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1998 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 29 of 123 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2017
Air Bags

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL

NHTSA ODI #11046434

146,200 miles · Dec 9, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY CAR WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. MY BUMPER AND HEADLIGHTS WERE BOTH TORN FROM THE CAR, BUT THE AIRBAG IN MY NISSAN ALTIMA GXE (98) DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TREATED AT AN URGENT CARE CENTER FOR NECK, BACK AND ARM PAIN THAT DAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049467

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

HI! I GOT IN A SMALL ACCIDENT. NOTHING EVEN HAPPENED TO THE CAR, IT HAS NO DENTS AT ALL. IT WAS A CRASH AT LOW SPEED THE AIRBAGS GOT ACTIVATED ANYWAYS WHICH WOULD BE OK IF THE FOLLOWING DIDNT OCCUR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL I RECALL IS THE AIRBAG RELEASING AND SOON…

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HI! I GOT IN A SMALL ACCIDENT. NOTHING EVEN HAPPENED TO THE CAR, IT HAS NO DENTS AT ALL. IT WAS A CRASH AT LOW SPEED THE AIRBAGS GOT ACTIVATED ANYWAYS WHICH WOULD BE OK IF THE FOLLOWING DIDNT OCCUR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL I RECALL IS THE AIRBAG RELEASING AND SOON AFTER HAVING INTENSIVE BLEEDING ALL AROUND MY FACE. I WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATLY TO A HOSPITAL AND HAD TO GET 8 STICHES IN MY EYELID OF MY LEFT EYE. ALSO I GOT SEVERAL SCARS IN MY CHEEKS AND FOREHEADS. THE AIRBAG SEEMED TO HAVE BURNED RIGHT THREW MY SKIN, ALSO TEARING MY EYE LID AREA. I HAVE LOST 5 VISION IN MY LEFT EYE. AND HAVE A CUT IN MY CORNEA, AND RETINA. I USE TO HAVE 20/20 VISION AND NOW HAVE 15/20. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL SCARS TILL TODAYS DATE WHICH ARE NOTICIBLE. MY EYE DOCTOR TOLD ME MY LEFT EYE PUPIL WILL REMAIN LARGE MOST CERTAINLY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THERE FOR I HAVE A NORMAL PUPIL AND A LARGE ONE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAG DAMAGED MY FACE VERY MUCH. I AM A 19 YEAR OLD TEEN WITH PERMANENT WOUNDS BECAUSE OF THE FORCE OF AN AIRBAG WHICH WASNT EVEN NECESSARY FOR IT WASNT A BIG CRASH. NOTHING HAPPENED TO NEITHER CAR. EVERYTHING JUST HAPPENED TO ME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10045561

66,000 miles · Oct 1, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 40/45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042034

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2003
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT SYSTEM CONTINUALLY APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER STATED THAT SENSOR WENT OUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025013

70,000 miles · Jan 23, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 30/35 MPH ,VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. TS

NHTSA ODI #10004514

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2003
Air Bags

CONSUMER WAS IN HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON COLLISION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10002216

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 73 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION HITTING A GUARDRAIL AND TREES. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER/ PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004251

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2001
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A BUMPER REAR END ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT 5MPH. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899573

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT REAR TANDEM AXLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF 30 OR MORE MPH, BOTH AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #872558

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems