance floor, not a total cost of ownership. Fuel, insurance, tires, and any of the documented problems above are separate. Items that recur more than once per interval under a severe-duty schedule (an air filter due every 5k, say) are counted here at one occurrence, not the full repeat total. The real cumulative spend for a high-mileage severe-duty driver runs higher than this chart shows.

Parts below link to Amazon, and to eBay for tires. Those are affiliate
links, so we may earn a commission if you buy. Your price is the same
either way, and a commission never changes what this page says.

## Every 3,750–7,500 mi (oil service)

### Engine oil and filter (severe-schedule default: Nissan's Schedule 1)

$65–$110 DIY-realistic

Nissan's Schedule 1, the severe one, is every 3,750 miles or 3 months. Schedule 2 is 7,500 or 6 months and Nissan limits it to highway driving in temperate conditions. Both gas engines take SAE 5W-30. The 2.5 holds 4-7/8 quarts with the filter. The V6 holds 4-7/8 through 2009 and 5-1/8 from 2010. The Hybrid takes 0W-20.

On this generation

- Nothing on this car computes oil life for you. The information display's Maintenance mode only lets you set your own alert distance for engine oil, oil filter, tires and other, so on a used car that number is whatever a previous owner typed in, or nothing at all. Set it to 3,750 yourself and treat the display as a timer, not a measurement.
- The Hybrid is not on the same oil as the gas 2.5. Nissan's Hybrid manual specifies SAE 0W-20 and prints beside it that “SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 engine oil may also be used. However, SAE 0W-20 is the best choice for optimum fuel economy and optimum starting in cold weather.” Same 4-7/8 quart fill, different bottle, so say Hybrid when you order.
- Both engines here run a timing chain, not a belt. Nissan's own specification page lists camshaft operation as “Timing chain” for the 2.5, the V6 and the Hybrid 2.5, and the OEM catalog sells chains rather than belts for every 2007 to 2012 Altima. There is no scheduled timing service on this car, so a quote for one is a quote for a job Nissan never asked for.

Parts for this job: Oil filter.

Parts for this job

Oil filter

[★ Recommended Fram PH6607 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DFram%2BPH6607) [OEM Nissan 15208-65F0E →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00HKSM1A2)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#part-oil-filter)

Sources: [Nissan (2012 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2012/2012-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2007 booklet)](https://x.nissanhelp.com/service/2007_service_guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2008/2008-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2012 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2012/2012-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (hybrid manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/AltimaHybrid/2011/2011-AltimaHybrid-owner-manual.pdf), [NissanPartsDeal](https://www.nissanpartsdeal.com/oem-nissan-altima-timing_chain.html), [QuoteScore](https://quotescore.ai/blog/oil-change-cost-2026-guide), [Bumper](https://www.bumper.com/car-advice/ownership/severe-duty-maintenance/)

## 15,000 mi

### Cabin air filter (in-cabin microfilter)

$25–$55 DIY-realistic

Nissan's booklets put the in-cabin microfilter on a 15,000 mile or 12 month replacement cycle on both Schedule 1 and Schedule 2, so there is no separate severe number to default to. The only extra guidance is to replace it more often after long stretches in dusty conditions, with no mileage attached. A clogged one costs you HVAC airflow and adds a musty smell, nothing more.

On this generation

- Check that your car actually has one before you pay for one. The 2007 and 2008 booklets list the microfilter as “Standard equipment on Altima (except 2.5 Base)” and an optional accessory otherwise. The 2009 booklet carries the same exception inside a longer model list. From the 2010 booklet on, the exception is gone and the Altima is listed flat. A base 2.5 from the first three years can genuinely arrive without the filter fitted.
- It is a glovebox job with one screwdriver, roughly twenty minutes for both filters, and a shop quoting it as a standalone visit will charge close to $200 for the trip. Do it alongside the engine air filter in the same session, or do it yourself.

Parts for this job: Cabin air filter.

Parts for this job

Cabin air filter

[★ Recommended Fram CF11173 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00EAOIKVI) [OEM Nissan 27277-JA000 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DNissan%2B27277-JA000)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#part-cabin-air-filter)

### Brake fluid flush (2011–2012 cars, severe-schedule default. Read the note if yours is 2007–2010)

$80–$150 Shop job

This one changed inside the generation. The 2011 and 2012 booklets add a brake fluid replacement that the 2007 through 2010 booklets simply do not contain: Schedule 1 replaces it every 15,000 miles or 12 months, Schedule 2 every 30,000. On a 2007 through 2010 car Nissan published no replacement interval at all, only a fluid level inspection, so use the later books' severe number as the sane default rather than never changing it. Brake fluid pulls moisture out of the air whether or not you drive.

