U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

160 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

83,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 160 complaints (11.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	19	11.9%
Engine operation	18	11.3%
Transmission and shifting	8	5.0%
Electrical and battery issues	6	3.8%
Steering behavior	5	3.1%
Fuel system concerns	4	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.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Electrical System

Vehicle Speed Control

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Tires

Tires:Tread/Belt

Air Bags

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling	19
Electrical System	16
Vehicle Speed Control	15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	10
Tires	9
Tires:Tread/Belt	9
Air Bags	8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	8

Engine And Engine Cooling: 19; Electrical System: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Tires: 9; Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Air Bags: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 12

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 76 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2000: 14; 2001: 28; 2002: 15; 2003: 12; 2004: 16; 2005: 7; 2006: 6; 2007: 7; 2008: 16; 2009: 13; 2010: 5; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 4

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10016211 · 2003-04-19 (April 19, 2003)

CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHEN STOPPED OR STOPPING. THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. CAR WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE TURNED OFF. ON RESTART ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016211 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068330 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)

I HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 DANGEROUS INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN UNANTICIPATED ACCELERATION WITH MY 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA SE [XXX]. THE FIRST, WITNESSED BY MY HUSBAND & SON, OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 26, 2003. APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, I SLOWED TO A STOP WITH MY FOOT SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED ALARMINGLY AND THE CAR TRIED TO LURCH THROUGH THE LIGHT. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RACING INCREASED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE HEAD MECHANIC AT OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAD NO IDEAS. AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT, I TOOK THE CAR BACK. THE NE…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068330 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10076166 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076166 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10163901 · 2006-07-30 (July 30, 2006)

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING IDLE TO FLUCTUATE, INTERMITTENT STALLING 2000 ALTIMA WITH 57000 MILES, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT DUE TO THE EGR PIPE RUNNING TO CLOSE TO CYLINDER 4 AREA OF THE MANIFOLD. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL ALTIMAS 1998-2001. NISSAN SHOULD REPAIR AS RECALL, THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 57,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163901 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10237429 · 2008-08-08 (August 8, 2008)

2000 NISSAN ALTIMA BOUGHT NEW AND FAITHFULLY MAINTAINED AT DEALERSHIP (TRI-CITY NISSAN TALLMADGE OHIO) HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ONLY 50,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP OFFERS NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS UNHEARD OF PROBLEM. NISSAN HEADQUARTERS TELLS ME THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF REPAIR B/C IT IS UNHEARD OF. I WAIT (WITHOUT A CAR) FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEN HEADQUARTERS SAYS THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. WHEN I GET REPAIR (OVER $3K) THE SHOP SAYS DEFECTIVE GEAR AND I NOW HAVE THE PART. IF SOMEONE CAN'T HELP ME WITH THIS I AM GOING TO SUE NISSAN WITH PUNITIVE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237429 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10903163 · 2016-09-01 (September 1, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG STRUCK HER IN THE FACE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FLICKERED ON AND OFF PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN …

Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10903163 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10028490 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)

2000 NISSAN ALTIMA - ALTERNATOR 'OVERCHARGED' THE BATTERY, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO EXPLODE. LUCKILY THE HOOD WAS DOWN AND THE ENGINE WAS COLD, OTHERWISE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH AND/OR A CAR FIRE, DUE TO THE ACID CONTENT OF THE BATTERY.NO 'WARNING' WAS GIVEN OF THE ALTERNATOR OVERCHARGING. THIS SHOULD BE THE CASE, AS IT IS WITH THE WARNING OF THE ALTERNATOR UNDERCHARGING THE BATTERY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 49,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028490 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10053481 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BRUISES. *AK THE BUMPER HAD FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE, DESTROYED THE RADIATOR AND THE BATTERY WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE AREA. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053481 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10441217 · 2011-12-26 (December 26, 2011)

WHILE GOING 75MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE GAUGES (RPM, MPH, FUEL, ENGINE TEMP) DROPPED DOWN TO ZERO. ONLY THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS REMAINED ON. ALL WHILE A COMBINATION OF #'S AND LETTERS CAME UP ON THE ODOMETER (EVEN THE ODOMETER WENT BLANK). IT WAS A SHOCK AND I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THIS. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL VIA THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AS SOON AS I DID IT THIS CAUSED ALL THE GAUGES TO COME BACK TO LIFE INCLUDING THE ODOMETER. VERY WEIRD ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 178,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441217 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10659288 · 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)

TRAVELING W/ FLOW OF TRAFFIC WHEN TURN HEAD FOR SPLIT SECOND NOT REALIZING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME STALLED, SO SHE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR FLASHERS, NEVERTHELESS I SLAMMED INTO THE THAT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT WRAPPED MYSELF AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY HEAD FLEW OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND BACK UNTO THE SEAT. BUT NEVER DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOY TO HOLD ME IN PLACE. MY INJURIES WHERE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SINCE MY CHEST AND NECK WERE BRUISED. MY ARMS WERE DIFFICULT TO MOVE. MY HEAD WAS POUNDING ALONG WITH MY JAWS IN PAIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659288 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10295281 · 2009-12-10 (December 10, 2009)

OUR NISSAN ALTIMA GLE 2000 CAUGHT ON FIRE - ENGINE EXPLODED AND THE FULL FRONT OF THE CAR IS MELTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE HUGE FIRE BEFORE IT REACHED THE GAS TANK OTHERWISE OUR HOUSE WOULD NOT EXIST ANYMORE. AND WE WOULD ALL BE DEAD. AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION WE HAD NOT ENTERED THE CAR THAT WAS WARMING UP IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. INSURANCE COMPANY IS INVESTIGATING. I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295281 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10296182 · 2009-12-17 (December 17, 2009)

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL SEEMED NORMAL, UNTIL I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO REFUEL. SURPRISINGLY I COULD NOT GET MORE THAN 1/4 GALLON INTO THE TANK BEFORE THE PUMP KICKED OFF AND GASOLINE SPIT OUT OF THE FILLER NECK AND ALL OVER THE GROUND. MY FUEL GAUGE WAS AT ABOUT 1/4 TANK, SO I KNEW I NEEDED ABOUT 11 GALLONS. I CONTINUED TO PUT FUEL INTO THE TANK AT A VERY SLOW RATE, AND THE PUMP KEPT KICKING OFF AND FUEL SPITTING OUT OF THE TANK FILLER NECK. I FINALLY GOT 8 GALLONS INTO THE TANK AND SO I STOPPED THERE. SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE GAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296182 at NHTSA ↗