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2001 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

100 reports with mileage · 59 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

15 reports
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130,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

SOME DRIVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO A DUI, AND HIS CAR WAS STRADDLED ACROSS THE LEFT LANE AND I HIT IT AS I CAME AROUND THE BEND AT APPR. 11:30 P.M. IN A DARK SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND I AND MY SON WAS JERKED, BUT WE WERE BOTH WEARING OUR SEATBELTS. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY ANTI-L…

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SOME DRIVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO A DUI, AND HIS CAR WAS STRADDLED ACROSS THE LEFT LANE AND I HIT IT AS I CAME AROUND THE BEND AT APPR. 11:30 P.M. IN A DARK SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND I AND MY SON WAS JERKED, BUT WE WERE BOTH WEARING OUR SEATBELTS. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. WE WERE NEARLY WIPED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. THOUGH MY LOCKED UP BRAKES CAUSED ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THE NEXT LANE, THUS HITTING THE CAR, IF I HAD MADE IT TO THE LANE TO THE RIGHT OF ME, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT, TRUST ME. THOUGH THIS HAPPENED NEARLY 9 YEARS AGO, IT STILL HAPPENED AND I STILL HAVE MY NISSAN. MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING AND THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. ALSO, MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALWAYS GO OUT, WAY MORE THAN THEY SHOULD AND THEY WERE POORLY DESIGNED. THE WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS GO UP OR DOWN EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #10717615

10,000 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED SOMEONE'S VAN WHILE ONLY GOING 15-20 MPH. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THEN EXPLODED; CAUSING 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. SMALL PIECES OF DEBRIS WERE ALSO REMOVED FROM BRUISES I SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. I BROKE/FRACTURED MY RIBS, DISLOCATED MY KNEE AND MY PELVIC BONE WAS SHATT…

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THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED SOMEONE'S VAN WHILE ONLY GOING 15-20 MPH. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THEN EXPLODED; CAUSING 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. SMALL PIECES OF DEBRIS WERE ALSO REMOVED FROM BRUISES I SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. I BROKE/FRACTURED MY RIBS, DISLOCATED MY KNEE AND MY PELVIC BONE WAS SHATTERED. THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AUTO BODY IN CHARGE OF REPAIRS FOR THIS CAR "CONVENIENTLY" MISPLACED THE AIRBAGS AFTER BEING ASKED SPECIFICALLY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAGS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE......UPDATED 11-24/14 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10654531

75,000 miles · Oct 25, 2014
Air BagsCrash

WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND FRONT END BUCKLED BY THE CRASH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY......FRONT END DAMAGE WAS APPROX $5500 DUE TO LOW MILES WAS REPAIRED ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649979

45,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10578159

159,999 miles · Dec 22, 2011
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A PIECE OF TAPE OVER THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND AUTO ZONE HELPED ME TAKE IT OFF. THE NISSAN DIED GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. LATER TO FIND THAT I NEEDED A OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOW ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEA…

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WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A PIECE OF TAPE OVER THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND AUTO ZONE HELPED ME TAKE IT OFF. THE NISSAN DIED GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. LATER TO FIND THAT I NEEDED A OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOW ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED EVAC HOSES BUT ALL THE DEALER DID WAS UNHOOK ONE SO THEY COULD CHARGE ME FOR CODES BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND MY PROBLEM WITH NO ENGINE LIGHT PRESENT. SO MY MECHANIC FOUND THE UNHOOKED HOSE AND PUT IT BACK ON AND IT WAS PREVIOUSLY NOT UNHOOKED. THE CAR DIES RANDOMLY IN TRAFFIC AND IS VERY HAZARDOUS TO BE REAR ENDED OR EVEN TO HIT SOME ONE ELSE WITH THE DEALER NOT EVEN KNOWING HOW TO PROPERLY RESOLVE THIS ISSUE???? MY MECHANIC WILL BE HELPING ME TO MAKE THIS CAR SAFER FOR ME TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441042

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A FRONT-END IMPACT ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT WAS STILL INJURED. I RECEIVED INJURY TO MY RIGHT KNEE, LOWER BACK, AND BOTH WRISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278664

77,000 miles · Jun 22, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE AIR BAGS ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160451

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2006
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15-20 MILES AN HOUR IN MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE LE. A TRUCK CUT ME OFF AND I WAS FORCED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. IN TURN MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND MY HEAD BOUNCED OF MY STEERING WHEEL. I WOULD LIKE TO K…

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I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15-20 MILES AN HOUR IN MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE LE. A TRUCK CUT ME OFF AND I WAS FORCED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. IN TURN MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND MY HEAD BOUNCED OF MY STEERING WHEEL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND WHY MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED OUT BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS A TOTAL LOSS. AS FAR AS CORRECTIVE ACTION NONE WAS TAKEN AS THE CAR IS DESTROYED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150524

30,000 miles · Nov 9, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON AT 65 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER A REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE. *JB THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10096903

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2003
Air BagsCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009691

Official recalls

1

01V065000 · Tires:tread/belt

Feb 23, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H TIRES. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.

Remedy: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES WHICH WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THESE ALTIMA VEHICLES. FIRESTONE IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE AT 1-800-465-1904.

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.

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