On this generation

- Nissan's spec is Genuine Nissan Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3, printed the same way in the 2008 and the 2012 manuals. This is one of the few fluids on this car where the book explicitly allows an equivalent, so a shop insisting on the dealer bottle is selling you something Nissan did not require.

Sources: [Nissan (2012 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2012/2012-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2011 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2011/2011-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2008/2008-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2007 booklet)](https://x.nissanhelp.com/service/2007_service_guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2008/2008-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2012 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2012/2012-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [brakefluidreplacementcost.com](https://brakefluidreplacementcost.com/), [YourMechanic](https://www.yourmechanic.com/estimates/nissan/altima/cabin-air-filter-replacement)

## 30,000 mi

### Engine air filter (both engines)

$30–$60 DIY-realistic

Every booklet from 2007 to 2012 replaces the engine air filter every 30,000 miles on Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 alike. No distinct severe mileage exists: the books only say to check or replace it more often in prolonged dusty conditions without printing a number. The 2007 through 2009 Premium schedule did it every 15,000, which is the only shorter figure Nissan ever published for this part. The 2.5 and the V6 use different filters, so order by engine.

Parts for this job: Engine air filter, Engine air filter (V6).

Parts for this job

Engine air filter

[★ Recommended Fram CA10349 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB002QGZZV0) [OEM Nissan 16546-JA00B →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB004Z8BC0U)

Engine air filter (V6)

[★ Recommended Fram CA4309 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DFram%2BCA4309) [OEM Nissan 16546-0Z000 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB004Z8F7D8)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#parts)

### CVT fluid drain and fill (Nissan's own Premium-schedule interval, and the item that decides this car)

$160–$300 Shop job

Nissan never called this fluid lifetime, and Nissan's own sources do not agree with each other about when to change it. The printed booklets put no replacement on Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, where the CVT fluid is an inspect line, and give replacement in two places: every 60,000 miles if you tow, use a camper or car-top carrier, or drive rough or muddy roads, and on the Premium schedule, which the 2010 through 2012 books describe as an option that may optimize durability. Nissan's online schedule tool is stricter than its own booklet, returning a replacement at 15,000 miles under severe driving conditions and at 37,500 on Premium. Take the disagreement as the answer: on a transmission with this failure record, changing the fluid somewhere in the 30,000 mile neighbourhood is defensible from Nissan's own paperwork, and no reading of it supports leaving the fluid alone for the life of the car. Use only Genuine Nissan CVT Fluid NS-2. NS-3 belongs to the later CVT, not this one, and the 2008 and 2012 manuals both print the same warning that any other fluid will damage the transmission and is not covered by the new vehicle limited warranty. A manual-transmission car skips this line entirely, and the Hybrid's eCVT takes Genuine Nissan Matic W ATF instead, which is a different bottle with the same do-not-substitute warning attached.

On this generation

- Say drain and fill, not flush. The 2010, 2011 and 2012 booklets each carry the note that Nissan “does not advocate the use of non-OEM approved aftermarket flushing systems and strongly advises against performing these services on a Nissan product.” The 2007 through 2009 booklets do not contain that sentence, so it is guidance Nissan added partway through this generation, and it lands squarely on the machine a quick-lube wants to hook up to your CVT.
- There is a number a dealer can read instead of guessing. The 2011 and 2012 booklets tell owners who tow or drive rough roads to “replace the fluid every 60,000 miles or request the dealer to inspect the fluid deterioration data using a Consult. If the deterioration data is more than 210000, replace the CVT fluid.” If you have bought a car with no records, that scan tells you where the fluid actually stands rather than what the odometer implies.
- A high-mileage car with no CVT service history was not necessarily neglected. Schedules 1 and 2 never asked for the fluid to be replaced, so an owner who followed the book to the letter still never changed it. That is why fluid receipts matter more on this car than service stamps do, and why “it was always serviced on schedule” is not the same answer as handing you the CVT fluid invoices.

