When that annoying yellow tire pressure light popped on my 2019 Altima last week even though all four tires were perfectly inflated, I wasted 45 minutes searching under the dash like a maniac. Turns out the reset button is hiding in the most random spot ever, and once I found it the light went off in ten seconds flat. If you’re tired of seeing that warning every time you start your Nissan, stick with me — I’ll show you exactly where it is and how to use it without any guesswork.
Key Takeaways
Turn the key to ON (engine off) or press start twice without touching the brake. Crawl under the steering wheel on the driver’s side, look up high near the hood release — the tiny black TPMS reset button is right there. Press and hold it for 5–10 seconds until the tire light blinks three times, then let go. Drive above 20 mph for a couple minutes and the light stays off for good. That’s literally it.
Exact Spot Every Nissan Owner Misses
Most people look on the center console, in the glove box, or even under the trunk floor — wrong, wrong, wrong. On almost every Nissan from 2015 to 2025 (Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, Murano, you name it), the TPMS reset button is mounted way up under the dashboard on the left side of the steering column.
Kneel on the floor mat, tilt your head back, and shine your phone flashlight toward the hood release lever. You’ll spot a small round black button about the size of a pencil eraser tucked just above the parking brake release.
It’s sneaky because Nissan painted it the same color as the plastic around it, so it blends right in. I’ve helped three neighbors find theirs in under thirty seconds once they knew exactly where to look. Some older models (pre-2015) have it lower near the OBD2 port, but 95% of cars on the road today hide it high up there.
The button is super sensitive, so you don’t need to mash it hard — just a steady press with your finger works perfect. If you have big hands, grab a skinny pen cap or the eraser end of a pencil so you don’t punch the wrong thing.
- Button is always under dash, driver side, near hood release
- Black, tiny, blends in — use flashlight
- No tools needed, just your finger or a pen cap
- Works on 2015–2025 Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, etc.
Step-by-Step Reset Without Starting the Car
You don’t even need to start the engine — saves gas and time. Sit in the driver seat, close the door, and put the key in the ignition. Turn it to the ON position (or push the start button twice without brake on push-button models) so all the dash lights come on but the motor stays off. That’s the sweet spot.
Now slide out, kneel on the ground, and reach up to that hidden button we just talked about. Press and hold it firmly for a full 5–10 seconds. You’ll see the TPMS warning light on the dash start blinking slowly three times — that means the system heard you and is relearning. Let go as soon as the third blink finishes.
Get back in, start the car normally, and drive straight for at least two minutes above 20 mph. The light will go solid for a second then turn off forever (as long as your tires are actually inflated right). I do this every time the seasons change and my pressures drop a few PSI from the cold.
Some people panic if it blinks fast — that just means you didn’t hold long enough. Try again and count to ten slowly in your head.
- Key to ON or two pushes on start button (no brake)
- Hold button 5–10 seconds until three slow blinks
- Drive 20+ mph for 2 minutes — light disappears
- Fast blinking = try again longer
What If Your Nissan Doesn’t Have the Button
A bunch of newer 2023–2025 Rogues and some 2024 Altimas ditched the physical button completely. Nissan moved the reset into the steering wheel menu instead. If you look high and low under the dash and there’s literally nothing there, you probably have one of these.
Here’s the trick: start the car, hit the left/right arrows on the steering wheel until you get to “Settings” → “Vehicle Settings” → “TPMS Calibration” or “Tire Pressure Learn.” Select it, press OK, and the car will flash the hazards three times to tell you it’s ready. Drive normally for 10 minutes and the system recalibrates itself automatically.
I was mad at first when my buddy’s 2024 Rogue had no button, but the menu way is honestly easier once you do it twice. Takes longer to relearn, but zero crawling on the floor.
- No button = use steering wheel menu
- Settings → Vehicle → TPMS Calibration
- Hazards flash 3 times = success
- Drive 10 minutes, done
Common Mistakes That Keep the Light On Forever
Biggest screw-up I see? People press the button while the engine is running. That does nothing — the car completely ignores it. Always engine off, ignition ON.
Second mistake — not driving fast enough after resetting. If you only crawl around the neighborhood at 10 mph, the system never finishes learning and the light comes right back. Hit at least 20–25 mph for a solid minute or two.
Third killer: resetting before you actually fix the low tire. If one tire is 5 PSI low, the light will come back in ten miles no matter what. Pump all four (plus the spare on some models) to the exact number on the driver door jamb sticker, then reset.
