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 · 31,000 miles · May 9, 2003
Electrical System

THE TIC-TOC SOUND FROM THE BLINKER IS MUTED, THEN COMES BACK DAYS LATER. FIXED ONCE BEFORE, PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018442

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · May 8, 2003
Electrical System

ALTERNATOR HAS GONE BAD THREE TIMES. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018414

1998 model year · 86,000 miles · May 6, 2003
Electrical System

JULY OF 2002 (DAYS BEFORE MY VACATION) MY ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. I WAS UNDER AN THIRD PARTY SERVICE AGREEMENT AND WAS TOWED 25 MILES FROM WORK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WIRES IN/ AROUND THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRES CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON T…

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JULY OF 2002 (DAYS BEFORE MY VACATION) MY ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. I WAS UNDER AN THIRD PARTY SERVICE AGREEMENT AND WAS TOWED 25 MILES FROM WORK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WIRES IN/ AROUND THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRES CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON THE FUEL PUMP, IN TURN THE FUEL PUMP ALSO HAD FAILED. NOT ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED COMPONENTS. THE EXACT SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2002, HOWEVER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND ALL COSTS WERE NOW MY RESPONSIBILITY IN FULL. NOW, MAY 2003 THE EXACT FAILURE AGAIN HAS OCCURRED. EACH FAILURE HAS CARRIED A MINIMUM SHOP CHARGE OF APPROX $475.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR, NOT TO MENTION THE SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE NEEDED A TOW. NO FAILURE CODES ARE ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOOKED UP TO A DIAGNOSTICS COMPUTER. EACH DEALER HAS HAD A HARD TIME TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM AS THE CAR USUALLY IS TOWED AND WILL STARTS THE NEXT DAY. HOWEVER AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL AGAIN WITHIN 24 HOURS, RESULTING IN ANOTHER TOW. DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT PLEASED THAT THEY HAVE TO GET INTO THE CAR AND TROUBLESHOOT RATHER THAN USING THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10017114

2000 model year · Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2003
Electrical System

FIRST, MY ALTINATOR DIED AT 37000 MILES, AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A RE-FERBISHED ONE. THIS WAS LAST SUMMER, AND NOW MY CAR IS JUST NOT STARTING AT ALL SOMETIMES. ALSO, ONE DEALER SAID THAT MY MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN, AND A DIFFERENT DEALER SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE MOTOR MOUNTS. I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR IT'S INSPECTIONS, AN…

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FIRST, MY ALTINATOR DIED AT 37000 MILES, AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A RE-FERBISHED ONE. THIS WAS LAST SUMMER, AND NOW MY CAR IS JUST NOT STARTING AT ALL SOMETIMES. ALSO, ONE DEALER SAID THAT MY MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN, AND A DIFFERENT DEALER SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE MOTOR MOUNTS. I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR IT'S INSPECTIONS, AND HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF AN ACCIDENT. BECAUSE MY WARRENTY IS EXPIRED, I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT ALL OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT!

NHTSA ODI #10016768

1999 model year · 89,000 miles · Apr 17, 2003
Electrical SystemCrash

THE CONSUMER HEARD A BOOM NOISE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE BATTERY EXPLODED WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO OPEN WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY BLACK SMOKE. THIS BATTERY WAS A NISSAN PERMANENT SEALED BATTERY WHICH WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *NLM *TS

NHTSA ODI #10016105

1998 model year · 55,000 miles · Apr 6, 2003
Electrical System

SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED. USUALLY HAPPENED AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME, STOPPED AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART. ONE TIME IT WOULDN'T START EVEN WITH A JUMP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALL READINGS FOR BA…

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SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED. USUALLY HAPPENED AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME, STOPPED AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART. ONE TIME IT WOULDN'T START EVEN WITH A JUMP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALL READINGS FOR BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CAME BACK NORMAL.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10014032

2000 model year · 41,000 miles · Mar 18, 2003
Electrical System

MY ODOMETER, HEAT GAUGE, RMP, AND GAS GAUGE GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND NISSAN HEADQUARTERS WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT. THERE ALSO HAS BEEN OTHER CASES REPORTED TO NISSAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010685

2002 model year · 7,500 miles · Feb 15, 2003
Electrical System

I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH THEN THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDDLE SEEMED STIFF LIKE SOMETHING WAS PREVENTING FROM GOING DOWN. PH

NHTSA ODI #10007562

2002 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK

NHTSA ODI #10004603

1994 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2003
Electrical System

FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS MY CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOPS AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CAR DIES ON ME WHEN IT COME TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN, VIHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AFTER 60 MPH, WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, IT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT AN HOUR…

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FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS MY CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOPS AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CAR DIES ON ME WHEN IT COME TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN, VIHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AFTER 60 MPH, WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, IT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT AN HOUR FOR IT TO TURN BACK ON. IT WILL ALSO NOT TURN ON IF THE CAR IS UP ON A LITTLE HILL. CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. AND IT IS ALWAYS JURKING ON ME AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS.

NHTSA ODI #10003017

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.