IllustrationMileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Visibility
WINDOWS.
NHTSA ODI #609434
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
123 reportsWINDOWS.
SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 7/98, I'VE HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN TO THE SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 7 TIMES. RECENTLY, I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANICE THAT MY COOLANT AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE LEAKING. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I'VE CONTACTED NISSAN ONCE, AND WROTE LETTERS TWICE, BUT NOTHING HAS…
Read full complaint
SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 7/98, I'VE HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN TO THE SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 7 TIMES. RECENTLY, I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANICE THAT MY COOLANT AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE LEAKING. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I'VE CONTACTED NISSAN ONCE, AND WROTE LETTERS TWICE, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN ESCALATED. PLEASE HELP.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.A NISSAN DEALER STATED THE BECAUSE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED ON THE LEFT/RIGHT AND CENTER OF THE FRAME AND NOT ON THE BUMPER .THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN WITH $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. *AK
AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED THE POWER LOCKS ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN. IF CONSUMER STEPS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE STARTING IT, LOCKS WILL ACTIVATE. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THEY ACTIVATE, AND THE ALARM GOES OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
VISITED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND DIDN'T GET ANY HELP.TOLD ME THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
BRACKET BOLT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS MISSING. YH
DOOR HANDLE LOCK OUT OF ORDER. YH
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE. *YC
FOG LAMP FAILED. YH
SECURITY REMOTE CONTROL FAILED. YH
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.