- Never reset with engine running
- Must drive 20+ mph after
- Fix low tires first — check door sticker PSI
- Include spare on models that monitor it
Tools You Actually Need (Almost Nothing)
Good news — you need zero fancy tools 99% of the time. Your finger works perfect. If the button is extra stiff or your hands are huge, wrap the tip of a plastic pen in a little tape so you don’t scratch anything.
I keep a cheap $5 tire pressure gauge in my center console and that’s it. Check pressures once a month, top off at any gas station, hit the reset button, and you’ll never pay the dealer $80 to “diagnose” a light again.
If you ever have to remove the lower dash panel to reach better (super rare), grab a plastic pry tool from Amazon for seven bucks — never metal, it scratches everything.
- Finger or taped plastic pen = perfect
- $5 digital tire gauge lives in car
- Plastic pry tool only if panel blocks access
- Zero trips to the dealer needed
When the Light Still Won’t Die (Real Fixes)
If you did everything perfect and the light stays on, one sensor is probably dead. Each wheel has a $40–$60 TPMS sensor with a tiny battery that lasts 7–10 years. When it dies, no reset in the world helps.
Take it to any tire shop — they’ll scan each wheel in ten seconds and tell you which one failed. Replacing one sensor plus programming runs $80–$120 total, way cheaper than the dealer’s $300 quote.
I just had the left rear on my Sentra go bad at 110,000 miles — new sensor, reset the system, light gone same day.
- Dead sensor = no reset fixes it
- Tire shop scans for free most places
- New sensor + program = $80–$120
- 7–10 year battery life normal
Final Thoughts
Finding that sneaky little Nissan TPMS reset button feels like winning the lottery the first time — ten seconds and the stupid light is gone forever. Keep your tires at the door sticker pressure, hit the button the right way, take a quick drive, and you’ll save hundreds in dealer visits over the years. Next time the light pops on, smile — you already know exactly what to do.
| Action | Exact Details | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Find button location | Under dash, driver side, high near hood release | Flashlight + look up while kneeling |
| Turn car on correctly | Key to ON or start button x2 (no brake) | Dash lights on, engine off |
| Press duration | Hold 5–10 full seconds | Count slowly, wait for 3 blinks |
| Confirm reset | TPMS light blinks 3 times slow | Fast blink = you let go too early |
| Drive to finish | 20+ mph for 2 minutes minimum | Straight road works best |
| No button models | Steering wheel → Settings → TPMS Calibration | Hazards flash 3 times = success |
| Check actual pressure | Match door jamb sticker exactly | Include spare on some models |
| Tools needed | Finger or plastic pen only | Cheap digital gauge lives in car |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it safe to drive with the TPMS light on?
Yes for short trips, but don’t ignore it forever. The light means the car can’t warn you about a real flat anymore, so you could be riding on 15 PSI and not know until the tire blows. I always pull over, check pressures manually with a gauge the second it comes on, then reset once I’m sure everything is good.
Can I reset Nissan TPMS without the button?
Absolutely on 2023+ models. Use the arrows on the steering wheel, go to Settings → Vehicle Settings → TPMS Calibration, select it, and drive 10 minutes. The car does everything itself. My sister has a 2024 Rogue and she loves never having to crawl under the dash.
Do I need to reset TPMS after rotating tires?
Yes almost every time. Rotating moves the sensors to new positions and the car gets confused, so the light comes on even if pressures are perfect. Just hit the reset button or run the menu calibration and you’re good in two minutes.
Can the reset button ever break or get stuck?
Rare, but it happens on high-mile cars. If you press and nothing blinks, wiggle it gently — dirt gets in there. Worst case, a new switch costs $15 online and pops in with two clips. Takes longer to find the part number than to install it.
Is it normal for the light to come back after a few days?
Only if a tire is slowly leaking or the temperature dropped a lot overnight. Cold air shrinks tire pressure about 1 PSI for every 10°F drop. Pump them up again, reset, and you’re golden. Happens to me every November like clockwork.
Do I have to pay the dealer to turn off the TPMS light?
Never again once you know this trick. Dealers charge $80–$150 to “relearn” the system when you can do the exact same thing in your driveway for free in under five minutes. Spread the word to your friends — they’ll thank you.
Can cold weather alone trigger the TPMS light?
100%. If it was 80°F when you last filled the tires and now it’s 30°F overnight, you just lost 5 PSI in each tire automatically. Top them off to the door sticker number (add a couple extra in winter), reset the system, and the light vanishes.
Do aftermarket wheels mess up the TPMS reset?
Sometimes the new sensors aren’t programmed right. If you just swapped wheels and the light won’t reset no matter what, take it back to the shop that mounted them — they forgot to clone or register the new sensor IDs to your car. Takes them ten seconds with their tool.
