CONSUMER STATES THAT ALTERNATOR IS DEFECTIVE AND CONSTANTLY DRAINING VEHICLE'S BATTERY. DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT ALTERNATOR WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY AT TIME OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURE. TS
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
YearTopic reportsRecallsInvestigations
20251
2020243
10202310
0020227
01202121
22202045
62201958
72201837
24201727
33201642
43201555
103201471
852013159
125201244
41201131
10201074
302009466
40200890
41200737
32200672
30200597
10200432
10200389
41200277
51200119
10200025
1019994
00199815
00199714
10199611
00199516
32199414
2219937
11Recall 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
2280–25K
20425–50K
27250–75K
21375–100K
216100–150K
61150K+
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 reportsTHIS EVENING I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR. THE TEMP. WAS ABOUT 32 DEGREES. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, I DID WHAT THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALER SUGGESTED AND PUSHED THE GAS TO THE FLOOR AND TRIED AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. I WAS TOLD BEFORE THAT THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BEING COLD. WHY WOU…
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THIS EVENING I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR. THE TEMP. WAS ABOUT 32 DEGREES. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, I DID WHAT THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALER SUGGESTED AND PUSHED THE GAS TO THE FLOOR AND TRIED AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. I WAS TOLD BEFORE THAT THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BEING COLD. WHY WOULD THEY SELL A CAR WHERE IT SNOWS IF IT WON'T START. MY WIFE IS EXPECTING A BABY IN 8 WEEKS AND WE NEED A RELIABLE CAR. THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM ANXIOUS TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TODAY IS JAN. 6, 2003 AND I CANNOT REGISTER BELOW AS 2003 BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFFERED ON THE DROP DOWN BOX. THEREFORE I AM REGISTERING AS 2002.
WENT OUT IN THE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED ALL DAY TO GET IT TO START AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS LONG AS THE CAR STARTED. WE WERE TOLD IT COULD BE THE AIR TEMP., WHICH WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES THE MORNING THAT TH…
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WENT OUT IN THE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED ALL DAY TO GET IT TO START AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS LONG AS THE CAR STARTED. WE WERE TOLD IT COULD BE THE AIR TEMP., WHICH WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES THE MORNING THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IF WE WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT IT!!
WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BOOM, CONSUMER STATED SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, BATTERY HAD EXPLODED, DENTED THE HOOD OF VEHICLE AND BATTERY ACID WAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
ON 06-09-02 AND 09-23-02 ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. MR
WHILE DRIVING AT 68MPH AND WITH NO WARNING ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. THEN,VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD, INDICATING THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND AS IF IT WERE COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE OIL LIGHT, AND T…
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WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD, INDICATING THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND AS IF IT WERE COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE OIL LIGHT, AND THE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *CC
HORN IS SO LOW, IF ANOTHER DRIVER HAS WINDOW UP, CONSUMER WON'T BE ABLE TO HERE THE HORN. ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
BATTERY BLEW UP WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND ENGINE. THERE WAS 600 DOLLARS IN ENGINE DAMAGE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK JLG
MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE !!!!!! AND BURNED EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD INCLUDING THE HOOD NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS AT ALL WITH THE CAR NO GAS LEAKS, NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. *AK
Related Official recalls
314V138000 · 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
0No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.