Total Complaints
141 filings
NISSAN ALTIMA · model year
141 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998NISSANALTIMA carries 141 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 ALTIMA is air bags:frontal with 9 filings, followed by tires (7) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1998 ALTIMA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
141 filings
Crashes Reported
20 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 9 |
| TIRES | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 3 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AS IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONCE IT CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LEFT HAND THAT WAS BLEEDING, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PINE BELT NISSAN OF TOMS RIVER (229-245 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753 (732) 349-3030) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AS IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONCE IT CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LEFT HAND THAT WAS BLEEDING, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PINE BELT NISSAN OF TOMS RIVER (229-245 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753 (732) 349-3030) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL
DRIVING IN SEMI HEAVY RAIN. VEHICLE IN MOTION WHILE TURNING ONTO A STREET, WIPERS WERE AT MEDIUM TO HIGH SPEED. DRIVERS WIPER STOPPED IN MID-STROKE; PASSENGER WIPER RAN OVER DRIVER WIPER. HAVE TAKEN TO SEE PROBLEM: NEEDING COMPLETE WIPER LINKAGE & SET UP.
IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY DRIVE TO COOPER HOSPITAL, THE CAR VEERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, IT IS NOT A STEERING PROBLEM, IT IS UNDERNEATH THE CAR.....PLEASE HELP ME, I WILL GET KILLED IN THIS CAR......IT SEEMS TO WANT TO JUMP TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, NO MATTER THE SPEED. OF COURSE IT IS MORE DISTURBING WHEN ONE IS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD LIKE 676.
Mileage: 142,400
MY CAR WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT 55, 60 MPH. IT DOES IT AT SLOWER SPEEDS TOO BUT WE WERE ALMOST KILLED THIS TIME. IT SEEMS TO WANT TO GO TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. I JUST BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE PERSON NOT TOO LONG AGO.
Mileage: 143,000
I WAS DRIVING MY 98 NISSAN ALTIMA THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THE SIDE WALL OF MY DOUGLAS PERFORMANCE TIRE BLEW OUT DOT #PJAE1YLR0712. I PUT THE DONUT ON MY CAR AND TOOK THE TIRE BACK TO WALMART. IN SPEAKING TO THE SALES PERSON HE SAID THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT WORN DOWN ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. SO THE HAD NO WARRANTY, THESE TIRES WILL ONLY BE 7 MONTHS OLD ON MAY,9,2013. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY BECAUSE I DIDN'T BUY THEIR ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY AT AN ADDITIONAL $10 PER TIRE. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON 9/9/12 I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT THEY ARE 95/65R15. *TR
Mileage: 187,000
TRIED TO FILL GAS TANK, ONLY ACCEPT SMALL AMOUNT BEFORE SPILLING ON GROUND. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Mileage: 179,000
GAS GOES IN VERY SLOWLY WHEN ADDED TO VEHICLE, THEN THERE IS AN OVERFLOW FROM BACK OF PUMP BEFORE THE TANK IS FILLED. I WAS TOLD I HAVE PROBLEM WITH EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM VENT CONTROL CIRCUIT. *TR
Mileage: 179,000
GAS GOES IN VERY SLOWLY WHEN ADDED TO VEHICLE, THEN THERE IS AN OVERFLOW FROM BACK OF PUMP BEFORE THE TANK IS FILLED. I WAS TOLD I HAVE PROBLEM WITH EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM VENT CONTROL CIRCUIT. *TR
Mileage: 179,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL GRINDING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO ADVISED THAT THE STRUT WELD BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE MOUNTING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SWAY BAR, BUSHINGS, MOUNTS AND THE STRUT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,500.
Mileage: 168,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAD FALLEN DOWN AND BLOCKED THE CONTACTS VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUN VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147000.
