1996 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012193 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
WHEN CHANGING THE VEHICLES GEARS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO FORWARD AND NOT REVERSE DUE TO A BURNED OUT CLUTCH. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013880 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022384 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024923 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RIGHT-ANGLED FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024923 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 10051529 · 2004-01-02 (January 2, 2004)
RE: NISSAN ALTIMA 1996: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS TOO NEW TO GO BAD AND THERE ARE TOO MANY BAD ONES SHOWING UP. I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A VERY HIGH COST TO ME, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067876 · 2004-04-26 (April 26, 2004)
I BOUGHT MY PRE-OWNED 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH MY TRUNK WHEN IT RAINS. THE RAIN WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK THROUGH THE REAR LIGHTS. I HAD THE SEAL CHECKED AND THAT WAS OKAY. I WENT TO TRADE IN THE CAR, FOR AN UPGRADE, AND THEY HAD ASKED ME ABOUT THE REAR LIGHTS. THEY HAD SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS TRUE AND IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080934 · 2004-07-13 (July 13, 2004)
AIR BAG MODULE. LIGHT ON DASH STARTED TO FLASH . TOOK CAR TO DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIRBAG MODULAR AFTER THEY CHECK OUT THE COMPUTER. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND HE SAID NO. I ASKED IF THIS WAS COMMON AND HE SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR. THE PART COST OVER $550.00 NOT INSTALLED. HE TOLD ME TO TRY TO FIND ONE IN A JUNK YARD, TOLD ME HOW TO REMOVE AND INSTALL SAME AND EVEN OFFERED TO LET ME BORROW THE SPECIAL TOOL NEEDED TO REMOVE AND INSTALL SAME. THEN I WAS TO BRING BACK CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080934 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.