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
2009 model year · 51,371 miles · Oct 21, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL STARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. STOPPED AT THE STORE, WAS IN THERE FOR 10 MINUTES. CAME OUT, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK, LIGHTS WORKED, BUT WOULDN'T START. ATTEMPTED FIXING FOR 2 DAYS BY DRIVING UP TO THE PARKING SPOT WITH A BUNCH OF TIPS AND TRICKS ONLINE BUT ENDED UP TOWING MY VEHIC…

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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL STARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. STOPPED AT THE STORE, WAS IN THERE FOR 10 MINUTES. CAME OUT, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK, LIGHTS WORKED, BUT WOULDN'T START. ATTEMPTED FIXING FOR 2 DAYS BY DRIVING UP TO THE PARKING SPOT WITH A BUNCH OF TIPS AND TRICKS ONLINE BUT ENDED UP TOWING MY VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND SPENT $800+ TO GET IT FIXED. REFER BELOW LINKS FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/STEERING-WHEEL-LOCKS/ HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/2009/ELECTRICAL/CAR_WONT_START_KEY_ANTI-THEFT_LIGHT_BLINKING.SHTML

NHTSA ODI #10785124

2008 model year · 118,760 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO BECOME EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,760.

NHTSA ODI #10783788

2009 model year · 133,250 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Electrical System

DROVE CAR TO BLANEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ELGIN SC. AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL GOT IN CAR PUSHED BRAKE AND PUSHED START BUTTON AND GOT NOTHING! YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS ON. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST IS $1208!!!! GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND S…

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DROVE CAR TO BLANEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ELGIN SC. AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL GOT IN CAR PUSHED BRAKE AND PUSHED START BUTTON AND GOT NOTHING! YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS ON. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST IS $1208!!!! GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER NISSAN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS NOW! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN!

NHTSA ODI #10783783

2013 model year · 35,193 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

BACKUP CAMERA SIGNAL TO SCREEN FAILS AND LOSES PICTURE WHEN BACKING UP. STATIC APPEARS ON SCREEN. OCCURS WITH RANDOM REVERSE MOVEMENT. USUALLY FROM PARKING LOT OR STALL, INDOOR OR OUTDOOR, EVEN OWN PRIVATE DWELLING GARAGE. ATTEMPTED REMEDY BY NISSAN SERVICE WAS TO REPLACE AUDIO COMPONENT BUT STILL RECURS. HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 T…

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BACKUP CAMERA SIGNAL TO SCREEN FAILS AND LOSES PICTURE WHEN BACKING UP. STATIC APPEARS ON SCREEN. OCCURS WITH RANDOM REVERSE MOVEMENT. USUALLY FROM PARKING LOT OR STALL, INDOOR OR OUTDOOR, EVEN OWN PRIVATE DWELLING GARAGE. ATTEMPTED REMEDY BY NISSAN SERVICE WAS TO REPLACE AUDIO COMPONENT BUT STILL RECURS. HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES SO FAR.

NHTSA ODI #10783798

2006 model year · 95,000 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 9 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT THE VEHICLE, THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR SHUT DOWN 1 MONTH AGO. THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN FOR 4 YRS WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGES. I JUST DISCOVERED A WHOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER SIDE GROUND. DUE TO RUST THERE IS A WHOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #10783545

2009 model year · 127,000 miles · Oct 16, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #10783004

2009 model year · 99,300 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Electrical System

TURNED OFF MY CAR TO GET GAS WHEN I WENT TO RESTART IT WOULDN'T TURN ON. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO GET DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETED AS RECOMMEND FROM NISSAN. I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I'M A SINGLE WOMAN STRANDED IN A BAD PART OF THE CITY WAITING HELPLESSLY FOR A TOW TRUCK. THEN HAD TO RIDE ALONG WITH A STRANGER (T…

