IllustrationNOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE CAR. JUST ROTATED THE TIRES AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR WAS BROKE IN HALF. WE HAVE 41000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE SO THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT. I WILL HAVE IT REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
2007 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Altima years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Nissan Altima are substantially higher than 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
670–25K
7625–50K
8450–75K
5575–100K
65100–150K
25150K+
372 reports with mileage · 99 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.
- Suspension. Review the 121 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
28 crash reports22 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
471 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABNORMALLY ROUGH. LATER, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR WAS SEPARATED IN TWO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABNORMALLY ROUGH. LATER, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR WAS SEPARATED IN TWO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED BU THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,668. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 05/09/11
REAR SUSPENSION SWAY BAR BROKE IN HALF WITHOUT ANY OTHER DAMAGE. *TR
I WAS WALKING UP TO MY CAR WHEN I SAW SOMETHING DANGLING NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE REAR SWAY BAR HAD BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES. MY MECHANIC FRIEND INSISTED TO REMOVE IT RIGHT AWAY AS IT WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN WE REMOVED IT, THERE WAS INDICATION OF RUSTING INSIDE THE SWAY BAR. NISSAN DEA…
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I WAS WALKING UP TO MY CAR WHEN I SAW SOMETHING DANGLING NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE REAR SWAY BAR HAD BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES. MY MECHANIC FRIEND INSISTED TO REMOVE IT RIGHT AWAY AS IT WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN WE REMOVED IT, THERE WAS INDICATION OF RUSTING INSIDE THE SWAY BAR. NISSAN DEALERS WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY AS MY CAR HAD EXCEEDED 60,000 MILES. I AM NOW SEARCHING FOR NEW SWAY BAR TO REPLACE IT. *TR
I HAVE A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. SOMETIMES IT GOES BACK OFF QUICKLY, AND OTHER TIMES IT STAYS ON FOR A WHILE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS REPLACING, BUT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY OR RECALL. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH A REC…
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I HAVE A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. SOMETIMES IT GOES BACK OFF QUICKLY, AND OTHER TIMES IT STAYS ON FOR A WHILE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS REPLACING, BUT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY OR RECALL. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH A RECALL FROM NISSAN, THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE SO FOR THE SENTRA. *TR
REAR SWAY BAR BROKEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. RUST FOUND WITHIN THE BAR.
MARCH 2010 MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA SE STARTED SMOKING OUT OF THE EXHAUST WHEN FIRST STARTING AFTER SITTING AWHILE. THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP CAME ON.THE ALTIMA HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE SMOKING GOT TO THE POINT OF SMOKING ALL THE TIME WITH DENSE BLACK SMOKE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND IT LOW. AFTER PERFORMING AN OIL & OIL…
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MARCH 2010 MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA SE STARTED SMOKING OUT OF THE EXHAUST WHEN FIRST STARTING AFTER SITTING AWHILE. THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP CAME ON.THE ALTIMA HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE SMOKING GOT TO THE POINT OF SMOKING ALL THE TIME WITH DENSE BLACK SMOKE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND IT LOW. AFTER PERFORMING AN OIL & OIL FILTER SERVICE, I STARTED MONITORING MY OIL LEVEL AND FOUND THE 3.5 V6 ENGINE WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I CHECKED THE ENGINE LAMP CODES(PO420-3WAY CATALYST FUNCTION AND PO300-MULTI CYLINDER MIS-FIRE). I TOOK MY ALTIMA TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HAD IT CHECKED UNDER MY WARRANTY, 60 MONTH /75,000 MILES GOLD PREFERRED PLAN. ON THE REPAIR ORDER IT STATED "SES NEEDS ENGINE / SLUGGED". I WAS CHARGED $107.07 AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. I CONTACTED THE QUALITY CONTROL ENGINEER @ NISSAN NORTH AMERICA'S HEADQUARTERS IN FRANKLIN, TN AND SHE SET UP A DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION WITH THE FIELD REP FROM THE ENGINE PLANT / DECCARD TN. HE STATED SINCE THE TIRES WERE NEEDING REPLACING IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND THE ALTIMA NEEDED WASHING, IT WAS A SIGN OF NEGLECT AND THERE-FORE THE SMOKING AND OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. THE REP SAID THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP CODE WAS FOR REFERENCE:NTB10-009 - A SEIZED EXHAUST SENSOR, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT RELATED TO THE SMOKING/OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. I WAS EMPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THIS ISSUE WITH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, SMYRNA TN. I WAS A PRE-DELIVERY REPAIR TECH @ THE MANUFACTURING PLANT FOR 25 YEARS UNTIL MY RETIREMENT JUNE 28, 2010. I USED THE SAME DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS THAT THE DEALER USED AND THE ENGINE PLANT FIELD REP USED ON MY CAR AND KNOW FOR A FACT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE. I FOLLOWED - UP THE COMPLAINT @HTTPS://SURVEY.NISSAN.USA.COM WITH NO RESULTS. *TR
MY BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW ON MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE THE CAR 3 YEARS NOW AND THE DEALERSHIP ADDRESSED THE ISSUE BY RESETTING THE ALARM AND TOPPING OFF THE BRAKE FLUID. NOW, THEY TELL ME THAT I NEED TO PAY $560 TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE AND IF I DON'T IT WILL FAIL AND I …
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MY BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW ON MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. I HAVE THE CAR 3 YEARS NOW AND THE DEALERSHIP ADDRESSED THE ISSUE BY RESETTING THE ALARM AND TOPPING OFF THE BRAKE FLUID. NOW, THEY TELL ME THAT I NEED TO PAY $560 TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE AND IF I DON'T IT WILL FAIL AND I COULD BE INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM AT WHEN IT HAPPENS. OF COURSE MY CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND THE NISSAN SENTRA WAS RECALLED. WHY NOT THE NISSAN ALTIMA. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY ARE GAMBLING WITH OUR LIVES AND TAKING CARE OF THE SITUATION ONLY AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. TOYOTA APPARENTLY WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A BRAKE ISSUE!! *TR
I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER UNTIL ONE DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND A HORRIBLE NOISE STARTED. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND A MECHANIC TOLD ME TO KEEP THE A/C BUTTON PUSHED SO THE CLUTCH WOULD STAY ENGAGED UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I HAD IT REPAIRED TODAY AND THE TOTAL COST WAS $870.11. MY MECHANIC CALLED NISSAN AND WAS…
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I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER UNTIL ONE DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND A HORRIBLE NOISE STARTED. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND A MECHANIC TOLD ME TO KEEP THE A/C BUTTON PUSHED SO THE CLUTCH WOULD STAY ENGAGED UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I HAD IT REPAIRED TODAY AND THE TOTAL COST WAS $870.11. MY MECHANIC CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE SHORT BLOCK IN THE ENGINE RESULTING IN A COOLING LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE SHORT BLOCK IN THE ENGINE RESULTING IN A COOLING LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,124.
