1999 Nissan Altima

Routine

Owners filed 87 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

30 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 105,000120,000 miles; the median is 100,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal8
804
Tires7
000
Vehicle Speed Control6
201
Tires › Tread/Belt4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling4
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly3
000
Suspension3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip3
101
Power Train › Axle Assembly3
204

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension10E002000
Filed Feb 11, 201012,657 vehiclesRide Control, Llc

Defect. RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Risk. THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Oct 9, 2020255,900 milesNC

KEEP HAVING TROUBLE SMELLING GAS. INSIDE THE CAR AND FUEL PUMP AND THE EXHAUST GAS AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IT KEEPS MESSING WITH THEIR ASTHMA SPENDING TO MUCH MONEY KEEP GETTING IT FIXED.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 26, 201843,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN ACROSS THE CONTACT'S LANE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT LATER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT CALLED DARTMOUTH NISSAN AT 508-996-3200 (LOCATED AT 483 STATE RD, NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA 02747) AND WAS INFORMED OF AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT'S ATTORNEY TOOK OVER FURTHER INTERACTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Tires
Filed May 26, 2018111,000 milesNY

TIRE ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS FLATERED SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF COLLAPSED COIL SPRING STRUT AND SUSPENSION

Suspension
Filed May 24, 2018111,000 milesNY

BROKEN COIL AND FRONT SUSPENSION EXPLODED ALSO CAUSING TIRE TO FLATTEN SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF AAA MECHANIC DETERMINED IF I WAS DRIVING AT TIME OF INCIDERDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL SO I CAN GET IT FIXED AT NO COST TO ME MY CAR IS MY SURVIVAL CAR WAS IN STATIONARY MODE

Suspension
Filed May 23, 2018111,000 milesNY

BROKEN AND COLLAPSED COIL ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SUSPENSION IN CARPORT STATIONARY POSITION

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Feb 19, 2018225,000 milesTN

THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED MY CAR TO CATCH FIRE IN THE TRUNK ARE

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 22, 2013143,000 milesNC

MY 99 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE IS STALLING WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM SCARED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AND THAT SOMEONE MAY HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP 3 DAYS THIS WEEK AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 6, 2010160,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 5, 2010100,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE LINKAGE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 2, 2010100,200 milesNJ

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Feb 10, 201099,000 milesCA

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Jun 10, 2009116,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V435000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE SEVERAL HOURS FOR THE REPAIR. THE FOLLOWING DAY HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 8, 2009104,000 milesVT

NISSAN 98-2001 ALTIMA I OWN A 99 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH HAS HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM FOR APPROX 2 YRS .DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND VERY COMMON FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET TO LEAK ...PLEASE LOOK AT CAR COMPLAINTS.COM...I HAVE BEEN SMELLING FUMES INSIDE CAR AT TIMES AND NOW I KNOW THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE NISSANS FOR DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING . I AM HAVING MINE REPLACED BUT HAVE READ OF MANY GOING AGAIN AND A THIRD ...NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FLAW .. THANKYOU ...HAVING TO PAY FOR THERE FLAW MAKES ME ANGRY .. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 22, 2008AZ

WHEN WE WERE TAUGHT HOW TO DRIVE WE WERE TOLD TO PLACE OUR HANDS AT THE 10 AND 2 O'CLOCK POSITION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF THAT IS WHERE YOUR HANDS ARE AT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG IT THROWS YOUR LEFT ARM AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND IT'S FRAME WHICH RESULTS IN BROKEN ARMS AND WRISTS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING FOR THIS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 22, 2008116,000 milesNV

MY ALTIMA IDLES VERY ROUGH, WHICH FEELS AS IF IT WERE ABOUT TO STALL. IT SHAKES THE WHOLE CAR AND IS SLOW AND SHAKING DURING ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS A MISFIRE IN CYL #4. ON THE INTERNET, EVERYONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I READ THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW BY NISSAN AND THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED IT, BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. I NOW HAVE TO PAY A REPAIR SHOP TO FIX NISSAN'S PROBLEM. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Sep 27, 200775,000 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCEPT HALF TO THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK OF FUEL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER TUBE WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO BE FILLED, WITHOUT FUEL ESCAPING FROM THE TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE SAME COMPONENT OF OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES EXCEPT HIS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Aug 13, 200768,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE FAILING, BUT WOULD NOT SPECIFY EXACTLY WHICH COILS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 11, 2007DE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE RPM'S AUTOMATICALLY INCREASED TO 8000. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED FOR THE RPMS TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 22, 2007153,855 milesAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP HER VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. HER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 153,875 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,855.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 26, 2006113,000 milesUT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO CROSSED AN INTERSECTION AT 35 MPH. THERE WAS PRE-IMPACT BRAKING PRIOR TO THE FRONTAL IMPACT. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON 07/26/06 AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY ON 07/28/06. THERE ARE PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE.

20 of 87 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20256200Routine
202441110Routine
202329010Routine
202230010Routine
202170210Routine
2020158651Fatalities reported
2019231750Above average
2018225200Above average
2017391370Above average
2016553431Fatalities reported
20159521050Above average
20141,114881Fatalities reported
20132,3101291Fatalities reported
2012425420Above average
2011241150Above average
2010380390Above average
20091,547482Fatalities reported
20081,0284132Fatalities reported
20074713222Fatalities reported
20068244140Above average
20051,0912180Above average
2004276530Above average
200388310132Fatalities reported
20021,04712280High concern
2001159224Fatalities reported
2000160250Routine
1999 — this page87430Routine
1998123420Routine
1997108350Routine
199692250Routine
1995180570Routine
1994106420Routine
1993122330Routine

Compare every Altima year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 11, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.