IllustrationWHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND STALLS, AND CANNOT SHIFT GEARS WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN MORE THAN THREE PEOPLE AR E IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
108 reportsVEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE IN MOTION BECAUSE THE RIMS ARE SMALLER THAN THE TIRES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERS REPAIE SHOP EIGHT TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF WINDSHIELDWIPER SYSTEM, RESULTING IN HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR BY DEALER HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. *AK
OIL PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED. *YC
REAR STRUTS LEAKING. *YC
JAMMING THE BRAKE CAUSED SPINING OF THE CAR ENDING ON THE CURB. YH
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND INVOLVED IN A SANDWICH CRASH, VEHICLE WAS HIT BY OTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ABOUT 42 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS. THE VEHILCE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
WITHIN 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IGNITED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.
CONSUMER REARENDED A VEHICLE AT 45-50 MPH. UPON OF IMPACT, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. *AK.ET.
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.