1997 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
92,420 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 66 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 10.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
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 | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
Air Bags: 15; Unknown Or Other: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Electrical System: 3; Tires: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 46 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 13; 2001: 7; 2002: 12; 2003: 13; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 4; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10000238 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
OWNER WAS DRIVIMG HIS 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA SE ON THE CENTER LANE ALONG MEADOWBROOK PARKWAY, LONG ISLAND, NY. THE BMW 7.4 ON THE RIGHT SIDE (FIRST LANE) MERGED INTO THE CENTER LANE AND MADE A SUDDEN BRAKE. OWNER OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA APPLIED A SUDDEN BRAKE BUT BECAUSE OF THE SHORT DISTANCE IN BETWEEN TWO CARS, THE ALTIMA HIT THE BMW ON THE REAR. BOTH CARS WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MILES PER HOUR. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER, WHO IS 8 MONTH PREAGNANT, REQUIRED TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR TWO DAYS. I W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043486 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, I HAD MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND WAS GETTING READY TO BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB AND HIT A CONCRETE POST. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,839 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052605 · 2004-01-07 (January 7, 2004)
MY SON WAS IN A HEAD ON CRASH IN MY VEHICLE. HE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN HE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. HIS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID HIS SEATBELT LOCK. HIS CHIN HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. HIS HEAD AND HAND BOTH WENT INTO THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS CRACKED. HE WAS DRIVING A 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AND THE WINDSHIELD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 743684 · 2001-04-07 (April 7, 2001)
MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL CUTS OFF ENGINE AND POWER. IF KEPT IN THE HIGHEST POSITION IT WILL START AND RUN. BUT IF ONE TRIES TO LOWER THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHOLE CAR TURNS OFF. MOVING IT ALSO BLOWS THE IGNITION FUSE. OR THAT'S WHAT THE REPAIR MAN SAID. I AM FAIRLY SHORT AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY. ALSO I'M CONCERNED AS TO IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO EVER DEPLOY, IT IS NOW AIMED DIRECTLY AT MY HEAD. AS FOR THE ACCIDENT ON 1/1/1999 WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN WE WERE REAR ENDED AND RAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. N…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003721 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT ALTERNATOR IS DEFECTIVE AND CONSTANTLY DRAINING VEHICLE'S BATTERY. DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT ALTERNATOR WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY AT TIME OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717608 · 2000-01-20 (January 20, 2000)
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW FREEZING. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ON TWO OCCASIONS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE DISTRIBUTOR. BOTH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LINES WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE SECOND FAILURE ARE THE TWO SEALS ON THE REAR TAILIGHTS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN WATER DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744279 · 2001-04-19 (April 19, 2001)
I HAD A SEVERE PROBLEM MOVING THE TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE SHIFT BOX IS POSITIONED DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRINK HOLDER. THE NISSAN REPAIR DEPARTMENT LOOKED AT THE SODA RESIDUE AND TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SHIFT BOX FOR $350. I REFUSED AND THEY MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED CHARGE TO MY CREDIT CARD FOR $40. I SPRAYED A DROP OF CLEANER AND THE SHIFT HAS WORKED FLAWLESSLY EVER SINCE. NISSAN STOLE THE $40. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020383 · 2002-10-08 (October 8, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020383 at NHTSA ↗