### Wiper blades

$25–$60 DIY-realistic

Not a Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 item. Nissan's Premium schedule replaces the blades every 15,000 miles in the 2007 through 2009 booklets and every 30,000 from the 2010 book on. Either is a fair calendar for a part that dies of sun and ozone rather than use. Sedan sizes are 28 inches driver side and 16 inches passenger side. It takes two minutes and no tools, so this is the easiest line on the whole ledger to stop paying a shop for.

Parts for this job: Wiper blades.

Parts for this job

Wiper blades

[★ Recommended Rain-X 5079282-2 + 5079274-2 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DRain-X%2B5079282-2%2B%252B%2B5079274-2)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#part-wiper-blades)

Sources: [Nissan (2012 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2012/2012-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2011 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2011/2011-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2010 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2010/2010-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2008/2008-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2007 booklet)](https://x.nissanhelp.com/service/2007_service_guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2008/2008-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2012 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2012/2012-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (hybrid manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/AltimaHybrid/2011/2011-AltimaHybrid-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (schedule tool)](https://maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com/maintenance-schedules/2007/altima/components/cvt-transmission-fluid/?RegionID=1&LocaleID=en_US), [transmissionfluidchangecost.com](https://transmissionfluidchangecost.com/cvt-fluid-change-cost/), [MechanicsRated](https://mechanicsrated.com/guides/car-repair-prices-2026/)

## 40,000–70,000 mi

### Front brake pads (wear-based, not a fixed manufacturer interval)

$200–$380 DIY-realistic

Nissan's booklets only ever list brake pads, rotors, drums and linings as a recurring inspect item, never a scheduled replacement mileage. Pads wear on driving style, not on the odometer. For an ordinary city and highway mix on a car this size, the first front set commonly lands between 40,000 and 70,000 miles, sooner if you do the stop-and-go driving that already puts you on Schedule 1 above. Inspect at this point rather than assume. One front pad set covers the whole generation, both engines, sedan and coupe.

Parts for this job: Front brake pads.

Parts for this job

Front brake pads

[★ Recommended Akebono ACT815 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DAkebono%2BACT815) [OEM Nissan D1061-ZX60A →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00KWFJM0C)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#part-front-brake-pads)

### Serpentine (drive) belt (wear-based, not a fixed manufacturer interval)

$100–$200 DIY-realistic

Nissan lists engine drive belts as an inspect item that joins Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 at 60,000 miles, and replaces them every 30,000 on the Premium schedule. There is no required replacement mileage on the standard schedules, so treat it as a wear part: look for cracking, glazing or fraying from about 60,000 and replace it before it strands you. The two gas engines use different belts, a 6-rib on the 2.5 and a 7-rib on the V6, so order by engine.

On this generation

- On the gas cars the belt drives the power steering pump, so a snapped belt takes your steering assist with it. The Hybrid does not work that way. Nissan's own press material describes it with electric power rack-and-pinion steering, and the phrase “power steering fluid” appears nowhere in the Hybrid owner's manual. Do not let a shop quote a Hybrid a power steering flush.

Parts for this job: Serpentine belt, Serpentine belt (V6).

Parts for this job

Serpentine belt

[★ Recommended Gates K060900 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB000C2WKYK) [OEM Nissan 11720-JA00B →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DNissan%2B11720-JA00B)

Serpentine belt (V6)

[★ Recommended Gates 7PK1705 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB006263GVQ) [OEM Nissan 11720-JA10B →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00BFE5EUQ)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#parts)

Sources: [Nissan (2012 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2012/2012-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2008/2008-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (hybrid manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/AltimaHybrid/2011/2011-AltimaHybrid-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2011 press kit)](https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/release-75bd5b20d2f941d2b355be4d27298e21-2011-nissan-altima-hybrid-press-kit-3), [RepairPal (brake pads)](https://repairpal.com/estimator/nissan/altima/brake-pad-replacement-cost), [RepairPal (serpentine belt)](https://repairpal.com/estimator/nissan/altima/serpentine-belt-replacement-cost)

## 60,000 mi

### Engine coolant, first change (2007–2010 cars. 2011–2012 cars are at 105,000 mi, further down)

$110–$220 Shop job

The coolant clock changed inside this generation and the split is worth real money. The 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 booklets replace engine coolant at 60,000 miles on Schedule 1 and Schedule 2, then again at 90,000 and 120,000. The 2011 and 2012 booklets drop that entirely and put the factory fill at 105,000 miles or 7 years. If your car is a 2007 through 2010, its own book says 60,000. Capacity differs by engine: about 2 gallons for the 2.5, and 2-1/8 gallons for a 2008 or 2009 V6 rising to 2-3/8 gallons from 2010. Every car in this generation is now well past all of these clocks on age, so with no record of a change it is due whatever the odometer reads.