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TURNED OFF MY CAR TO GET GAS WHEN I WENT TO RESTART IT WOULDN'T TURN ON. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO GET DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETED AS RECOMMEND FROM NISSAN. I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I'M A SINGLE WOMAN STRANDED IN A BAD PART OF THE CITY WAITING HELPLESSLY FOR A TOW TRUCK. THEN HAD TO RIDE ALONG WITH A STRANGER (TOW TRUCK DRIVER) TO THE DEALERSHIP. RESULTS CAME BACK AS STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FILED A CASE WITH NISSAN TO HAVE THIS COVERED AS THEY PUT OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PART. THE CASE WAS DENIED BECAUSE THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MARCH '15. I NOW HAVE TO PAY $1008.21 THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS DIDN'T B/C THEIR ISSUE FELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME. IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT SOME CUSTOMERS ARE BEING COVERED WHILE OTHER ARE NOT B/C THEIR ISSUES HAPPENED EARLIER. NISSAN HAS CLEARLY RECOGNIZED THIS PART AS AN ISSUE AND ARE NOW NOT TREATING ALL CUSTOMER'S FAIRLY. THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED SOMETHING IN THE MAIL ABOUT THIS AND IT WAS ALL OVER THEIR WEBSITE. WELL, I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING IN THE MAIL & I'M NOT SURE IF MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING INTO HOW THEIR CAR IS GOING TO BREAKDOWN IN THE FUTURE SO I WAS NEVER AWARE OF THIS UNTIL IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #10782447

2009 model year · 100,000 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

TRIED TO START MY CAR ONE DAY AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS LOCATED IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL . AFTER GETTING A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT IT WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR THE PART BECAUSE TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM BUT THE…

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TRIED TO START MY CAR ONE DAY AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS LOCATED IN FRONT OF MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL . AFTER GETTING A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT IT WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR THE PART BECAUSE TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM BUT THE WARRANTY RAN OUT JUNE 29, 2015. HOW WOULD I KNOW THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE IF THEY DO T CONTACT ME? NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $1100

NHTSA ODI #10781629

2009 model year · 112,000 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Electrical System

BEWARE TO ANYBODY WHO DRIVES A 2009 OR 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER, IT WILL DECIDE TO NOT START AND STRAND YOU - SEVERE ISSUE. IT'S ESCL (ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK: YOUR CAR ACTS LIKE IT WAS BROKEN INTO AND / OR STOLEN), WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WHICH THEY REFUSE TO PUT ON THE RECALL LIST, …

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BEWARE TO ANYBODY WHO DRIVES A 2009 OR 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER, IT WILL DECIDE TO NOT START AND STRAND YOU - SEVERE ISSUE. IT'S ESCL (ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK: YOUR CAR ACTS LIKE IT WAS BROKEN INTO AND / OR STOLEN), WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WHICH THEY REFUSE TO PUT ON THE RECALL LIST, EVEN THOUGH IT'S LISTED ON NHTSA'S SERVICE BULLETIN (NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION). AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF SAME ISSUE FOR CONSUMERS, SOME NISSAN SERVICE CENTERS PAID FOR IT UNDER LIFETIME WARRANTY OF THE CAR, SOME DID NOT. VERY INCONSISTENT! THE SAME ITEM FOR MURANO WAS LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST, YET NOT ALTIMA. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE TO 6 YEARS FOR ALTIMA, CONVENIENTLY MINE EXPIRED 2 MONTHS AGO (NO NOTIFICATION OF ISSUE AND / OR EXTENDED WARRANTY). IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $1,000.00 TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECT (WHICH I'M GRUDGINGLY PAYING AS I NEED MY CAR AND THEY KNOW IT)! TIME FOR A CLASS ACTION STANCE (MAYBE MORGAN & MORGAN), SO TIRED OF THE LITTLE GUY BEING SCREWED BY THESE BIG COMPANIES! I LOVED THIS CAR UNTIL SUNDAY, I NOW FEEL VERY UNSURE OF ITS RELIABILITY, NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY PIT IT MAY BECOME...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

NHTSA ODI #10781559

2014 model year · 42,222 miles · Oct 12, 2015
Electrical System

THE NAVIGATION / RADIO SYSTEM REBOOTS ITSELF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE DEVICE IS IN USE AND WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10781383

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.