1996 Nissan Altima

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

• 12/17/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED, HAVE TO GET OUT AND PUSH BUMPER, THEN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND, VEHICLE WOULD THEN START, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER. WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (INVOICES). *AK

• 12/15/1997· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING OVER A HUMP ON THE DRIVEWAY CAUSING UNNECESSARY INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT. DEALER STATED THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS NECESSARY EVEN WITHOUT A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK

• 12/04/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS FLASHING CONTINIOUSLY. AFTER THE BODY WORK WAS REPAIR, THE BODY SHOP TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FLASHING INDICATOR LIGHT. THEY LEARNED THAT THE SENSOR MODULE WAS DAMAGED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY PAID AN ADDITIONAL $500+ TO REPLACE THIS. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY REPLACED IT, AN ERROR MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED WHICH SAID: "PASSENGER AIRBAG DISENGAGED." THUS, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED FROM THE ACCIDENT, ALTHOUGH THE AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT SUSTAINED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT IF THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, IT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. THEIR LOGIC IS THAT THE IMPACT COULDN'T HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. NISSAN REFUSES TO ABSORB THE COST BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. AT PRESENT, WE ARE STILL WITHOUT OUR VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND THIS IS OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

• 12/02/1996· STEERING

  FAILURE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK

• 11/23/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS NOT DRIVING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE AIR BAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED. CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE MAKING, IT WAS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD. *AK

• 11/15/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I CONTACTED A NISSAN DEALER PARTS DEPT. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON, AND THE CAM SENSOR IS NOW REPAIRED IN A NEWLY DESIGNED DISTRIBUTOR, BUT ALL THE ORIGINAL CAM SENSORS IN THE FACTORY DISTRIBUTORS WERE EXPERIENCING A HIGH FAILURE RATE. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE.

• 11/07/1995· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMER INVOLVED IN RECALL 95V173000, TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS ON SPECIFIED DATE OF APPOINTMENT, REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE ON VEHICLE, DUE TO PERSONNEL SHORTAGE.

• 11/05/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  NO SUMMARY

• 11/04/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  NO ACCELERATION WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON. O2 SENSOR REPLACED, IS THAT NORMAL. BRAKES GOING OUT AFTER RECENTLY HAVING THEM FIXED, WHY? *AK

• 11/04/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN STALLING.

• 10/27/1997· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINED BLINKING UNTIL REPAIRED.

• 10/27/1997· AIR BAGS

  AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  TRUNCK LATCH FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· EQUIPMENT

  CIGARETTE LIGHTER COVER FAILED.

• 10/24/2002· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

• 10/19/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  FROM THE MOMENT I'VE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT ONCE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED, THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DO NOT LIGHT PROPERLY. ONE SIDE DOESN'T LIGHT WHILE THE OTHER SIDE DOES. THIS EVENT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS OR RUNNING LIGHTS ON. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS I DRIVE FOR A LIVING AND NOTICE REPEATEDLY THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURS WITH VIRTUALLY EVERY NISSAN ALTIMA THAT I OBSERVE ON THE ROADS. I AM CONCERNED THAT BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE THIS MIGHT CAUSE A FOLLOWING VEHICLE TO NOT SEE THE BRAKE LIGHTS PROPERLY AND STRIKE ME OR I MIGHT RECIEVE A SUMMONS OR POSSIBLY FAIL VEHICLE INSPECTION. DT

• 10/19/1999· AIR BAGS

  WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ABSOLUTELY ANY KIND OF IMPACT, CAUSING $2600 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE INJURIES TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *AK

• 10/18/2001· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  AT FIRST ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. CURRENTLY, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 10/12/1998· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON/OFF.

