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
Suspension complaints
7 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PENETRATED THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PENETRATED THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE ROAD SALTS AND EXTREME WINTER WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE HAD A TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED, THE TIRE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE AXLE SPINDLE HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE AXLE SPINDLE AND ATTRIBUTED THE DETERIORATION TO…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE HAD A TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED, THE TIRE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE AXLE SPINDLE HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE AXLE SPINDLE AND ATTRIBUTED THE DETERIORATION TO THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY.
EXCESSIVE WEAR OF REAR TIRES CAUSED POOR VEHICLE CONTROL, AND RESULTED IN A NEAR ACCIDENT. ALSO, TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
REAR STRUTS LEAKING. *YC
SQUEAKING NOISE IN LOW-SPEED CONDITIONS.
WHEN MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID ON WET SLICK ROADS, WENT OUT OF CONTROL. ONCE CRASHED INTO CURB, CAUSING INJURY AND FRONT END DAMAGE. NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM.
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.