1999 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
80 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
99,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 80 complaints (8.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
Tires: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Air Bags: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Suspension: 4; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4
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 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 50 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 | 24 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 24; 2001: 9; 2002: 13; 2003: 9; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2013: 1; 2018: 5; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10163526 · 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)
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 INS…
Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551596 · 2000-03-29 (March 29, 2000)
BRAKES REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235361 · 2008-07-22 (July 22, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10235361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723920 · 2000-06-12 (June 12, 2000)
TRANS AXLE SNAPPED IN HALF, TAKING SUSPENSION AND STEERING KNUCKLE WITH IT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016105 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HEARD A BOOM NOISE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE BATTERY EXPLODED WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO OPEN WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY BLACK SMOKE. THIS BATTERY WAS A NISSAN PERMANENT SEALED BATTERY WHICH WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *NLM *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073631 · 2018-02-19 (February 19, 2018)
THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED MY CAR TO CATCH FIRE IN THE TRUNK ARE
Owner-reported narrative. 225,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192951 · 2007-06-11 (June 11, 2007)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10192951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 870694 · 2000-09-15 (September 15, 2000)
WHEN CONSUMER WOUND PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT MADE A NOISE. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DROVE VEHICLE UP A HILL, AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 870694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222038 · 2008-03-22 (March 22, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10521212 · 2013-06-22 (June 22, 2013)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204252 · 2007-09-27 (September 27, 2007)
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. …
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363619 · 2020-10-09 (October 9, 2020)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 255,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363619 at NHTSA ↗