Official recalls
308V521000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:software
Oct 7, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Air Bags
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
07V599000 · Electrical System:ignition:module
Dec 28, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) REPLACED DURING SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE SOFTWARE. IF THE TPMS IS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT ALERT THE DRIVER TO A DECREASE IN THE TIRE PRESSURE AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TPMS FUNCTION AND REACTIVATE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
07V267000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Jun 21, 2007
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF A SUFFICIENTLY HOT OBJECT ENTERS THE AIR FILTER HOUSING THROUGH THE ENGINE FRESH AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND CONTACTS THE ENGINE AIR FILTER, THE FLAMMABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIR FILTER MATERIAL ARE SUCH THAT THE FILTER MAY IGNITE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE AIR FILTER MATERIAL IGNITES, A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR FILTER WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS IMPROVED ANTI-FLAMMABILITY MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 3, 2007, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 1, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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
2PE11020 · Brake Master Cylinder Internal Leak
Opened May 23, 2011 · Closed Mar 14, 2012
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE11-020 to investigate possible brake performance loss due to brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder into the brake booster in the subject vehicles.A total of 237 complaints were identified by ODI and Nissan.The majority of complaints and warranty claims reported that brake malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illumination as the only symptom of a problem.Only 12 complaints alleged any effect on brake performance and in each of these the drivers were able to stop the vehicles without incident.No crash claims could be attributed to the alleged defect. Returned part analysis data provided by Nissan showed that most of the master cylinders replaced under warranty did not have a leak condition.These replacements may have resulted from brake MIL illumination due to pad wear.For most of the warranty claims, in a few cases where a master cylinder leak was found, Nissan's testing showed that the leaks were extremely slow and would require thousands of miles or months of driving before brake performance could be affected.After an extensive study of replaced master cylinders for a presumed leak, Nissan was unable to identify any concern with the parts or design of the subject components that could affect brake performance. Nevertheless, Nissan does recognize a concern with premature brake MIL illumination and has decided to address this problem by conducting a voluntary service campaign covering approximately 1.17 million model year 2007 through 2012 Altima vehicles (up to June 25, 2011 production, the date of Nissan's running change for the longer life brake pad).Nissan's owner letter for the service campaign states, As your brake pads wear over time, the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir will drop and may cause the brake warning lamp to illuminate.?Although this is a normal condition, there has been concern that the brake warning light illumination may be caused by a slow fluid leak over time.Nissan's service campaign will inspect the brake pads and test the master cylinder for leakage.If leakage is detected, Nissan will replace the master cylinder at no charge.If excessive pad wear is observed, customers will be notified and will be responsible for repairs.For more details concerning Nissan's service campaign, see the PE11-020 file on www.Safercar.gov. Based on the low failure rate for confirmed master cylinder leakage in the subject vehicles and the low probability that the condition would affect brake performance, this investigation is closed.
PE07026 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened May 22, 2007 · Closed Jun 27, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
NISSAN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY ON JUNE 18, 2007 THAT IT WILL RECALL (RECALL # 07V267) ALL MY 2007 ALTIMA VEHICLES WITH 2.5 LITER ENGINE BUILT AT THE SMYRNA, TENNESSEE PLANT FROM SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 TO MAY 11, 2007 AND AT THE CANTON, MISSISSIPPI PLANT FROM OCTOBER 30, 2006 TO MAY 11, 2007.NISSAN DETERMINED THAT IF A SUFFICIENTLY HOT OBJECT (FOR EXAMPLE, A CIGARETTE ASH OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCE) ENTERS THE AIR FILTER HOUSING THROUGH THE ENGINE FRESH AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND CONTACTS THE AIR FILTER, THE FLAMMABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIR FILTER MATERIAL ARE SUCH THAT THE FILTER MAY IGNITE.IF THE AIR FILTER IGNITES, A FIRE MAY OCCUR.VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THESE DATES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DIFFERENT AIR FILTER.NISSAN WILL REMOVE THE ORIGINAL AIR FILTER AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT WITH IMPROVED ANTI-FLAMMABILITY CHARACTERISTICS.ODI IS AWARE OF 26 REPORTS OF FIRE (OF WHICH THREE WERE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO BOTH ODI AND NISSAN) AND NO INJURIES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.