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: 16 of 106 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.
Air Bags. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
34 crash reports2 fire reports24 injury reports
What owners actually said
106 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL STAIN ON MY GARAGE FLOOR, AFTER SEVICING THIS VEHICLE THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE A SEAL. I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR SO IT WAS COVERED FOR THE REPAIR. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THE SMALL OIL STAIN RETURNING, EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE I…
Read full complaint
I HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL STAIN ON MY GARAGE FLOOR, AFTER SEVICING THIS VEHICLE THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE A SEAL. I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR SO IT WAS COVERED FOR THE REPAIR. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THE SMALL OIL STAIN RETURNING, EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE IS WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN TRANSMISSION LEAKING (EVEN THOUGH OIL WAS NOT RED), THEY HAD TO CLEAN SOMETHING AND SO ONE. FINALLY THIS PAST WINTER THEY ADMITTED THAT THE SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE ENGINE AGAIN. AT THIS TIME I WAS INFORMED FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE ORIGINAL REPAIR THEY PERFORMED WAS NO LONGER WARRANTEED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $800. TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. IF NISSAN RECOGNIZES A DEFECT IN DESIGN WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM 4 YEARS AGO, AND NOT TELL ME EVERY 6 MONTHS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION THAT I HAVE A SMALL OIL LEAK. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT, I HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR. I HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT IF NISSAN MOTOR CORP, KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS EARLY AS 1995 THEY SHOULD HAVE REPAIRED PEOPLES CARS INSTEAD OF LETTING THE PROBLEM CONTINUE UNTIL THEIR WARRANTEE EXPIRED. THIS IS WHAT I KNOW THEY DID WITH ME AND I DO NOT APPRECIATE IT THAT I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY KOEPPEL NISSAN BY TELLING ME THAT THE CAR WAS NOT LEAKING OIL WHEN IN REALITY IT WAS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #767273
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
EA01-015(PE01-008) WHILE SITTING AT A INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE IN FRONT MADE A SUDDEN STOP AND DRIVER PULLED OVER INTO TO THE RIGHT OF THE LANE AND HIT OTHER VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INTOHER FACE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO EYES. ALSO, FACE WAS COMPLETELY NUMB AND NOISE WAS BROKEN. BE ADVISED …
Read full complaint
EA01-015(PE01-008) WHILE SITTING AT A INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE IN FRONT MADE A SUDDEN STOP AND DRIVER PULLED OVER INTO TO THE RIGHT OF THE LANE AND HIT OTHER VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INTOHER FACE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO EYES. ALSO, FACE WAS COMPLETELY NUMB AND NOISE WAS BROKEN. BE ADVISED THAT RIGHT EYE HAD TO BREREPLACED. LEGAL REPRESENTATION HAS BEEN APPLIED. *AK.
NHTSA ODI #8016198
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED AND COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON INPACT, PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO PASSENGER'S RIGHT EYE. BROKEN NOSE/ SHATTERED BONE UNDER EYE, AND LOST SIGHT IN RIGHT EYE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8015946
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, CONSUMER HIT A CAR FROM BEHIND AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8014807
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8006316
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND ITS A VERY BAD LEAK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #758929
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE HAD A WIRING FAILURE TWICE SINCE I OWN IT. THE FIRST FAILURE APROXIMATELY 65000, AND THE SECOND FAILURE AT APROX 89000. I TROUBLESHOOTED THE PROBLEM AND AFTER DISASSEMBLING ALMOST THE COMPLETE DASHBOARD FOUND 3 WIRES CHAFFING AGAINST A METAL STANDOFF UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG ABOVE THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR. THIS…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE HAD A WIRING FAILURE TWICE SINCE I OWN IT. THE FIRST FAILURE APROXIMATELY 65000, AND THE SECOND FAILURE AT APROX 89000. I TROUBLESHOOTED THE PROBLEM AND AFTER DISASSEMBLING ALMOST THE COMPLETE DASHBOARD FOUND 3 WIRES CHAFFING AGAINST A METAL STANDOFF UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG ABOVE THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR. THIS WIRING HAD NO PROTECTION IN THIS TIGHT AREA. THIS COULD VERY WELL START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ON THE CAR. I FEEL IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM YOU IN THE EVENT THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753561
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
OIL LEAKS PROFUSELY OUT THESE SEALS AND SOILS ALL GROUNDS THE VEHICLE THREADS OVER. VERY COMMON IN THE FIRST GENERATION ALTIMA. VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN OIL LEVEL AND TO FIX LEAK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753317
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL CRASH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY CAUSING EYE INJURY (RETINA DETACHMENT).
NHTSA ODI #563110
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN LOW SPEED COLLISION, CAUSING LOSS OF VISION.*AK CONSUMER HAS NOT LOST ALL SIGHT, HOWEVER CAN NOT SEE LIKE HE COULD PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE POLICE REPORT SHOWS THAT THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC
NISSAN IS RECALLING MY 1994 AND EARLY 1995 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THESE VEHICLES HAD CAUSED A NUMBER OF MODERATE-TO-SEVERE EYE INJURIES. NISSAN HAS DEVELOPED A NEW PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT IS LESS POWERFUL WHEN IT INFLATES IN A CRASH TO REDUCE THE RISK OF AIR BAG INFLATION-RELATED INJURIES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NISSAN EXPECTS THAT THIS NEW AIR BAG CAN HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF AIR BAG INFLATION-RELATED INJURIES.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPORTED THAT OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 28, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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
2
EA01015 · Passenger Air BAG-RELATED Facial/eye Inj
Opened Aug 9, 2001 · Closed Apr 24, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
BY LETTER DATEDAPRIL 11, 2003, NISSAN NOTIFIED NHTSAIT WILL CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE WITH A DEPOWERED AIR BAG MODULE IN MODEL YEAR 1994 - EARLY 1995 (BUILT PRIOR TO MARCH 2, 1995) NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES. THE REPLACEMENT MODULE WILL BE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS.THE DEPOWERED AIR BAG SHOULD REDUCE THE OVERALL RISK OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT-RELATED INJURIES. THE AIR BAG REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN TO BE CONDUCTED BY NISSAN, WHICH WILL ENHANCE SAFETY AND BE MONITORED BY NHTSA, SUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSES THE SAFETY CONCERNS RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT
PE01008 · Passenger Air BAG-RELATED Eye Injuries
Opened Mar 13, 2001 · Closed Aug 9, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
Illustration