If you are talking about the nose that sounds like a dentist drilling it is normal unfortunately. For whatever reason Nissan has been using the same loud electric power steering motors for years. My 14 does it. If you look in the manual under power steering they even state it's normal so they do know about it. They put that felt padding over the motor to try and make the sound less noisy which of course doesn't work.
It's simply a bad design. Most get used to it. Some cars aren't even as loud for whatever reason. Mine seems to be more loud in wet weather. Could be just me. Drive thru's it's real bad when the sound bounces off of the building.
I have known people to get new motors installed only to see that didn't work. Some hated it so much they traded the car in. Not much you can do about it other then get used to it.

 

If you are talking about the nose that sounds like a dentist drilling it is normal unfortunately. For whatever reason Nissan has been using the same loud electric power steering motors for years. My 14 does it. If you look in the manual under power steering they even state it's normal so they do know about it. They put that felt padding over the motor to try and make the sound less noisy which of course doesn't work.
It's simply a bad design. Most get used to it. Some cars aren't even as loud for whatever reason. Mine seems to be more loud in wet weather. Could be just me. Drive thru's it's real bad when the sound bounces off of the building.
I have known people to get new motors installed only to see that didn't work. Some hated it so much they traded the car in. Not much you can do about it other then get used to it.

Can you buy an aftermarket pump you think

 

Thanks for your reply. Really, this is normal wow that is hard to believe. I think it is the same sound that you are describing. I have a video on youtube can you take a look / listen and let me know if that is the same sound. You will hear the noise increase as I am turning the wheel left and right.

2016 Nissan Altima - Power steering noise - YouTube

 

Yes that is the sound. Its from the poorly designed power steering motor under that felt pad. If you look in your manual under power steering it says right there.... noise is normal. Replacing it won't fix it. My car does it without even turning the wheel. I could be sitting at a light and it does it. I can barely hear it in the cabin, but know it's there.

 

I bought my 2013 Altima 3.5SL brand new, power steering noise dealership stated it is normal and after owning the vehicle for about 5 years I'm kinda used to it now. Last week my car needs a new transmission so the dealership gave me a 2017 Altima 2.5, holy crap, the power steering noise from the new car is even worse than my 5 years old car, I couldn't believe and the worst part of it is that it is "normal".

 

This is because Nissan is marketing the car to old folks like me with high frequency hearing loss.

 

I keep getting letters - and even one phone call - from the local Nissan dealership. They want to offer me "top dollar" for my 2015 Altima for their used car department.......under the condition that I trade up to a new 2017 model. Um, yeah......I don't think so.

My 2015 is paid for and has just 42,000 miles. Not quite ready to get rid of it just yet.....even with that power steering noise that I am quite used to hearing by now.

 

 

Does the 2018 models still having the power steering noise

 

Unfortunately, they do. I've been concerned about this non-sense "normal" sound for months and I can't believe it's been going since 16' models, after reading other folks with similar experience. Doesn't seem NISSAN listened up the call (or don't care) from customers, and continue to build new models, that later will offer you awful driving experience with noises and rattles coming from all over. Highly considering getting rid of my '18 Altima SR.

 

I have a 2017 and it just hit 50k mi....My PS noise started within about ~500 on hitting that 50k mark....it does it at idle (quite loud AND VERY annoying) and when turning....so it is constant. I ask how is this, all of a sudden noise, normal???

 

It is possible that the sound deadening material around the metal pipe has worn away on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Look under the bonnet and check for this.

 

Power steering pumps ALWAYS made some noise but located in engine notches and cubby holes they didn't get the noise to the driver. Now you take a noisy PS pumping section and mount it on top of everything to get noise out easily and then you drive it with an electric motor which whines as well to double the noise well then..............you got noise.

I'd go back up and pay attention to the fix given about two pipes touching, all of you skipped right over it, typical, and could easily be that. To poster who suddenly had a quiet pump start to make noise then probably had no fluid in it but he never says. The best way to ruin a PS pump to forever make noise is to run it slightly low on fluid to scar the pump vanes up, that will do it every time.

It wouldn't hurt some people to shut up and instead change the fluid once in a while, dead fluid filled with metal particles makes noise too.

 

Hello All, In search of a solution for the whining noise coming from my 2016 Nissan Altima 2.5 S power steering system. The Nissan dealerships that I've been to say it's normal I'm not believing that for a minute. Hoping to find some helpful advice has anyone had this issue with their Altima and was the problem ever fixed? Hoping to find some helpful advice and will definitely post anything that might help others with their vehicle as well.

I have a 15 nissan altima s and it makes the same whining noise. Every other minute and when I turn the wheel. I always wondered why she whined lol. Someone told me my fluid was low, I just put more in hoping that will help. But I feel like my car will always whine.