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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

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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

What owners actually said

108 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2001
Air BagsCrash

MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL CUTS OFF ENGINE AND POWER. IF KEPT IN THE HIGHEST POSITION IT WILL START AND RUN. BUT IF ONE TRIES TO LOWER THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHOLE CAR TURNS OFF. MOVING IT ALSO BLOWS THE IGNITION FUSE. OR THAT'S WHAT THE REPAIR MAN SAID. I AM FAIRLY SHORT AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY. ALSO I'…

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MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL CUTS OFF ENGINE AND POWER. IF KEPT IN THE HIGHEST POSITION IT WILL START AND RUN. BUT IF ONE TRIES TO LOWER THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHOLE CAR TURNS OFF. MOVING IT ALSO BLOWS THE IGNITION FUSE. OR THAT'S WHAT THE REPAIR MAN SAID. I AM FAIRLY SHORT AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY. ALSO I'M CONCERNED AS TO IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO EVER DEPLOY, IT IS NOW AIMED DIRECTLY AT MY HEAD. AS FOR THE ACCIDENT ON 1/1/1999 WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN WE WERE REAR ENDED AND RAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING OR AFTER THE INCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743684

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DURING FRONT END COLLISION, THE THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560684

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WAS TRAVELING 40-45MPH AND HAD TAPPED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE A TURN AND BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN. STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO LEFT & HIT PASSENGER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881992

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2000
Electrical System

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH A DEFECT MUST BE PRESENT IN THE MOTOR/REGULATOR OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA '97. I AM REPLACING IT ANNUALLY!!!!!!!!!. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735836

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2000
Tires

HOT DAY. TIRE SEPARATED. NOT BECAUSE OF HIGH PRESURE. NO NAILS. ORIGINAL TIRE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 156 TIRESIZE: P205/60R15)

NHTSA ODI #732754

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2000
StructureInjury

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #726816

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2000
Power Train

CAR BUCKS AT ALL SPEEDS, ALL GEARS, ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY LANG'S AUTO (R5674) AND BOB SHARP NISSAN IN WILTON, CT. NEITHER COULD IDENITIFY PROBLEM ON COMPUTER OUTPUT, BUT MULTIPLE MECHANICS COULD FEEL BUCKING. BUCKING IS SIGNIFICANT AND JARS PERSONS IN THE CAR. NISSAN DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS …

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CAR BUCKS AT ALL SPEEDS, ALL GEARS, ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY LANG'S AUTO (R5674) AND BOB SHARP NISSAN IN WILTON, CT. NEITHER COULD IDENITIFY PROBLEM ON COMPUTER OUTPUT, BUT MULTIPLE MECHANICS COULD FEEL BUCKING. BUCKING IS SIGNIFICANT AND JARS PERSONS IN THE CAR. NISSAN DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND FINALLY GAVE IT BACK REPORTING THEY COULD NOT IDENITIFY PROBLEM OR FIX IT. SUGGESTED PREMIUM GAS AND DRY GAS WHICH WE HAVE DONE AND IT HAS NOT HELPED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. WE HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND CAN NOT TAKE THEM IN THAT CAR AS THEY WOULD BE JARRED. WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL RECOURSE WITH DEALER AS ORIGINAL DEALER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE ONE WE WENT TO CAN NOT FIX AND WILL NOT CONTINUE TO TRY. CAR IS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 80/ WEEKDAY FOR COMMUTING PURPOSES AND ON WEEKENDS. THE BUCKING DOES NOT SEEM TIED TO ANY OTHER EVENT (GEARS, SPEEDS, ETC.) *AK

NHTSA ODI #726419

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #9001310

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WE HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING CAR DAMAGE. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) AND ADJUSTER IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. NISSAN DEALER CONTACTED AND LAUGHED AT US (JAMES WILLIAMS). THEY GAVE A 1-800-NISSAN TO COMPLAINT TO, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE CONTACT US…

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WE HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING CAR DAMAGE. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) AND ADJUSTER IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. NISSAN DEALER CONTACTED AND LAUGHED AT US (JAMES WILLIAMS). THEY GAVE A 1-800-NISSAN TO COMPLAINT TO, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A COPY OF VIDEO. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726107

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2000
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, I WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY A CAR TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH. UPON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND CAME OFF TRACK. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE, I CONTACTED NISSAN TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO PREVENT TTHIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BECAUSE IF MY CHILDREN WER…

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WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, I WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY A CAR TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH. UPON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND CAME OFF TRACK. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE, I CONTACTED NISSAN TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO PREVENT TTHIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BECAUSE IF MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT, ANY CHILD BEHIND ME WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED TO DEATH. NISSAN SAID THAT THE SEAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COLLAPSE AS A SAFTEY MECAHANISM. I AM STILL UNDERGOING THERAPY FOR INJURY TO MY LOW BACK, WHICH HURT UPON IMPACT, AND MY NECK AND SHOULDERS. I WANT THIS SEAT FIXED. I WOULD RATHER HAVE WHIPLASH, WHICH I SUSTAINED ANYWAY, THAN CRUSH ONE OF MY CHILDREN TO DEATH.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/60R15 )

NHTSA ODI #724838

Official recalls

1

96V185000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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