1998 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
94,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 84 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 13.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 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 | 7 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Tires: 5; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Suspension: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 55 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2000: 15; 2001: 11; 2002: 11; 2003: 19; 2004: 7; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2013: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 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 10043471 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
POWER LOCKS GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, MAKING ALL KINDS OF RACKET AND BUZZING SOUNDS, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF!! HAVE TO PLAY WITH KEY AND LOCKS TO GET INTO THE CAR... FUEL DOOR OPENS ON OWN REPEATEDLY, WON'T STAY SHUT. BRAKES MAKE A DEEP GROWLING SOUND WHEN GENTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT...I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 11/4/03 TO GET THIS REPAIRED..I SHUDDER AT WHAT THIS WILL COST...ANY ADVICE PLEASE EMAIL ME [email removed]. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292115 · 2009-11-13 (November 13, 2009)
1. WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 60 MPH. 2. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR DOWN, ONLY RELEASED AN ODOR AS THE PADS APPEARED TO BE SMOLDERING. ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE FROZEN AND FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. 3. APPLIED BRAKES REPEATEDLY, PULLED ON HAND BRAKE, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL ON OFF SWITCH, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL AND SET SWITCHES. UP UNTIL THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL ANYWAY. BUT, IT APPEARED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND NON-RESPONDING TO THE BRAKES. WENT PAST EXIT AND CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017114 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
JULY OF 2002 (DAYS BEFORE MY VACATION) MY ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. I WAS UNDER AN THIRD PARTY SERVICE AGREEMENT AND WAS TOWED 25 MILES FROM WORK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WIRES IN/ AROUND THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRES CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON THE FUEL PUMP, IN TURN THE FUEL PUMP ALSO HAD FAILED. NOT ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED COMPONENTS. THE EXACT SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2002, HOWEVER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND ALL COSTS WERE NOW MY RESP…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023738 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
I CANNOT FILL GAS INTO MY GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK ALSO SPLURTS OUT GAS WHENEVER THIS IS ATTEMPTED CREATING A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014032 · 2003-04-06 (April 6, 2003)
SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED. USUALLY HAPPENED AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME, STOPPED AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART. ONE TIME IT WOULDN'T START EVEN WITH A JUMP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALL READINGS FOR BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CAME BACK NORMAL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093897 · 2004-10-10 (October 10, 2004)
THE CAR WAS IDLE AT A RED LIGHT WHEN IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY (ENGINE, RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC). IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I GOT A JUMP AND IT STARTED. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED FINE. I LET IT IDLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT WAS OKAY. I DROVE IT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT DIED AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. NONE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SHOWED ANYTHING WRONG (BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ETC. WERE OKAY). THEY DROVE IT AND IT DID NOT DIE AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS EITHER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051050 · 2017-11-28 (November 28, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AS IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONCE IT CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LEFT HAND THAT WAS BLEEDING, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073553 · 2004-05-12 (May 12, 2004)
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. IT INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. DEALER HAD VEHICLE ON 3 DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES, AND IT JUST SHOWED THAT #4 CYLINDER NEEDED SERVICING. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS HAD BEEN CHECKED A NUMBER OF TIMES AND STILL NOT REPAIRED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8011310 · 2002-06-07 (June 7, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIR CONDITIONING WAS LEAKING COOLANT INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8011310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853157 · 2016-04-03 (April 3, 2016)
IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY DRIVE TO COOPER HOSPITAL, THE CAR VEERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, IT IS NOT A STEERING PROBLEM, IT IS UNDERNEATH THE CAR.....PLEASE HELP ME, I WILL GET KILLED IN THIS CAR......IT SEEMS TO WANT TO JUMP TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, NO MATTER THE SPEED. OF COURSE IT IS MORE DISTURBING WHEN ONE IS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD LIKE 676.
Owner-reported narrative. 142,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742485 · 2001-03-15 (March 15, 2001)
I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE NO STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH + THE VEHICLE DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE AT THOSE SPEEDS BUT ITS TOUGH TO CORRECT SINCE THE STEERING IS SO LOOSE. IT RECENTLY HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742485 at NHTSA ↗