1993 Nissan Altima

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXTERIOR PARTS - EXHAUST SYSTEM, T-BAR - RUSTED AND COMPANY CLAIMS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH A 6-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND COMPANY WAS CONTACTED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY CLAIM THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND T-BAR MUST NOW BE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE OF PART. MECHANICS STATE THAT T-BAR AREA WAS NEVER PROPERLY RUST-PROOFED BY MANUFACTURER. THIS PIECE SUPPORTS THE ENGINE MOUNT AND RADIATOR, WHEN DELEAR WAS VISITED THEY STATED THAT COMPANY WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE. A PHONE CALL AND LETTER WERE SENT TO COMPANY AND COMPANY REPLIED IT WAS NOT THEIR BUSINESS. CAR RADIO HAD TO REPLACED DUE TO A VOLUME CONTROL DEFECT, COMPANY ONCE AGAIN STATED NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

• 12/19/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ON ABOUT FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, ENGINE HAS ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RPM UNINITIATED BY THE DRIVER. EACH OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND STARTED BACKING UP. SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE, BUT ONLY WITH DIFFICULTY. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS TAKEN OUT OF REVERSE, THE ENGINE ACCELARATION STOPS. ONLY ONE TIME DID THE SYMPTON RETURN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO REVERSE A SECOND TIME. *AK

• 12/14/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE IS LEAKING MOTOR OIL BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE O-RINGS. TT

• 12/11/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND, THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP, BOLTS ON CALIPERS CAME OUT, CALIPER DROPPED AND BROKE. *AK

• 12/09/1997· SEAT BELTS

  LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES ARE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND NOT WORKING.

• 12/05/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED THE DRIVER'S ELBOW. TT

• 11/27/1994· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  ENGINE MOVEMENT CAUSED THROTTLE CABLE TO PULL OUT OF WALL PRIOR TO RECALL, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD

• 11/27/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED.

• 11/24/2000· STRUCTURE

  THE FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR UNLOCKS. IT DOESN'T LOCK AGAIN. LUCKLY, FOUND IT WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. *AK

• 11/20/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES. *AK *ML

• 11/18/1996· VISIBILITY

  VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND REAR WINDOW EXPLODED, REPLACED REAR WINDOW THREE TIMES. *AK

• 11/17/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER NOTICED OIL SPOTS IN PARKING LOT, AND IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC OIL PAN WAS WORN OUT, AND OIL WAS JUST RUNNING OUT FROM BACK OF IT.*AK

• 11/13/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNT BROKE FROM THE FIREWALL. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CASE NUMBER 3927452 FOR NISSAN. MR. THE MOUNT WAS ABOUT 2 INCHES TALL AND PROVIDES THE PIVOT POINT, AND WITHOUT IT, THE MECHANISM DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED PULLING THE CARPET, REMOVING THE STEERING COLUMN, AND MOVING THE DASH BOARD TO GAIN ACCESS TO A EXTREMELY TIGHT AREA TO AVOID A FIRE/MELT RISK. SCC *JB

• 11/13/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  TRUNK LID OPENED BEYOND DESIGN EXTENSION AND FLEW BACK INTO REAR WINDOW,SHATTERING REAR WINDOW/PIECES OF GLASS FELL OVER CHILD IN SAFETY SEAT. *TT

• 11/12/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP FAILED AT INTERSECTION. NLM

• 11/09/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  EXCESSIVE WEARING OF BRAKE PADS CAUSED FRONT BRAKE FAILURE.

• 11/08/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS FAILED US TWICE ONCE WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CAR FOR NO REASON IT HAPPENED ON OR AROUND 09/1997 AND THEN AGAIN 10/1999 THE TAIL PIPE KEEPS BREAKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

• 11/01/2001· AIR BAGS

  WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO WHILE AT BODY SHOP SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS DAMAGED, DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT SENSOR, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. *AK *TT

• 10/21/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE PULLING VEHICLE INSIDE OF GARAGE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, HIT THE GARAGE WALL, AND WENT THROUGH THE HOUSE. NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES REPORTED.*AK

