1996 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
60 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 60 complaints (18.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.7% |
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 | 11 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Air Bags: 8; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2
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 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 51 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 14; 2000: 17; 2001: 7; 2002: 8; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2006: 2; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 752331 · 2001-09-18 (September 18, 2001)
I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SQUEAKING ON THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES WORKED ON ON 3 OCCASIONS IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD AND THE BRAKES STILL SQUEAK. I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA BRAKES OR IF IT IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH MY CAR. I HAVE HAD NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS PUT ON...SQUEAKED. THEN WE CHANGED TO ORGANIC PADS...SQUEAKED. AT THIS POINT, I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 752331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 756849 · 2002-01-14 (January 14, 2002)
UPON INSPECTION OF BRAKE FAILURE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT UNDERBODY CORROSION PENETRATED THE BRAKE FLUID LINES CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. FURTHER, CORROSION IS SO PERVASIVE THE CAR IS BEYOND REPAIR. NISSAN HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND DECLINED ANY REPARATIONS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 756849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039320 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
THIS COMPLAINT IS ON 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE. ON 9/21/03, THE CAR FAILED TO START IN THE MORNING EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NO ISSUES THE NIGHT BEFORETHE ENGINE TURNED BUT WOULD NOT CATCH ON AND IGNITE. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, A LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND THE ROOT CAUSE TO BE THE FAILED FUEL PUMP, THEREBY EXPLAINING THE SYMPTOMNO FUEL TO THE ENGINE, NO IGNITION. ADDITIONALLY AND MORE CRITICALLY, HE FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING OF THE POWER CONNECTOR (POWER TO DRIVE THE PUMP) WAS SEVERELY DAMAGEDIT HAD MELTED WITH INDICATIONS FOR ARCS. THE CRITICA…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146692 · 2006-01-02 (January 2, 2006)
MY DAUGHTER'S 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT SOMETIMES LEFT HER STRANDED. WHEN I DISCOVERED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I WANTED OTHERS TO KNOW. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. IT WAS BURNED AND HAD ACTUALLY MELTED THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE CONNECTORS WERE. IT WAS THE TWO WIRE CONNECTOR THAT CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THE FUSE WAS A 15 AMP FUSE, BUT THE WIRES AND THE CONNECTORS LOOKED SMALL FOR THAT KIND OF CURRENT DRAW. THIS LOOKS TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732289 · 2000-09-23 (September 23, 2000)
HAD CAR TWO MONTHS, EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, TOOK CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, FINALLY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING SOLENOID REPLACED. CON TINUED TO EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER NO TROUBLE CODES FOUND, WOULDN'T ACT UP. FINALLY TRANSMISSION DRIVE GEAR FAILED, RETURNED TO DEALER. NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION, USED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. TWO BLOCKS FROM DEALER AT GAS PUMP CAR FAILS TO START, SHIFTER LINKAGE NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED. RETURNED TO DEALER. NEXT MORNING NOTICED PUDDLE UNDER CAR, TRANSMISSION FLUI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 872282 · 2000-10-04 (October 4, 2000)
THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. NISSAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, AND THE RADIATOR, AUTO TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY AND THROTTLE VALVE SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD DUE TO CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. NEXT, THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 872282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500874 · 1996-01-19 (January 19, 1996)
ICE BUILD-UP IN WHEEL WELLS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INTERFERE WITH STEERING. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 733864 · 2000-10-10 (October 10, 2000)
I WAS DRIVING ONTO THE INTERSTATE, AND I WAS JUST ABOUT OFF THE ON-RAMP AND I HIT A BUMP. MY CAR'S STEERING LOST CONTROL AND IT SPUN AROUND TWICE AND I NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE. THANK GOD I GAINED CONTROL. I CHANGED MY TIRES THE NEXT DAY AND THE STEERING STILL FEELS VERY LOOSE. EVERYTIME I HIT THE SMALLEST BUMP, THE CAR FEELS UNSTABLE. I ALIGNED THE WHELLS FOR $80 AND I AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC SAYS EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE. PLEASE HELP. I NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I DRIVE. IT ALL FEELS VERY LOOSE LIK…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 733864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 554034 · 2000-08-28 (August 28, 2000)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT STALLING. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 554034 at NHTSA ↗