1994 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
83 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 83 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 8.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 17 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 17; Air Bags: 8; Electrical System:Ignition: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Air Bags:Side/Window: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 20 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1995: 20; 1996: 1; 2000: 9; 2001: 17; 2002: 8; 2003: 5; 2004: 7; 2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10147831 · 2006-01-16 (January 16, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND APPROACHING US HIGH WAY 1 AND 9. MY WIFE REPORTED TO ME THAT OUR 94 NISSAN ALT. ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED TO INCREASE IN SPEED. IN FULL FEAR OF HER LIFE. SHE STEP DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND PULL UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THE CAR KEPT TAKING MOTOR POWER AND WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. AS SHE APPROACHED THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT STOP. SHE HAD TO TURN LEFT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND SHIFT THE CAR INTO THE PARKING GEAR TO STOP. SO AFTER I HEARD THIS I HAD MY MECH. PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE CAR AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE MOTOR AND I CHECK …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11267511 · 2019-10-09 (October 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS FROM THE DRIVEWAY, CROSSED THE STREET, AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SORE BACK, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED OUT OF THE DITCH TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11267511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045037 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126375 · 2005-06-23 (June 23, 2005)
MY 94 NISSAN ALTIMA SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WAS SOMETIME IN APRIL OF 2004. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN THE CAR STARTED JURKING AND THE ENGINE DIED. I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN AND KEPT ON DRIVING FOR ABOUT 1/2 A MILE (I DROVE FOR ABOUT 10 MILES PRIOR TO THIS CAR FAILURE AND THAN AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IDLE FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS I DROVE BACK HOME FOR 12 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS). WHILE DRIVING TO SCHOOL A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER FOR ABOUT 8 MILES I SLOWED DOWN TO TAKE AN EXIT OF A HIGHWAY …
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 767273 · 2002-09-17 (September 17, 2002)
I HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL STAIN ON MY GARAGE FLOOR, AFTER SEVICING THIS VEHICLE THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE A SEAL. I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR SO IT WAS COVERED FOR THE REPAIR. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THE SMALL OIL STAIN RETURNING, EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE IS WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN TRANSMISSION LEAKING (EVEN THOUGH OIL WAS NOT RED), THEY HAD TO CLEAN SOMETHING AND SO ONE. FINALLY THIS PAST WINTER THEY ADMITTED THAT THE SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE ENGINE AGAIN. AT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 767273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 964492 · 1995-04-28 (April 28, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 736267 · 2000-11-14 (November 14, 2000)
ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP LIGHT, HIT MY WIFE HEAD ON. MY WIFE SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER FACE AND MOUTH WHEN SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. POLICE ESTIMATE THAT OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING OVER 50 MPH, MY WIFE WAS STOPPED. NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DEPLOYED (ALSO A NISSAN). I WISH TO FORMALLY REPORT THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 964751 · 1995-05-03 (May 3, 1995)
VEHICLE GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSING DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059167 · 2004-02-17 (February 17, 2004)
ON 2/12/2004 CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, AND DROVE TO WORK. WITHIN TWO MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 753561 · 2001-10-23 (October 23, 2001)
THE VEHICLE HAD A WIRING FAILURE TWICE SINCE I OWN IT. THE FIRST FAILURE APROXIMATELY 65000, AND THE SECOND FAILURE AT APROX 89000. I TROUBLESHOOTED THE PROBLEM AND AFTER DISASSEMBLING ALMOST THE COMPLETE DASHBOARD FOUND 3 WIRES CHAFFING AGAINST A METAL STANDOFF UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG ABOVE THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR. THIS WIRING HAD NO PROTECTION IN THIS TIGHT AREA. THIS COULD VERY WELL START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ON THE CAR. I FEEL IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM YOU IN THE EVENT THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE.*A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10300440 · 2010-01-20 (January 20, 2010)
1994 NISSAN ALTIMA FUEL INJECTOR CONTAMINATION, REPLACE FUEL INJECTOR THREE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY PUSHED THE FUEL INTO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND EXPLODED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE INJECTORS TO SHOOT START FUEL INTO #3 HEADS WITH OUT PULSATING THE FUEL PROPERLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300440 at NHTSA ↗