• 10/20/1997· VISIBILITY,AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH, WHEN WINDOWS FOGGED UP & SUN IN FACE; STARTED TO PROCEED TO SIDE OF ROAD TO CLEAR WINDOW., WHEN VEHICLE REARENDED A SEMI; UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT OF VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

• 10/16/2006· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE THROTTLE GEAR INCREASED DRAMATICALLY ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WAS PERMANENTLY STUCK ON HIGH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CABLES AND ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 11/9/2006 - THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILUERE WAS RELATED TO RECALL 94V035000. THE RECALL INDICATED THAT ENGINE MOVEMENT CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE AIRFLOW METER/FILTER HOUSING AND SUPPORT BRACKET, WHICH IS MOUNTED IN THE ENGINE AIR DUCT, CAUSING THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE CABLE GUIDE. THIS MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE MMANUFACTURER DENIED AND RESPONSIBILITY. *NM

• 10/11/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  GAS PEDAL BRACKET ATTACHED TO FIREWALL BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CAUSING ACCELARATOR TO GET STUCK AT 25 MPH. GAS PEDAL RELEASED FROM WHERE IT WAS WELDED ON THE FIREWALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 10/07/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REMOVE FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, LEAVING VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

• 10/06/1998· TIRES

  MY TIRES ALSO WEAR TOO EASILY....LESS THEN 300 K MILES....MY CONCERN IS THE IGNITION KEY SWITCH AND THE AUTOMATIC STICK SHIFT DOES NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE EASILY....IT SEEMS TO JAM..

• 10/05/1999· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A BAD AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT'S WHY THE LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

• 10/05/1998· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THE BELT GETS STUCK, AND CONSUMER HAS TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE BELT AND UNLOOSEN IT TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED, AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/05/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  COOLING FAN BLADE HIT THE RADIATOR AND PUT A HOLE IN IT, RADIATOR WAS RUNNING HOT, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE SAME PROBLEM AS DEFECT. *AK

• 10/04/1995· SEAT BELTSCrash

  AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP DURING FRONTAL COLLISION; RAN RED LIGHT, BROADSIDED ANOTHER MOVING VEHICLE. TT

• 10/03/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  OIL LEAK DEVELOPED AT ENGINE TIMING COVER. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR OVER $2000. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED BUT DENIED THERE WERE ANY OPEN SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBEM AND DECLINED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR DESPITE THERE BEING A BULLETIN NUMBER NTB95058A ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM IN THE NHTSA DATABASE.*AK

• 09/28/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  AFTER A RAIN STORM HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS FULL OF WATER, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BURN, WHICH COULD BURN THE BULB AND CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 09/20/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET ALL SPOT WELDS BROKE AWAY FROM FLOORBOARD. *AK

• 09/18/1996· SEAT BELTS

  SHOULDER BELT OVERTIGHTENS AND CANNOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK

• 09/13/2000· TIRES

  ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE HAD TREAD SEPERATION. THE FIRST TIRE SEPERATED IN JUNE OF 00, THE OTHER THREE TIRES SEPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, LATE JULY, AND AUGUST. THE TIRES WERE PRO-RATED BY A FIRESTONE TIRE DEALER AND REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY IN LIGHT OF THE OTHER SEPERATION PROBLEM OF FIRESTONE TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: M+S TIRE SIZE: 205-60R-14 )

• 09/12/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE POWER STEERING BRACKET WAS NOT MOUNTED TO THE CYLINDER HEAD BLOCK DUE TO BROKEN AND MISSING MOUNTS/BOLTS, CAUSING NOISE. *MJS

