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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
123Owner complaints

Model-year median: 231

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 Nissan Altima

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 123 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 15 reports
  • Electrical System: 15 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 14 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 14 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    180
    1995    92
    1996    108
    1997    123
    1998    87
    1999    160
    2000    159
    2001
    Compare all Altima years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Steering complaints

    3 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2002
    SteeringSuspension

    CONSUMER STATED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WHEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE AN ALIGNMENT COULD OCCUR, INSTEAD OF AN ALIGNMENT THEY SUGGESTED TIRE MAINPULATIONS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL…

    Read full complaint

    CONSUMER STATED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WHEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE AN ALIGNMENT COULD OCCUR, INSTEAD OF AN ALIGNMENT THEY SUGGESTED TIRE MAINPULATIONS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JG *AK

    NHTSA ODI #8003527

    Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2001
    Steering

    I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE NO STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH + THE VEHICLE DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE AT THOSE SPEEDS BUT ITS TOUGH TO CORRECT SINCE THE STEERING IS SO LOOSE. IT RECENTLY HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS

    NHTSA ODI #742485

    Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1998
    SteeringCrash

    DRIVING 60-65MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE; LOT OF PLAY. WOULD HAPPEN ON STRAIGHT ROADWAY. VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. HAD AN ACCIDENT. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #826688

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

    Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems

    Nissan Altima electrical problems →Nissan Altima transmission problems →