COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Nissan Altima electrical problems

1,770 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

56 crash reports69 fire reports35 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,194 reports with mileage · 576 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 owners actually said

1,770 reports
2002 model year · 175,000 miles · Jan 29, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN IT STOPPED RUNNING. DIAGNOSIS: THE CAM POSITION SENSORS WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT (REPLACED 2 SENSORS). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AFTER REPLACING THE SENSOR WITH PARTS OBTAINED FROM THE DEALER. THERE IS A RECALL ON VEHICLE WHICH WAS NEVER FULFILLED, HOWE…

Read full complaint

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN IT STOPPED RUNNING. DIAGNOSIS: THE CAM POSITION SENSORS WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT (REPLACED 2 SENSORS). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AFTER REPLACING THE SENSOR WITH PARTS OBTAINED FROM THE DEALER. THERE IS A RECALL ON VEHICLE WHICH WAS NEVER FULFILLED, HOWEVER, NISSAN CLAIMS IT DOES NOT AFFECT MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495062

2009 model year · 32,000 miles · Jan 29, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

CAR WOULD NOT START / COMPUTER LOCK / CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495029

2009 model year · 37,500 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

MY DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD WERE TRYING TO GET HOME UNDER AN ICE STORM WARNING. THE PUSH BUTTON START DID NOT OPERATE. THEY WERE STRANDED IN THE COLD UNDER A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. NISSAN SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROLLER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND START BUTTON. THERE I…

Read full complaint

MY DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD WERE TRYING TO GET HOME UNDER AN ICE STORM WARNING. THE PUSH BUTTON START DID NOT OPERATE. THEY WERE STRANDED IN THE COLD UNDER A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. NISSAN SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROLLER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND START BUTTON. THERE IS NOT A METHOD TO OVERRIDE THE PUSH BUTTON WITH A MECHANICAL KEY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA. MY ALTIMA HAS ONLY 37,500 MILES BUT IS PAST THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR WAS $803. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE EXPECTS A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THEY SEE THIS FAULTY MODULE. THE PART WAS CHANGED IN 2010 BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BAD ONES IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494962

2009 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

CAR WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE KEY IN IT, BUT COULD UNLOCK DOORS AND TRUNK, AND WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY FOUND THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH IKEY READER. TECH INSTALLED NEW IKEY READER AND CLEARED THEFT CODES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494891

2013 model year · 2,300 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. INFORMED BY SERVICE PERSON THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, HOWEVER AN UPDATE IS BEING MADE FOR ALL VEHICLES AND I WILL RECEIVE A NOTICE IN THE MAIL TO BRING IN. AS OF TODAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. INFORMED BY SERVICE PERSON THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, HOWEVER AN UPDATE IS BEING MADE FOR ALL VEHICLES AND I WILL RECEIVE A NOTICE IN THE MAIL TO BRING IN. AS OF TODAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUE TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY RENDERING THE VEHICLE USELESS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495002

2009 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

ATTEMPTED TO START CAR WITH "PUSH TO START" IGNITION. CAR SENSED KEY, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO START IGNITION ALTHOUGH I STEPPED ON BRAKE WHILE PRESSING BUTTON. LIGHTS WORK IN CAR. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. CAR STARTS WITH AUTOSTART USING FOB KEY, BUT WHEN TRIES TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE IT SHUTS OFF. ATTEMPTED TO PUT KEY IN SLOT AND …

Read full complaint

ATTEMPTED TO START CAR WITH "PUSH TO START" IGNITION. CAR SENSED KEY, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO START IGNITION ALTHOUGH I STEPPED ON BRAKE WHILE PRESSING BUTTON. LIGHTS WORK IN CAR. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. CAR STARTS WITH AUTOSTART USING FOB KEY, BUT WHEN TRIES TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE IT SHUTS OFF. ATTEMPTED TO PUT KEY IN SLOT AND PUSH "START" BUTTON, BUT THAT ATTEMPT WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. PREVIOUSLY CAR WAS WORKING FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494878

2009 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR RECOGNIZED MY KEY WAS PRESENT BUT PUSH BUTTON DID NOTHING. MANUALLY USING THE KEY SLOT WOULD NOT START THE CAR EITHER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM BEING TOLD THAT WILL COST $800-1100 TO FIX STEERING LOCK AND THAT PARTS ARE ON BACK…

Read full complaint

DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR RECOGNIZED MY KEY WAS PRESENT BUT PUSH BUTTON DID NOTHING. MANUALLY USING THE KEY SLOT WOULD NOT START THE CAR EITHER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM BEING TOLD THAT WILL COST $800-1100 TO FIX STEERING LOCK AND THAT PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME DEFECT OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THIS DID OCCUR ON A VERY COLD DAY, ABOUT 10 DEGREES AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494768

2009 model year · 30,500 miles · Jan 25, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

AMBER 'INTELLIGENT KEY' LIGHT STARTED APPEARING ON AND OFF. FINALLY VEHICLE REFUSED TO ENGAGE STARTER AND WHIRRING NOISE INDICATING STEERING LOCK IS FUNCTIONAL NO LONGER HAPPENS. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TOWED AND RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 2009 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. REPAIR QUOTES ONLINE APPEAR TO BE …

Read full complaint

AMBER 'INTELLIGENT KEY' LIGHT STARTED APPEARING ON AND OFF. FINALLY VEHICLE REFUSED TO ENGAGE STARTER AND WHIRRING NOISE INDICATING STEERING LOCK IS FUNCTIONAL NO LONGER HAPPENS. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TOWED AND RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 2009 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. REPAIR QUOTES ONLINE APPEAR TO BE IN THE $900 RANGE. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494743

2009 model year · 70,000 miles · Jan 23, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

TRYING TO START VEHICLE, YELLOW KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS STRANDED AT LUNCH 15 MINUTES FROM WORK WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THE SAME PART (I'VE HEARD) WAS RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN MODEL…

Read full complaint

TRYING TO START VEHICLE, YELLOW KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS STRANDED AT LUNCH 15 MINUTES FROM WORK WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THE SAME PART (I'VE HEARD) WAS RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS AND CAN LEAVE ANYONE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494501

2009 model year · 83,514 miles · Jan 23, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE ON THE MORNING OF 1/14/13. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON, THE PUSH-START IGNITION REMAINED IN THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED START ATTEMPTS. BREAK LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION CORRECTL…

Read full complaint

THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE ON THE MORNING OF 1/14/13. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON, THE PUSH-START IGNITION REMAINED IN THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED START ATTEMPTS. BREAK LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. CALLED LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. AFTER AN HOUR, THE NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME WITH NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAD FAILED AND THEY ESTIMATED THE TOTAL REPAIR COST TO BE AT $900.00. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO WAS ABLE TO COURIER IT OVER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON 1/23/13 AND THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION RELATIVE TO THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPAIR. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AT LEAST A YEAR AGO BASED ON ITS APPARENTLY RAMPANT HISTORY OF FAILURE FOR OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494489

Related Official recalls

3

14V138000 · Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System:software

Mar 25, 2014

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags:frontal

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

08V521000 · 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.