IllustrationVEHICLE I MISSING AND I HAD TO FILE A POLICE REPORT FOR A STOLEN VEHICLE.
1997 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 20 of 108 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 35 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 →
- Power Train. 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.
31 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
14 reportsTHE 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
REAR 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 TH…
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REAR 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
CONSUMER STATES THAT ALTERNATOR IS DEFECTIVE AND CONSTANTLY DRAINING VEHICLE'S BATTERY. DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT ALTERNATOR WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY AT TIME OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURE. TS
VEHICLE HAD FAILED TO START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC, FUEL PLATE HAD SHORTED OUT WIRES' CONNECTION. WIRES WERE BURNED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN WITHOUT SHAKING THE KEY IN THE SWITCH, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK.*AK
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH A DEFECT MUST BE PRESENT IN THE MOTOR/REGULATOR OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA '97. I AM REPLACING IT ANNUALLY!!!!!!!!!. *AK
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW FREEZING. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ON TWO OCCASIONS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE DISTRIBUTOR. BOTH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LINES WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE SECOND FAILURE ARE THE T…
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CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW FREEZING. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ON TWO OCCASIONS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE DISTRIBUTOR. BOTH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LINES WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE SECOND FAILURE ARE THE TWO SEALS ON THE REAR TAILIGHTS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN WATER DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK.
WHEN CELLURAL TELEPHONE IS WITHDRAWN, THE JACK ASSEMBLE COMES OUT OF THE RECEPTACLE.
STARTER FAILED.
Official recalls
196V185000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Oct 10, 1996
CERTAIN BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED WITH A "BUCKLE BASE" THAT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS CAN CAUSE THE "BUCKLE BASE" TO BE BRITTLE FAILING TO COMPLY TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE THEM 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.