IllustrationDUE TO CORROSION, BOTH REAR SUB MEMBER AND FRONT CRADLE ARE ROTTING OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. ONCE REPLACED, OTHER WORK MAY BE NEEDED
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
Structure complaints
8 reportsTHE LEFT ARM REST COLLAPSED TWICE AND NISSAN REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME GRATIS. DUE TO THE HOLE ON THE ARM REST I DEVELOPED CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME OF THE LEFT ELBOW RESULTING IN SURGERY. NISSAN CLAIMS THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND IT IS NOT A "DESIGN/PRODUCTION" DEFECT BUT EXCESSIVE WEAR ON MY PART EVEN THOUGH…
Read full complaint
THE LEFT ARM REST COLLAPSED TWICE AND NISSAN REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME GRATIS. DUE TO THE HOLE ON THE ARM REST I DEVELOPED CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME OF THE LEFT ELBOW RESULTING IN SURGERY. NISSAN CLAIMS THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND IT IS NOT A "DESIGN/PRODUCTION" DEFECT BUT EXCESSIVE WEAR ON MY PART EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST OCCURANCE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 21,000 MILES.*AK
VEHICLE LEAKED IN THE TRUNK AREA RESULTING IN RUST.
PAINT IS COMING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE GRILL AREA.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED.
FIRE STARTED BY FUSE BOX IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, THEY WOULD RELOCK DOORS. *AK
ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FUSE BOX IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WITHOUT WARNING. POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD RELOCK DOORS AFTER MANUAL UNLOCK RESULTING IN PROBLEMS EXITING VEHICLE.
UPON RELEASING TRUNK LID, WIND BLEW LID UP INTO REAR WINDSHIELD, SHATTERING GLASS.
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.