IllustrationENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE SEALANT COVER ON ENGINE. ALSO, ALTERNATOR WAS MAKING A WHINNING SOUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC CHECKED PROBLEM. ALSO, INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
1995 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →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: 21 of 180 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 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
37 crash reports7 fire reports24 injury reports
What owners actually said
180 reportsI WAS IN A MINOR FENDERBENDER AND BOTH AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED.I WENT TO 3 AUTO BODIES AND THEY ALL SAID THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED AT SUCH A LIGHT HIT. *AK
COULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE COULD ONLY MOVE IN A FORWARD DIRECTION. VEHICLE COULD NOT ENGAGE OVERDRIVE. ENGINE REVVED AT 4000+ AT 30MPH. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COURTSEY NISSAN OF PLANO TX. IMMEDIATELY. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM WERE EVER ISSUED. SOLENOID R, CARRI…
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COULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE COULD ONLY MOVE IN A FORWARD DIRECTION. VEHICLE COULD NOT ENGAGE OVERDRIVE. ENGINE REVVED AT 4000+ AT 30MPH. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COURTSEY NISSAN OF PLANO TX. IMMEDIATELY. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM WERE EVER ISSUED. SOLENOID R, CARRIER ASSEMBLY AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. SERVICE MGR. AND TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. BASICALLY , THEY COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS EVENTUALLY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE GEAR. *MJS
THERE HAS BEEN A RATTLYING SOUND IN THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE CAR SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT HAS A BAD STRUT, OR MOUNT. THE AIR BAG UNIT IS BAD. THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE AIRBAG UNIT IS BAD ON 9/10/99. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS SINCE I PURCHASED IT.
WHEN STARTING CAR AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT WENT OFF, AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKED OFF AND ON. AIRBAG MAY HAVE DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMER HIT A BUMP. ALSO,ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES AND SHOES HAD BEEN CHANGED,BUT CONSUMER STILL HEARS A SQUEEKY NOISE WHEN DRIVING OR COMING TO A STOP. TOOK TO DEALER, BRAKES WER…
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WHEN STARTING CAR AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT WENT OFF, AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKED OFF AND ON. AIRBAG MAY HAVE DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMER HIT A BUMP. ALSO,ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES AND SHOES HAD BEEN CHANGED,BUT CONSUMER STILL HEARS A SQUEEKY NOISE WHEN DRIVING OR COMING TO A STOP. TOOK TO DEALER, BRAKES WERE CHECKED, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHERE SQUEAKY NOISE WAS COMING FROM. *AK
HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, BUT PASSENGER'S AIRBAG HAD ABOUT A 45 SECOND DELAY BEFORE DEPLOYING. WHEN IT DID DEPLOY, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG BURST OPEN, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER'S FACE AND HEAD. *AK
FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, HANGS LOOSE WHEN DRIVING AND AFTER REMOVED
MY 1995 NISSAN IS EFFECTED BY A KNOWN SERVICE DEFECT CONCERNING AN OIL LEAK IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE ENGINE. UPON CONTACTING MY LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALMOST ALL 1995 ALTIMA'A ARE EFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT, THE DEFECT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL, AND IT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILTY TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE A…
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MY 1995 NISSAN IS EFFECTED BY A KNOWN SERVICE DEFECT CONCERNING AN OIL LEAK IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE ENGINE. UPON CONTACTING MY LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALMOST ALL 1995 ALTIMA'A ARE EFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT, THE DEFECT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL, AND IT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILTY TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE AT MY EXPENSE. ESCALATING THIS TO THE NATIONAL NISSAN HOT LINE PROVED INEFFECTIVE. THE DEFECT IS DOCUMENTED IN THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: NTB95-058A . CAN ANYTHING BE DONE?
Official recalls
303V150000 · Air Bags:frontal
Apr 25, 2003
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.
95V008000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jan 24, 1995
CERTAIN OF THE BRAKE HOSES FOR THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WERE ROUTED INCORRECTLY SO THAT CONTACT IS MADE WITH A SUSPENSION COMPONENT. THIS CAUSES ABRASION TO THE HOSE AND EVENTUAL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LEAKING BRAKE HOSE REDUCES BRAKING CAPABILITY, INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCES AND INCREASES THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT IS ROUTED CORRECTLY. MISROUTED HOSES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE, REPLACED IF NECESSARY, AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.
94V165000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 2, 1994
THE SHIFT LEVER LOCK PLATE, WHICH PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING INADVERTENTLY MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR NEUTRAL POSITION, CAN BE BROKEN BY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION PIN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTION CAN CAUSE VEHICLE MOVEMENT WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET TO PREVENT THE SHIFT POSITION PIN FROM BREAKING THE SHIFT LEVER LOCK PLATE.
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
2EA01015 · 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
No summary supplied.