• 10/10/2000· STEERING

  I WAS DRIVING ONTO THE INTERSTATE, AND I WAS JUST ABOUT OFF THE ON-RAMP AND I HIT A BUMP. MY CAR'S STEERING LOST CONTROL AND IT SPUN AROUND TWICE AND I NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE. THANK GOD I GAINED CONTROL. I CHANGED MY TIRES THE NEXT DAY AND THE STEERING STILL FEELS VERY LOOSE. EVERYTIME I HIT THE SMALLEST BUMP, THE CAR FEELS UNSTABLE. I ALIGNED THE WHELLS FOR $80 AND I AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC SAYS EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE. PLEASE HELP. I NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I DRIVE. IT ALL FEELS VERY LOOSE LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE STEERING AND THE FRONT WHEELS. IN THE RAIN I AM ESPECIALLY SCARED BECUSE IT MAKES IT 10 WORSE.

• 10/04/2000· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. NISSAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, AND THE RADIATOR, AUTO TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY AND THROTTLE VALVE SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD DUE TO CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. NEXT, THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *YH

• 09/24/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE ENGINE REV'S REALLY HIGH. CONSUMER STATES WHEN PULLING OFF VEHICLE WILL JERK LIKE ITS A MANUAL SHIFT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

• 09/23/2000· POWER TRAIN

  HAD CAR TWO MONTHS, EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, TOOK CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, FINALLY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING SOLENOID REPLACED. CON TINUED TO EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER NO TROUBLE CODES FOUND, WOULDN'T ACT UP. FINALLY TRANSMISSION DRIVE GEAR FAILED, RETURNED TO DEALER. NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION, USED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. TWO BLOCKS FROM DEALER AT GAS PUMP CAR FAILS TO START, SHIFTER LINKAGE NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED. RETURNED TO DEALER. NEXT MORNING NOTICED PUDDLE UNDER CAR, TRANSMISSION FLUID. RETURNED TO DEALER. THOUGHT FINALLY IT WAS FIXED. NOPE. EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AGAIN. CALLED DEALER. WILL RETURN MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2000. IN FOUR MONTHS THE CAR HAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES. I FINALLY SUGESTED THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A MISALIGHNMENT BETWEEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, THEY AGREED TO TAKE A LOOK. WE ARE NOW MAKING PAYMENTS ON A $10,000.00 CAR THAT IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING DRIVEN MORE THAN 40 MILES WITHOUT TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING SLIPPING AND IS UNSAFE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET WITH CARS COMING BOTH DIRECTIONS. I AM FED UP!!!! WHAT CAN I DO?*AK

• 09/22/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  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 CRITICAL ASPECT IS THAT THE BURNED/ARC-ED SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR (ELECTRICAL FEED-THROUGH) SITS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND WOULD SIT IN THE FUEL VAPOR WHEN THE FUEL IS LOW IN THE TANK. THIS COMBINATION OF ARCING AND FUEL VAPOR, I BELIEVE, CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE CONSEQUENCES. IT IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSION DID NOT MATERIALIZE. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION, I BELIEVE, DEFINITELY WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE MANUFACTURER AND BY NHTSA. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE DAMAGED PARTS. *JB

• 09/21/2006· TIRES,WHEELS

  1996 ALTIMA LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. *TS *JB

• 09/19/1997· AIR BAGS

  UNSPECIFIED: PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED.

• 09/19/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HIT THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. *AK

• 09/18/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SQUEAKING ON THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES WORKED ON ON 3 OCCASIONS IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD AND THE BRAKES STILL SQUEAK. I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA BRAKES OR IF IT IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH MY CAR. I HAVE HAD NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS PUT ON...SQUEAKED. THEN WE CHANGED TO ORGANIC PADS...SQUEAKED. AT THIS POINT, I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.*AK

