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1993 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 122 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

19 reports
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99,000 miles · Sep 1, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

1993 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED. BODY SHOP & INSURANCE ESTIMATOR INDICATE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE PARKED ALTIMA WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN 35 MPH. THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS (SEATBELTS) FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE, AND THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. THE ALTIMA WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE QUARTER PANEL/BUMPER …

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1993 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED. BODY SHOP & INSURANCE ESTIMATOR INDICATE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE PARKED ALTIMA WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN 35 MPH. THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS (SEATBELTS) FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE, AND THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. THE ALTIMA WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE QUARTER PANEL/BUMPER - AREA SURROUNDING FUEL CAP. ODDLY ENOUGH, AFTER THE BODY WORK WAS COMPLETED, THE MERCURY SWITCH THAT IS DESIGNED TO LOCK THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS IN PLACE DURING A CRASH HAD BEEN TRIPPED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER. WHEN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UPON PICKING UP THE ALTIMA I NOTICED A RED AIRBAG LIGHT SOLIDLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS CONDITION THAT DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO THEIR REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SENSOR IN THE TRUNK, THEY INVESTIGATED. THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF, BUT INDICATED THAT THE "AIRBAG CONTROLLER CARD (ACC)" ESSENTIALLY A CIRCUIT BOARD WAS FAULTY - OR WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY UNLESS I REPLACED IT. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THE REASON IT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WAS BECAUSE THE "ACC" WAS NOT SEALED AND AS A RESULT WAS PRONE TO TOTAL FAILURE ON A VERY HOT OR COLD DAY. THE MANAGER INDICATED FURTHER THAT WHEN HE HAD BEEN A MECHANIC HE HAD SEEN MANY ALTIMA'S, SENTRA'S AND A FEW OTHER MODELS THAT USED THE SAME VERSION "ACC" AND THAT NISSAN HAD BEEN REPLACING THEM ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, THEY CHOSE TO TELL ME THAT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY OR EVEN OUTSIDE WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PART, AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS PART HAVING A HISTORY OF FAILURE. I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT IF MY AIRBAG IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT THE HARD WAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037008

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2002
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015060

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2001
Air Bags

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO WHILE AT BODY SHOP SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS DAMAGED, DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT SENSOR, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #898665

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2000
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT & AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, FILLING VEHICLE WITH SMOKE. VEHICLE SEEMED LIKE BEING ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF FUMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY NEVER HEARD OF AIRBAGS EMITTING SUCH A VAST AMOUNT OF SMOKE. ALSO, MOTORIZED SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. CONUSMER HAD HARD T…

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CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT & AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, FILLING VEHICLE WITH SMOKE. VEHICLE SEEMED LIKE BEING ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF FUMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY NEVER HEARD OF AIRBAGS EMITTING SUCH A VAST AMOUNT OF SMOKE. ALSO, MOTORIZED SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. CONUSMER HAD HARD TIME TRYING TO GET IT OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861926

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Air Bags

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A BAD AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT'S WHY THE LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849948

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #831124

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER WHEN A VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER, REAR ENDED AND TOTALLED HER VEHICLE (NISSAN). THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS FRACTURED RIB CAGE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #823105

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 1998
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HAD A HEAD-ON FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822910

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1998
Air BagsCrash

WHLE DRIVING 25MPH AND GOING OVER A SPEED BUMB THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A FRONTAL IMPACT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. NO PRIOR PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PBOBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822520

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1998
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVNG ALONG THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY THE DEALER. ON JAN 26, 1998 THE AIR WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AGAIN. THE DEALER WILL BE CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED IN ALMOST A 2 MONTH PERIOD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820897

Official recalls

1

94V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 28, 1994

ENGINE MOVEMENT CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE AIRFLOW METER/FILTER HOUSING AND SUPPORT BRACKET, WHICH IS MOUNTED IN THE ENGINE AIR DUCT, CAUSING THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE CABLE GUIDE. THIS MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPOSITION THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING IN THE SUPPORT BRACKET TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SLACK FOR ENGINE MOVEMENT. A RUBBER STOPPER WILL BE CLAMPED TO THE CABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT POSITION FOR THE CABLE AT THE SUPPORT BRACKET. IN ADDITION, THE THROTTLE CABLE WILL BE TESTED FOR PULL OUT RESISTANCE FROM THE GUIDE IN THE EVENT THE CABLE WAS DAMAGED. THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE94035 · Seat Belt LOCK-UP

Opened Apr 26, 1994 · Closed Aug 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

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