• 09/01/2003· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  1993 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED. BODY SHOP & INSURANCE ESTIMATOR INDICATE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE PARKED ALTIMA WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN 35 MPH. THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS (SEATBELTS) FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE, AND THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. THE ALTIMA WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE QUARTER PANEL/BUMPER - AREA SURROUNDING FUEL CAP. ODDLY ENOUGH, AFTER THE BODY WORK WAS COMPLETED, THE MERCURY SWITCH THAT IS DESIGNED TO LOCK THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS IN PLACE DURING A CRASH HAD BEEN TRIPPED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER. WHEN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UPON PICKING UP THE ALTIMA I NOTICED A RED AIRBAG LIGHT SOLIDLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS CONDITION THAT DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO THEIR REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SENSOR IN THE TRUNK, THEY INVESTIGATED. THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF, BUT INDICATED THAT THE "AIRBAG CONTROLLER CARD (ACC)" ESSENTIALLY A CIRCUIT BOARD WAS FAULTY - OR WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY UNLESS I REPLACED IT. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THE REASON IT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WAS BECAUSE THE "ACC" WAS NOT SEALED AND AS A RESULT WAS PRONE TO TOTAL FAILURE ON A VERY HOT OR COLD DAY. THE MANAGER INDICATED FURTHER THAT WHEN HE HAD BEEN A MECHANIC HE HAD SEEN MANY ALTIMA'S, SENTRA'S AND A FEW OTHER MODELS THAT USED THE SAME VERSION "ACC" AND THAT NISSAN HAD BEEN REPLACING THEM ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, THEY CHOSE TO TELL ME THAT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY OR EVEN OUTSIDE WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PART, AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS PART HAVING A HISTORY OF FAILURE. I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT IF MY AIRBAG IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT THE HARD WAY.*AK

• 08/29/2000· STRUCTURE

  THE FRONT FRAME MEMBER HAS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT OF BEING STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND BASED ON INSPECTION BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND A WELDING SHOP. THE DEALER SAID "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT." THE REST OF THE UNDERBODY IS FREE OF RUST SUGGESTING A DEFECTIVE PART OR DESIGN. THE FRAME MEMBER PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ONE OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS

• 08/24/2005· STRUCTURE

  DT: THE CALLER SAID THE ENGINE SUPPORT FRAME MEMBER RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CAR WASH, AND WHEN HE SPRAYED THE SUPPORT THE PAINT WAS WASHED AWAY, AND IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE FRAME MEMBER. CAR WAS PURCHASED AT AN AUCTION, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

• 08/24/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 08/24/1998· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BELT BECAME VERY TIGHT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO GET TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. ALSO THE SHOULDER BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE OCCUPANT'S NECK. BELT HAD TO BE CUT TO REMOVE CHILD OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 08/11/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLES GAS PEDAL BRACKET BROKE OFF THE FIRE WALL WHILE DRIVING. TT

• 08/06/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I HEAR A BANGING/ KNOCKING NOISE WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND WHILE COSTING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT MAY BE BUT IT IS SCARY. I RECENTLY HAD MY FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES REPLACED I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE KNOCKING WHICH STARTED AFTER THE BRAKE JOB OR IF IT WAS A PROBLEM ALREADY WAITING TO HAPPEN. HELP!!!*AK

• 08/06/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHEN FILLING CAR WITH GASOLINE AND FUEL DOOR IS OPENED CONSUMER HAS SPOTTED RUST. THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE IS STARTING TO RUST OUT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM. *AK

• 08/02/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  REPLACED BATTERY. *AK

• 07/30/2002· AIR BAGS

  AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM.*AK

• 07/30/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  GAS PEDAL BROKE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

• 07/27/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WAITING FOR PARKING SPACE TO BACK INT,. STARTED TO SHIFT WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. IF ENGINE TURNED OFF, NO BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD PULLED OUT OF HOUSING. WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FIRE WALL. *AK

• 07/25/1995· VISIBILITY

  PURCHASE CAR USED IT WAS PARK THE FRONT WINDSHEILD WAS CRACK DEALER DON'T WANT TO CHECK IT NOT UNDER WARRANTY . TT

• 07/19/1995· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *AK

• 07/14/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THROTTLE CABLE STUCK, CAUSING EXTREME ENGINE RPM. VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, STRUCK SEMI-TRUCK IN FRONT, WAS SPUN AROUND AND STRUCK BRIDGE SIDE GOING BACKWARDS. VEHICLE TOOK OFF AGAIN WITH WHEELS SPINNING UNTIL DRIVER PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE SUFFERED DAMAGES.

• 07/10/1997· VISIBILITY

  ALL POWER WINDOWS GO UP/DOWN BY THEMSELVES. *AK