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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
5 reportsTHE GAS PEDAL STIFF AND NEED TO BE PRESSED HARD WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND BEFORE 200 YARDS OF DRIVING. *TR
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, I HAD MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND WAS GETTING READY TO BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB AND HIT A CONCRETE POST. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING IMPACT.
AFTER TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT 30 MPH. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 538860 DUP OF 824193; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
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.