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
2014 model year · 32,144 miles · May 21, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 13 MONTHS. ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A KIND OF JERK WHEN I WOULD START OFF A STOP LIGHT AND ACCELERATE. FIRST THINKING IT WAS NOT A GREAT DEAL, I KEPT GOING HOWEVER I NOTICED IT THAT IT WAS BECOMING MORE CONSTANT. ONE DAY ABOUT TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKI…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 13 MONTHS. ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A KIND OF JERK WHEN I WOULD START OFF A STOP LIGHT AND ACCELERATE. FIRST THINKING IT WAS NOT A GREAT DEAL, I KEPT GOING HOWEVER I NOTICED IT THAT IT WAS BECOMING MORE CONSTANT. ONE DAY ABOUT TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING LOT, I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AT ALL FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND IT STARTED WORKING FINE. BEING LATE FOR WORK, I THEN CONTINUED ON AND UNTIL YESTERDAY EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. YESTERDAY, I GOT INTO MY CAR, STARTED IT, SWITCHED TO DRIVE, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, TURNED IT ON AGAIN, MOVED THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT TOWED AND IT IS BEING CHECKED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS BEING A ONE YEAR OLD CAR, I DO NOT EXPECT IT TO GIVE THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #10717688

2009 model year · 76,237 miles · May 18, 2015
Electrical System

CAR WILL NOT START AND BATTERY IS FINE. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT WITH 2009-2010 ALTIMA RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK SENSOR AND HAPPENS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEEMED A "SAFETY ISSUE" THE NHTSA IS NOT MANDATING A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY DOG AND NIECE WERE LOCKED IN THE CAR A…

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CAR WILL NOT START AND BATTERY IS FINE. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT WITH 2009-2010 ALTIMA RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK SENSOR AND HAPPENS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEEMED A "SAFETY ISSUE" THE NHTSA IS NOT MANDATING A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY DOG AND NIECE WERE LOCKED IN THE CAR AND WE COULD NOT OPEN IT BECAUSE THIS DEFECT SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. MAKE NISSAN REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #10717108

2010 model year · 55,600 miles · May 17, 2015
Electrical SystemService Brakes

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. AT THE PRESENT TIME THE ABS LIGHT, SLIP AND VDC ARE NOW ILLUMINATED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BLINK IF THERE IS A PROBLEM DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS OR IT IS SLIPPERY. I HAVE READ …

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. AT THE PRESENT TIME THE ABS LIGHT, SLIP AND VDC ARE NOW ILLUMINATED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BLINK IF THERE IS A PROBLEM DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS OR IT IS SLIPPERY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO TURNOVER AND START. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10716936

2009 model year · 128,000 miles · May 14, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. CAR WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO SLAM ME WITH A $1100 REPAIR BILL. CAR WAS BOUGHT IN FEB 2009, AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SAID SPECIFIC PART ENDED FEB 2015.

NHTSA ODI #10716590

2013 model year · 15,000 miles · May 14, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

SEVERAL TIMES THE PASSENGER SEAT / OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY AN ADULT OCCUPANT AND HAS DISABLED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS OCCURS WITH MALES AND FEMALES RANGING FROM 40TH TO 70TH PERCENTILE IN ALL GENDERS. I HAVE RECORDED VIDEOS OF THESE INCIDENTS FOR RECORD OF THEIR OCCURRENCE. THE ONLY RESOLUTIO…

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SEVERAL TIMES THE PASSENGER SEAT / OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY AN ADULT OCCUPANT AND HAS DISABLED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS OCCURS WITH MALES AND FEMALES RANGING FROM 40TH TO 70TH PERCENTILE IN ALL GENDERS. I HAVE RECORDED VIDEOS OF THESE INCIDENTS FOR RECORD OF THEIR OCCURRENCE. THE ONLY RESOLUTION IS TO PULL OVER, POWER CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND RESTART CAR. ON RESTART THE CAR RECOGNIZED THE OCCUPANT AND ENABLED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE DATE OF INCIDENT IS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING MAY 2015 WITH APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10716401

2009 model year · 94,000 miles · May 13, 2015
Electrical System

ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ELECTRONIC KEY WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW) LIT. CAR WOULD NOT START AND LEFT STRANDED. RESORTED TO RAPPING ON THE ESCL BOX MOUNTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WORKS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF …

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ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ELECTRONIC KEY WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW) LIT. CAR WOULD NOT START AND LEFT STRANDED. RESORTED TO RAPPING ON THE ESCL BOX MOUNTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WORKS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF THE PART BUT, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT OR NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE NEED TO REPLACE THIS PART. MY WARRANTY FOR THIS PART EXPIRED IN OCTOBER 2014, BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN TO ME SINCE MY FIRST ISSUE WAS MAY 2015. NISSAN DEALER ESTIMATES $1016 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10716207

2005 model year · 144,000 miles · May 11, 2015
Electrical SystemFire

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THEN SAW SMOKE AND STOPPED THE CAR, WHEN HE RAISED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH WATER AFTER HE SAW HE COULD NOT STOP THE FLAMES CALLED 911 THE CARE TOTALLY BURNED NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FRAME THE FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE CAR WA…

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MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THEN SAW SMOKE AND STOPPED THE CAR, WHEN HE RAISED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH WATER AFTER HE SAW HE COULD NOT STOP THE FLAMES CALLED 911 THE CARE TOTALLY BURNED NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FRAME THE FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY BURNED.

NHTSA ODI #10715678

2009 model year · 99,000 miles · May 11, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10715693

2014 model year · 50,799 miles · May 8, 2015
Electrical System

MY CAR IS STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SOMETIMES CUTS OFF AT A LOW SPEED. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT SEE ANY ISSUES DUE TO THE ENGINE LIGHT NOT COMING ON. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD BEING THAT THE CAR COULD TURN OFF AT ANYTIME ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M REALLY CONCERN WHEN MY FAMILY (WIFE & KIDS AR…

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MY CAR IS STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SOMETIMES CUTS OFF AT A LOW SPEED. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT SEE ANY ISSUES DUE TO THE ENGINE LIGHT NOT COMING ON. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD BEING THAT THE CAR COULD TURN OFF AT ANYTIME ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M REALLY CONCERN WHEN MY FAMILY (WIFE & KIDS ARE IN THE CAR. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ODI #10715310

2009 model year · 125,000 miles · May 8, 2015
Electrical System

GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO RUN IN TO THE STORE, GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START.

NHTSA ODI #10715335

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.