Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
890–25K
17025–50K
30750–75K
29375–100K
306100–150K
74150K+
1,239 reports with mileage · 308 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.
Steering. Review the 859 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 466 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 107 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
36 crash reports8 fire reports19 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,547 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2021
Air Bags
My airbag light suddenly started blinking on my dashboard. For several years I have had problems with the orange center passenger air bag light working intermittently. I had a Nissan dealer inspect it and was told there was nothing wrong with it. It continued to act sporadically as before the visit unable to detect if a passe…
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My airbag light suddenly started blinking on my dashboard. For several years I have had problems with the orange center passenger air bag light working intermittently. I had a Nissan dealer inspect it and was told there was nothing wrong with it. It continued to act sporadically as before the visit unable to detect if a passenger was in the seat or not. Now, as stated above my red airbag light blinks continuously on the instrument panel. After taking it to a different repair shop, I was told it was the Seat Occupant Sensor and it needed to be removed and replaced. The SRS Passenger Discriminating Sensor needed to be replaced also. I was told I needed to replace the seat cushion (passenger side). This problem needs to be addressed for obvious safety concerns as the same problem keeps happening to many of Nissan's vehicles above and beyond their other recall campaign for newer models with the same problem. Yes, my car is out of warranty but that shouldn't matter as this is a very URGENT SAFETY ISSUE of a known defect that Nissan needs take responsibility for. My car has very low mileage (86,000 & 12 yrs. old) and rarely do I have a passenger in the defective seat. Now I can't have anyone use it for this safety reason. The cost of a repair by Nissan dealer is upwards of $2,000.
NHTSA ODI #11440268
148,000 miles · Nov 8, 2021
Structure
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact noticed that the dashboard was melting, and sticky, and had an abnormal odor. In addition, there was a glare in the front windshield that caused visibility issues while driving. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the fail…
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The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact noticed that the dashboard was melting, and sticky, and had an abnormal odor. In addition, there was a glare in the front windshield that caused visibility issues while driving. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.
NHTSA ODI #11439668
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2021
Steering
Drove car to to store came back 20 minutes later car would not start. Red key appear on dash - Had to have car towed. Informed Steering wheel lockout. Nissian award of problem, but never issue recall. Base on my research found out they did a voluntary bring in your car to fix problem, but no recall. Who is going to know they…
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Drove car to to store came back 20 minutes later car would not start. Red key appear on dash - Had to have car towed. Informed Steering wheel lockout. Nissian award of problem, but never issue recall. Base on my research found out they did a voluntary bring in your car to fix problem, but no recall. Who is going to know they have a problem until it happens< The bring in your cechile program ended May 2020 during the pandemic. Now it's going to cost $1300 to repair, not counting money spent for tow and car rental. I have bought 3 Nissian never will I buy another one.
NHTSA ODI #11437819
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2021
Power Train
Loss of power after 2-3 hours of driving, speed dropped down from 70mph to 45mph and then continue to drop to 20-25mph on the highway. Pull over on the should waited for about an hour and then it regained power for about an hour till once going uphill it loss power again. This is very dangerous to loose power like this on a high…
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Loss of power after 2-3 hours of driving, speed dropped down from 70mph to 45mph and then continue to drop to 20-25mph on the highway. Pull over on the should waited for about an hour and then it regained power for about an hour till once going uphill it loss power again. This is very dangerous to loose power like this on a high traffic interstate highway.
NHTSA ODI #11433985
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2021
Steering
Went to work with no issues. Got off and went to grocery store and when I came out to leave, car would not start. The key indicator and steering lock indicator on indicating a malfunction. Car would not start for no reason. After a day I had to have the car towed to my house at my expense. It is terrible to have so many peop…
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Went to work with no issues. Got off and went to grocery store and when I came out to leave, car would not start. The key indicator and steering lock indicator on indicating a malfunction. Car would not start for no reason. After a day I had to have the car towed to my house at my expense. It is terrible to have so many people have the same issue and being stranded by this malfunction, which is extremely unsafe. Terrible to see how nissan will not fix this obvious error on their part to protect their customers safety. Now I am being told that the recall to fix this wasnover may of 2020 and it is going to cost over a thousand dollars. I was never notified of a recall and this fox should be honored but it is not. Terribly disappointed. Nissan, get your act together!!!!
NHTSA ODI #11432828
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2021
Steering
Key warning light on dash which indicates steering lock module malfunction
NHTSA ODI #11432069
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2021
Steering
Steering lock mechanism malfunction leaving me stranded due to the car not starting. Intelligence key lock displaying indicating the issue being a malfunction. I was left stranded over 40 miles away from home. I’m stranded on an island and haven’t had any insurance rep look at it. Vehicle is being towed over 40 miles to a Nissan…
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Steering lock mechanism malfunction leaving me stranded due to the car not starting. Intelligence key lock displaying indicating the issue being a malfunction. I was left stranded over 40 miles away from home. I’m stranded on an island and haven’t had any insurance rep look at it. Vehicle is being towed over 40 miles to a Nissan dealership. There was no warning. I went to work that day without any issues and when I was ready to leave the car would not start and the key light was on. I had to spend money on a rental car to get home. This is extremely unsafe to know this can happen due to a part Nissan is very aware of.
NHTSA ODI #11424050
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2021
Visibility/wiper
Direct sun radiating on the dashboard has resulting in a deterioration of the surface, creating a sheen that creates a reflection on the windshield that is a constant distracts and under certain circumstances (depending on where the sun is at on the horizon), can impair the driver's view of traffic and objects in front of the ve…
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Direct sun radiating on the dashboard has resulting in a deterioration of the surface, creating a sheen that creates a reflection on the windshield that is a constant distracts and under certain circumstances (depending on where the sun is at on the horizon), can impair the driver's view of traffic and objects in front of the vehicle. The deterioration of the dashboard began after about five years of being owned and operating in Texas (and resulting sun and heat), but is becoming increasingly problematic as the dashboard surface continues to degrade.
NHTSA ODI #11423997
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2021
Power Train
My transmission went out on me while I tried to accelerate at a busy intersection. There was no check the engine light or maintenance required light that popped up but just wouldn't go nowhere. I had to call 911 in order to direct traffic on top of calling a tow truck. I had to wait 45 on both and directed traffic myself from n…
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My transmission went out on me while I tried to accelerate at a busy intersection. There was no check the engine light or maintenance required light that popped up but just wouldn't go nowhere. I had to call 911 in order to direct traffic on top of calling a tow truck. I had to wait 45 on both and directed traffic myself from not getting hurt or prevent someone from hitting me and my car. The transmission was already replaced once in 2016 now its needing to be replaced again with a price tag of about $4000 which is wrong when I took car of the car very well by doing what was required of the maintenance and the part that they put on through the warrenty in 2016 only is good for 1 year which is not fair for the car owner knowing that this is an ongoing problem with nissan. I feel like if it's under 5 years or 100,000 after a part have been replace they should pay for it because thats the price for another car
NHTSA ODI #11420353
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2021
Unknown Or Other
have 117,000 miles and my transmission went out, the car will start but will not go in drive and will not go in reverse.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).
NISSAN IS RECALLING 225 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION WELD ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 3,403 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS. SOME THESE WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD CAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUTS ATTACHING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS EQUIPPED WITH ONE OF THE AFFECTED WHEELS. IF IT IS, THE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2008. 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 ↗