Complaints about the 1997 Nissan Altima peaked in 1997, with 14 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Sedan, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Sep 9, 1996 to Jan 24, 2020.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10E-002 | Feb 11, 2010 | Affected front strut mounts did not contain a weld joint between the bearing housing and the rate plate | Suspension | 12,657 | Part replacement |
| 06E-026 | Mar 23, 2006 | Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above | Lighting | 61,944 | Refund or buyback |
| 96V-185 | Oct 10, 1996 | Certain buckle assemblies were produced with a "buckle base" that was improperly heat treated | Seat belts | 36,000 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
108 complaints on file, page 1 of 6.
I WAS HIT, REAR-ENDED, VERY HARD AND THE AIRBAG DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, STOPPED FOR AT LEAST 10 SECONDS WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR AND A CAR SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ME WITH NO ATTEMPT TO HIT THEIR BRAKES
NHTSA complaint 11301549DUE TO CORROSION, BOTH REAR SUB MEMBER AND FRONT CRADLE ARE ROTTING OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. ONCE REPLACED, OTHER WORK MAY BE NEEDED
NHTSA complaint 10936633VEHICLE I MISSING AND I HAD TO FILE A POLICE REPORT FOR A STOLEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint 10924053THE CAR DON'T START. MY SEATBELT SHREDDING AND I WORRY THAT MY AIR BAG WON'T WORK IF MY CHILDREN AND I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT
NHTSA complaint 10898165WHILE SLOWING DOWN & APPLIED BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN, THE CAR INSTEAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CROSSING FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND ULTIMATELY SLAMMING INTO A TREE.
NHTSA complaint 10825755THIS CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED ALMOST EVERY YEAR SINCE I OWNED THIS CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2004. HAD A SUDDEN OVERHEAT PROBLEM RECENTLY. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS DAMAGED OR WORE OUT. DID NOT REPAIR THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 131,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10523112THE GAS PEDAL STIFF AND NEED TO BE PRESSED HARD WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND BEFORE 200 YARDS OF DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10308772SUN VISOR - IT KEEPS FALLING DOWN IN MY LINE OF VISION. (WON'T STAY UP AT ALL). ON DRIVERS SIDE. NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IT COSTS ABOUT $400 TO REPLACE! I THINK IT'S A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10279400I OWN A 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE PUT IN NEW HEADLIGHTS BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY VERY DIM.. I HAD MY LENS CLEANED PROFESSIONALLY AND STILL THEY ARE DIM. I SEE THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE AMBER THING IN THE HEADLIGHTS. IS THIS A FACTORY RECALL? I AM UNEMPLOYED AND ON DISABILITY, SO MY INCOME IS VERY VERY LOW. THIS IS EXTREMELY! *TR
NHTSA complaint 10274071TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TRAVELED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED IN OVER FOUR MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AND SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB
NHTSA complaint 10267313TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS CAUSED HEAD ON AND SIDE CRASHES. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHES INTO OTHER VEHICLES HEAD ON. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASHES WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.
NHTSA complaint 10222534DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PENETRATED THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE ROAD SALTS AND EXTREME WINTER WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint 10165241DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE HAD A TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED, THE TIRE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE AXLE SPINDLE HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE AXLE SPINDLE AND ATTRIBUTED THE DETERIORATION TO THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY.
NHTSA complaint 10155217COMPLAINT REGARDING THE REPAIRS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON THE 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH. WHILE DOING INTERNET RESEARCH THE CONSUMER CAME ACROSS TWO SERVICE BULLETINS FOR AIR BAGS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED SOMEONE ABOUT THESE SERVICE BULLETINS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WORK COULD BE DONE ON THE VEHICLE UNTIL 12/31/04. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIOR TO THIS DATE BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
NHTSA complaint 10120415MICHELIN HYDOEDGE P215/60R15 TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING ON I75 NEAAR FORT MYERS. INSIDE SIDEWALL BLEW ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE.*AK
NHTSA complaint 10113857AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY BLINKS WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED THE COMPLETE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON DRIVER SIDE. *AK THE PANEL WAS REPLACED AS WELL. *JB
NHTSA complaint 10092531THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED BLINKING WHILE THE IGNITION IS ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NEEDED NEW AIR BAG CONTROLLER. WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING, I SPOKE WITH SERVICE REP AND HE SAID THAT THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN AND THEY HAVE A REPORT DETAILING THE CODE FROM THE COMPUTER. *NM
NHTSA complaint 10106543ON 10-12-04 MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE SHE HAD FAILED TO STOP QUICK ENOUGH AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WHERE THREE CARS AHEAD OF HER AT THE RED LIGHT. SHE WAS GOING APPROX. 10 MILES PER HOUR AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER WHICH LEAD A CHAIN REACTION INVOLVING THE OTHER TWO CARS. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. SHE WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. SHE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. THERE WAS NOT DAMAGE TO HER CAR AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE THE OTHERS CARS. THE POLICE AT THE SCENE QUESTIONED WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT SUCH A LOW SPEED. MY CONCERN AND QUESTION ARE THE SAME. WHY WOULD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY AT SUCH A LOW SPEED AND PERHAPS CAUSE MORE TRAUMA AND INJURY. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL BE INVESTIGATING THIS AS WELL.*AK
NHTSA complaint 10096265REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILURE- BOTH SIDES- FIRST LEFT THEN RIGHT- REPLACED WENT OUT AGAIN SOON AFTER. LIGHTS ON HEATER GAUGES FAILED. CIGARETTE LIGHTER "FEMALE PART" PULLS OUT OF DASH WHEN YOU TAKE THE LIGHTER OUT. PASSENGER DOOR PANEL CAME OFF-KEEPS THE DOORS FROM UNLOCKING- TRIED TO FIX IT AND ENDED UP BEING LOCKED IN MY CAR IN THE RAIN FOR AN HOUR. BACK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED. ALSO ODOMETER IS JAMMED-HAS NEVER BEEN TAMPERED WITH. WAS BRINGING MY HUSBAND TO WORK AND I KNOW THAT IT IS A 10 MILE DRIVE-NONE OF THE NUMBERS ROLLED OVER. WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. *NM
NHTSA complaint 10095666MY 97 NISSAN ALTIMA(MILELAGE: 66K) RUNS PERFECTLY EXPECT THAT OCCASIONALLY ONCE I PRESS THE BRAKE TIGHTLY AND THE CAR STOP TOTALLY, THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENTLY AND RUSH FORWARD, I HAVE TO REPRESS THE BRAKE VERY QUICKLY TO STOP IT AGAIN. SINCE THIS JANUARY IT HAPPENED TWICE. FIRST TIME I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I THOUGHT THE REASON IS THAT I DIDN'T PRESS THE BRAKE TIGHTLY. FOR THE SECOND TIME, I WAS QUITE SURE I PRESSED THE BRAKE FIRMLY AND STOP AT A STOP LINE, BUT SUDDENTLY THE CAR RUSHED OUT AND CRASHED IN ANOTHER CAR. I'VE ALREADY HAD A BRAKE SYSTEM CHECK AND COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. I PAID MORE THAN $2,000 FOR THE CAR I CRASHED BUT I FEEL VERY UNDERSERVED, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO COMPLAIN. AND ALSO I HOPE MY CASE COULD SUPPLY SOME USEFUL INFORMATION FOR YOUR DATABASE, THAT'S THE REASON I WRITE TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH! SINCERELY, LI QIANG . *AK
NHTSA complaint 10063633Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.