IllustrationBRAKES HAVE ALWAYS SQUEAKED EXCESSIVELY WHETHER NEW OR WORN. FRONT DEFOGGER VENTS ON DASH SEPARATED FROM DASH AS DASH CONTINUES TO SWELL AND DEFORM OVER TIME IN A PREMATURE MANNER I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THIS DEFECT ON MANY OTHER ALTIMAS
1996 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Nissan Altima are lower than 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: 9 of 92 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 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports
Visibility complaints
5 reportsSUN ROOF FAILED. *MJS
WIPER LINKAGE FAILED ON DRIVERS SIDE/ AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY FOR NO REASON
DEBRIS COLLECTS IN THE WINDSHIELD WELL OF MY CAR. IT THEN APPARENTLY FALLS DOWN INTO THE HEATING VENT SECTION. AS A RESULT, I HAVE HAD SMOKE COME OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD OF MY CAR, AND A BURNING SMELL POUR INTO THE CAR CABIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO FILTER ON THE CAR TO PREVENT TH…
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DEBRIS COLLECTS IN THE WINDSHIELD WELL OF MY CAR. IT THEN APPARENTLY FALLS DOWN INTO THE HEATING VENT SECTION. AS A RESULT, I HAVE HAD SMOKE COME OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD OF MY CAR, AND A BURNING SMELL POUR INTO THE CAR CABIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO FILTER ON THE CAR TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, AND WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM (BY CLEANING OUT DEBRIS). WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW I PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, HE TOLD ME NOT TO PARK UNDER TREES. THIS IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO WHERE I LIVE.
WINDSHIELD WIPER INOPERATIVE.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.