On this generation

- The bottle changed mid-generation and mixing is not free. The 2008 and 2009 manuals call for a 50/50 mix of Genuine Nissan Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant with demineralized or distilled water. The 2010 manual names the same 50/50 mix but specifies the blue coolant, and the 2011 and 2012 manuals switch to pre-diluted blue straight from the jug. Nissan's own note is that mixing another type of coolant, or using non-distilled water, shortens the service interval, so match the car's year instead of whatever is open on the shelf.

### Hybrid inverter coolant (Altima Hybrid only, a second cooling circuit separate from the engine coolant)

$120–$250 Shop job

The Hybrid carries its own cooling system for the inverter, about 7/8 of a gallon, with its own fill and its own line in the manual. Every booklet from 2007 through 2011 replaces the HEV inverter coolant at 60,000, 90,000 and 120,000 miles. An engine coolant flush does not touch it, and a shop that has not worked on this car will miss it. It takes the same coolant as the engine side, 50/50 Long Life through 2010 and pre-diluted blue on the 2011.

On this generation

- Establish first whether the Hybrid is even your problem. Nissan sold it only where California emissions rules applied: eight states at the 2007 launch, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey, and nine by 2011 with Oregon added. It ran 2007 through 2011 and no later. Outside those states a car wearing Hybrid badges came in used, and local shops are correspondingly thin on the ground.

Sources: [Nissan (2007 booklet)](https://x.nissanhelp.com/service/2007_service_guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2008/2008-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2010 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2010/2010-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2011 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2011/2011-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2008/2008-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2010 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2010/2010-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2012 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2012/2012-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2008 hybrid manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/AltimaHybrid/2008/2008-AltimaHybrid-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2011 hybrid manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/AltimaHybrid/2011/2011-AltimaHybrid-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2011 press kit)](https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/release-75bd5b20d2f941d2b355be4d27298e21-2011-nissan-altima-hybrid-press-kit-3), [Nissan (2007 press release)](https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/061005-02-e), [MechanicsRated](https://mechanicsrated.com/guides/car-repair-prices-2026/)

## 70,000–120,000 mi

### Engine and torque strut mounts (wear-based, no manufacturer interval)

$360–$610 DIY-realistic

Nissan publishes no mount replacement mileage, but on this platform mounts are a routine shop line rather than a high-mileage rarity. The passenger-side upper torque strut mount is the one reported to go first and the easiest to reach, with separations seen under 50,000 miles on some cars. The tell is a vibration you feel in Drive that disappears in Park or Neutral, plus a clunk as the transmission engages. The cascade is why you do not sit on it: once the torque mount lets go, engine torque twists and pulls at the remaining mounts, so one cheap part ignored turns into two or three. On a CVT car that extra engine movement is load the driveline does not need either.

On this generation

- The upper torque strut is a real driveway job on the 2.5. A 2007 to 2012 specific procedure exists for it and the tool list is ordinary: 13mm and 18mm sockets, an 18mm crowfoot, a pry bar, a floor jack and a block of wood. That is the one mount worth trying yourself before paying a shop to diagnose a vibration.

### Front struts and shocks (wear-based, no manufacturer interval)

$500–$1,000 Shop job

No factory mileage exists for these. Figure the usual 50,000 to 100,000 mile window depending on roads. The interaction that costs money: worn struts let the tire's contact patch bounce, which cups and scallops tread on its own, entirely separately from alignment. If this car is eating tires unevenly, check struts and the control-arm bushings below before paying for a second alignment. Struts go in pairs, and the alignment afterwards is part of the job rather than an upsell.

### CV axle boots (inspect, and a full axle if a boot has torn)

$300–$650 Shop job

Boots are a wear item with no published interval. Roughly 70,000 to 130,000 miles of life is normal, and the right time to start actually looking is 60,000 miles or five years old, whichever lands first. A torn boot slings grease across the inner wheel and onto the rotor, and that grease contaminates the front pads from the item above, so a cheap boot ignored becomes a boot plus a brake job. Check them at every brake service instead of booking a separate visit. Clicking on tight turns means you already waited too long.