• 09/14/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  I HAD JUST MOVED OFF FROM THE LIGHT, WHEN ABOUT HALF-WAY DOWN THE BLOCK, THICK WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM UNDER MY HOOD ONTO MY WINDSHEILD. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER, AND ABANDONED THE CAR. BECAUSE I YANKED THE HOOD RELEASE ON MY WAY OUT OF THE CAR, I SAY BRIGHT YELLOW FLAMES UNDER THE SIDE OF THE HOOD. PER THE FT. LAUDERDALE FIRE DEPT INSPECTOR, THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE AREA OF THE RADIATOR FANS. THAT SHORT CAUGHT THE NEIGHBORING WIRES, RADIATOR FAN AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS ON FIRE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE NISSAN DEALER REPAIR SHOP ALL AGREED THAT THIS WAS WHAT HAPPENED. THE REPAIRS COST ABOUT $7100 AND 2 MONTHS TO FIX. I THANK GOD FOR SAVING MY LIFE. I THINK IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED IT. THE MANUFACTURE CAN CONTACT PLANTATION NISSAN IN PLANTATION FLORIDA REGARDING THIS INCIDENT. I PRAY THAT NISSAN CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO HELP DESIGN SAFER CARS. I JUST TRADED THE CAR BECAUSE I FELT I COULD NO BELIEVE IN ITS REASONABLE SAFETY. PLEASE NOTE: IN FOUR YEARS, THIS WAS THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM THAT I HAD WITH THE CAR.*AK

• 09/13/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 09/13/1996· SUSPENSION

  FRONT END MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, ALSO BALANCED TIRES ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *AK

• 09/10/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICHLE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON APPROXIMATELY 45MPH FRONT END IMPACT CRASH

• 09/10/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE BACK, CAUSING HIM TO REAR END ANOTHER CAR. *AK

• 09/02/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WAS COMING TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ENGINE STARTED RACING, ALMOST TOOK OFF. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES AT TIME. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NEXT DAY & MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF ENGINE RACING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY. *AK

• 09/02/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  INSIDE LATCH FOR TRUNK FAILED.

• 08/29/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  STARTER FAILS TO START PROPERLY WHEN ENGINE IS HOT.

• 08/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT STALLING. *MJS

• 08/28/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY FAILED.

• 08/06/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE REPAIR PERSON SAID THIS PART IS TOO NEW TO GO BAD AND THERE ARE TOO MANY BAD ONES SHOWING UP. THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

• 07/27/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  BRAKES LOST POWER AND AS THE RESULT HAD COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION. YH

• 07/26/1998· STRUCTUREFire

  WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DEALER WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT BURN MARKS INSIDE THE TRUNK, DEALER CLAIMED THAT IT WAS GREASE. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE OWNER OPENED TRUNK AND SAW CARPET BURNING AND MELTING. VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

• 07/24/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RIGHT-ANGLED FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK *CB

• 07/22/1998· AIR BAGS

  CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE HAS IDENTIFIED CAUSE OF NISSAN AIR BAG MODULAR FAILURE.

• 07/21/2000· AIR BAGS

  WHILE TRAVLING AND WHEN MAKING A SHORT STOP AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 07/16/2004· AIR BAGS

  I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DEVELOPED A PROBLEM, I.E. THE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT - IT CONTINUED TO FLASH. UPON DIAGNOSIS BY THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE A MALFUNCTIONING CONTROL MODULE. THIS WILL CAUSE THE UNIT TO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. I HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT NISSAN HAS HAD PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE AIR BAG SYSTEMS, AND MY PROBLEM MAY BE A CONTINUATION OF THESE.*AK

• 07/16/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION LEVER EASILY MOVED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL.

• 07/14/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVER HIT THE BACK SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

• 07/13/2004· AIR BAGS

  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 TO HAVE THE LIGHT RESET, AS THIS WOULD DETERRMINE IF THE MODULAR THAT I GOT WAS ANY GOOD. IF LIGHT DIDN'T RESET THEN THAT MODULAR WAS NOT GOOD. IT WAS LAST YEAR WHEN THE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND I HAVE NOT AS YET FOUND A MODULAR IN A JUNK YARD. *LA

• 07/11/1997· STRUCTURE

  WHEN TRUNK WAS RAISED, IT SMASHED THE REAR WINDOW. WHEN OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ACORDING TO SPECS. *SLC

• 07/03/1996· POWER TRAIN

  MAN-TRAN: WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR, WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO 5TH GEAR, A TRANSMISSION PART WAS PUT IN BACKWARDS AT MANUFACTURER, NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT*AK