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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.

About this comparison →
123Owner complaints

Model-year median: 231

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
180
199592
1996108
1997123
199887
1999160
2000159
2001
Compare all Altima years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
15Electrical System
15Engine And Engine Cooling
14Fuel System, Gasoline
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12
All reported categories
Suspension
9Visibility
9Tires
7Power Train
6Structure
6Equipment
5Vehicle Speed Control
4Fuel System, Other
3Latches/locks/linkages
3Steering
3Fuel/propulsion System
2Seat Belts
2Seats
2Child Seat
1Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

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: 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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
43,000 miles · Oct 23, 2003
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic

POWER LOCKS GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, MAKING ALL KINDS OF RACKET AND BUZZING SOUNDS, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF!! HAVE TO PLAY WITH KEY AND LOCKS TO GET INTO THE CAR... FUEL DOOR OPENS ON OWN REPEATEDLY, WON'T STAY SHUT. BRAKES MAKE A DEEP GROWLING SOUND WHEN GENTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT...I HAVE…

Read full complaint

POWER LOCKS GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, MAKING ALL KINDS OF RACKET AND BUZZING SOUNDS, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF!! HAVE TO PLAY WITH KEY AND LOCKS TO GET INTO THE CAR... FUEL DOOR OPENS ON OWN REPEATEDLY, WON'T STAY SHUT. BRAKES MAKE A DEEP GROWLING SOUND WHEN GENTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT...I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 11/4/03 TO GET THIS REPAIRED..I SHUDDER AT WHAT THIS WILL COST...ANY ADVICE PLEASE EMAIL ME MYSTICNATURE@AOL.COM. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043471

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE DEALER THE HOOD FLEW OPEN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10017463

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR HANDLE LOCK OUT OF ORDER. YH

NHTSA ODI #609868

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

Nissan Altima electrical problems →Nissan Altima transmission problems →