### Front control-arm bushings (wear-based, no manufacturer interval)

$265–$500 Shop job

Nissan lists axle and suspension parts as an inspect item and never sets a bushing mileage. Generic life is 70,000 to 120,000 miles on decent roads and 50,000 to 80,000 on rough or salted ones, and age counts on its own, with real deterioration after eight to ten years even on a low-mileage car. Every car in this generation is past that age now. The interaction to know: worn bushings let the wheel move out of its designed geometry under load, so an alignment will not hold no matter how many times you buy one. If a shop keeps re-aligning this car and it drifts back, the bushings are the reason.

Sources: [Nissan (2012 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2012/2012-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [FixMyOldRide](https://www.fixmyoldride.com/Nissan-Altima-motor-mount.html), [1A Auto](https://www.1aauto.com/how-to-replace-engine-torque-strut-mount-2007-2012-nissan-altima-25l-i4/video/66919), [RepairPal (engine mounts)](https://repairpal.com/estimator/nissan/altima/engine-mount-replacement-cost), [RepairPal (control arm bushings)](https://repairpal.com/estimator/nissan/altima/suspension-control-arm-bushings-replacement-cost), [MechanicsRated](https://mechanicsrated.com/guides/car-repair-prices-2026/)

## 105,000 mi

### Spark plugs, 2.5L four-cylinder including the Hybrid (4 plugs)

$180–$290 DIY-realistic

Every booklet from 2007 through 2012 replaces spark plugs at 105,000 miles or 84 months, on Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 alike. No shorter severe number exists, so this figure holds whatever your driving looks like. The gas 2.5 and the Hybrid 2.5 both run the DILKAR6A-11 iridium plug, which is why the interval runs this long. The plugs sit on top of the engine, which makes this the easy version of the job.

Parts for this job: Spark plugs.

Parts for this job

Spark plugs

[★ Recommended NGK DILKAR6A11 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00449QPKM) [OEM Nissan 22401-JA01B →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00BFE26NY)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#part-spark-plugs)

### Spark plugs, 3.5L V6 (6 plugs, and far more labor than the four-cylinder)

$400–$700 Shop job

Same 105,000 mile factory interval, very different bill. The front three plugs are easy. The rear three sit under the upper intake manifold, and a 4th-gen write-up for this job puts it plainly: there is no way to reach them other than taking the intake off. That labor gap is why this is its own line rather than folded into the four-cylinder number. One scope trap when ordering: the V6 plug changed inside the generation, FXE20HR-11 on 2007 and 2008 cars and FXE22HR-11 from 2009, so buy by year.

Parts for this job: Spark plugs (V6).

Parts for this job

Spark plugs (V6)

[★ Recommended Denso FXE22HR11 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0039HJ7AK) [OEM Nissan 22401-EW61C →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00BFE1M8O)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#part-spark-plugs-v6)

### Engine coolant, first change (2011–2012 cars only)

$110–$220 Shop job

For a 2011 or 2012 car this is the factory number, and it is far longer than the earlier cars' 60,000. Nissan's 2011 and 2012 booklets state that the recommended service interval of the factory-fill coolant is 105,000 miles or 7 years, whichever comes first, using Genuine Nissan Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (Blue). Do not let a shop apply a generic 30,000 or 60,000 mile coolant rule to one of these. Equally, do not carry this number backwards onto a 2007 through 2010 car, where Nissan's own book says 60,000.

Sources: [Nissan (2012 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2012/2012-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2011 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2011/2011-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2008/2008-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2007 booklet)](https://x.nissanhelp.com/service/2007_service_guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2008/2008-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (2012 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2012/2012-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [Nissan (hybrid manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/AltimaHybrid/2011/2011-AltimaHybrid-owner-manual.pdf), [importnut.net](https://importnut.net/nissan-altima-spark-plug-replacement-4th-gen/), [RepairPal](https://repairpal.com/estimator/nissan/altima/spark-plug-replacement-cost), [KBB](https://www.kbb.com/nissan/altima/2010/spark-plug-replacement/)

## Event-triggered (after new tires or suspension work), plus a ~12,000–15,000 mi / annual check

### Wheel alignment

$100–$200 Shop job

Not a Nissan mileage item. It is triggered by events: new tires, any of the suspension work above, a hard pothole or a curb strike. Skip it after either and part of what you just spent is wasted, because a misaligned car chews new tread and re-loads the bushings you just paid to replace. Beyond that, a check every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or once a year catches drift before it turns into uneven wear. If the same alignment problem keeps coming back on this car, look at control-arm bushings before buying a third alignment.

### Tires: match the type to how the car is actually used

$450–$850 Shop job

The 4th-gen Altima is a front-wheel-drive commuter sedan or coupe, so a standard all-season or all-season touring tire is the right fit, and there is no tread-depth matching rule to worry about because there is no AWD system on this car. An aggressive all-terrain buys you noise, worse wet grip and shorter tread life for capability the car will never use. Two interactions before you buy: get the alignment checked right after fitting, and on a high-mileage car check the struts first, because worn struts will cup brand new tires however correct the alignment is.

Sources: [wheelalignmentcost.com](https://wheelalignmentcost.com/), [MechanicsRated](https://mechanicsrated.com/guides/car-repair-prices-2026/)

## 150,000+ mi

### CVT fluid (ongoing, same 30,000 mi cadence)

$160–$300 Shop job

This is not a one-time service. Keep the 30,000 mile Premium-schedule cadence running for as long as the transmission is in the car, on Genuine Nissan NS-2. A 150,000 mile 4th-gen Altima with a folder of CVT fluid invoices is a different used car from one without, and on this generation that folder is the piece of paper worth paying extra for.

### Engine coolant (ongoing)

$110–$220 Shop job

Repeat cadence, and which one you are on depends on the year. A 2007 through 2010 car follows its own booklet's 30,000 mile repeat after the 60,000 mile first change. A 2011 or 2012 car follows the note printed under its 105,000 mile line, that subsequent replacement of Genuine Nissan Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (Blue) should occur every 75,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. At this age the calendar gets there first either way.

Sources: [Nissan (2012 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2012/2012-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2008 booklet)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2008/2008-nissan-service-maintenance-guide.pdf), [Nissan (2012 manual)](https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Altima/2012/2012-Altima-owner-manual.pdf), [transmissionfluidchangecost.com](https://transmissionfluidchangecost.com/cvt-fluid-change-cost/), [MechanicsRated](https://mechanicsrated.com/guides/car-repair-prices-2026/)

## 5 years (any mileage)

### Battery

$150–$280 DIY-realistic

Calendar item, not a mileage one. Typical service life is three to five years, so have it load-tested from about year three and replace it proactively by year five whatever the odometer says, the same logic as changing oil before something breaks rather than after. What matters at the counter is fitment: the factory size here is BCI Group 35 at roughly 550 cold-cranking amps, and Nissan's own service battery is a Group 24F, a larger cross-fit with a reversed terminal layout, so check terminal reach and tray fit before taking the upsize. On the store-versus-store quality rumor, we cannot verify it either way and will not assert it. What you can check is the printed cold-cranking amps on the actual battery in front of you and the warranty terms, since length and whether it is prorated or free-replacement genuinely differ by seller for the same brand.

On this generation

- The Hybrid's 12-volt battery is not this part. The Hybrid uses a different auxiliary battery from the conventional 2.5 and 3.5 cars and we have not verified its group size, so a Hybrid owner should read the size off the car rather than order the Group 35 from this page. That is a separate question from the high-voltage pack, which is a repair rather than a maintenance item.

Parts for this job: Battery.

Parts for this job

Battery

[★ Recommended BCI group (upsize) 24F →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DBCI%2Bgroup%2B%2528upsize%2529%2B24F) [OEM BCI group Group 35 →](https://carcasefile.com/go?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DBCI%2Bgroup%2BGroup%2B35)

[All options on the parts desk →](https://carcasefile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/#part-battery)

Sources: [ecostify](https://www.ecostify.com/blog/car-battery-replacement-cost), [Nissan (2011 press kit)](https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/release-75bd5b20d2f941d2b355be4d27298e21-2011-nissan-altima-hybrid-press-kit-3)

Parts links go to Amazon, and to eBay for tires. Affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Confirm fitment against your VIN before ordering, mid-generation changes exist.

CarCaseFile.com/vehicles/nissan-altima-2007-2012/cost-to-maintain/ · Independent case files on used cars · We buy our own parts. Nobody pays for a verdict.