Mileage: 135,000
VERY HARD TO PUT GASOLINE IN CAR. IT SPITS BACK OUT AT YOU. YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN VERY SLOW. I'VE NOTICE 2 DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE IT MENTIONS, TROUBLE PUTTING GAS IN THESE CARS. BULLETIN DATE: FEB 1998 DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUEL FILL. BULLETIN DATE: MAR 2000 INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUEL FILL. [XXX] INFO REMOVED FROM MY INSURANCE CO. PROGRESSIVE WEBSITE[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND I WAS FOLLOWING TRAFFIC, I WAS GOING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN I HAD TO TAKE A CURVE. I 'GENTLY' HIT BRAKES TO SLOW FOR THE CURVE WHEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP SENDING ME STRAIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE I HIT A HUMMER H3. LUCKILY NEITHER OF US WERE GOING THAT FAST THROUGH THE CURVE SO LITTLE DAMAGE WAS DONE. BUT THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE BREAKS HAD LOCKED UP ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE, YET IT DOESN'T OCCUR VERY OFTEN, INFACT THE ABS HAD CHECK OUT OK A MONTH PRIOR. BUT STILL I THOUGHT ABS WAS INVENTED TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING AND YET I KNOW THE BREAKS LOCK UP WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE. *TR
Mileage: 147,769
1. WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 60 MPH. 2. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR DOWN, ONLY RELEASED AN ODOR AS THE PADS APPEARED TO BE SMOLDERING. ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE FROZEN AND FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. 3. APPLIED BRAKES REPEATEDLY, PULLED ON HAND BRAKE, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL ON OFF SWITCH, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL AND SET SWITCHES. UP UNTIL THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL ANYWAY. BUT, IT APPEARED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND NON-RESPONDING TO THE BRAKES. WENT PAST EXIT AND CONTINUED DOWN HIGHWAY TOWARD GILROY, CA WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF AND I EXITED. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ON THE SAME DAY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC BY PULLING FORCEFULLY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE AUTO SHOP, I WAS SHOWN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED
Mileage: 150,000
1. WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 60 MPH. 2. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR DOWN, ONLY RELEASED AN ODOR AS THE PADS APPEARED TO BE SMOLDERING. ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE FROZEN AND FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. 3. APPLIED BRAKES REPEATEDLY, PULLED ON HAND BRAKE, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL ON OFF SWITCH, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL AND SET SWITCHES. UP UNTIL THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL ANYWAY. BUT, IT APPEARED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND NON-RESPONDING TO THE BRAKES. WENT PAST EXIT AND CONTINUED DOWN HIGHWAY TOWARD GILROY, CA WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF AND I EXITED. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ON THE SAME DAY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC BY PULLING FORCEFULLY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE AUTO SHOP, I WAS SHOWN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED
Mileage: 150,000
1. WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 60 MPH. 2. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR DOWN, ONLY RELEASED AN ODOR AS THE PADS APPEARED TO BE SMOLDERING. ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE FROZEN AND FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. 3. APPLIED BRAKES REPEATEDLY, PULLED ON HAND BRAKE, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL ON OFF SWITCH, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL AND SET SWITCHES. UP UNTIL THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL ANYWAY. BUT, IT APPEARED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND NON-RESPONDING TO THE BRAKES. WENT PAST EXIT AND CONTINUED DOWN HIGHWAY TOWARD GILROY, CA WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF AND I EXITED. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ON THE SAME DAY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC BY PULLING FORCEFULLY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE AUTO SHOP, I WAS SHOWN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED
Mileage: 150,000
EXTENSIVE RUST THROUGH OF LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BRACKET CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO DROP DOWN, DAMAGING COOLANT AND A/C LINES. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SUPPORT, RELATED SUPPORT BRACKETS, AND REPAIR TO A/C SYSTEM. *TR
Mileage: 140,000
GAS SPILLS BACK OUT OF TANK WHEN PUTTING GAS IN TANK. HAVE TO FILL TANK VERY SLOWLY. WAS TOLD THAT THE EVAPORATOR CONTROL VALVE IS PROBLEMATIC IN ALTIMA FROM 1997. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *JB
DURING CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP, VEHICLE BEGAN EMITTING METALLIC WHINING NOISE AND CLICKING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NOT AUDIBLE FROM PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I PERFORMED REGULAR TUNE-UP MAINTENANCE, CHECKED MY VALVE CLEARANCES AND TIMING ADJUSTMENTS. SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED MY VEHICLE AGAIN, MY LOWER TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED. AFTER A LENGTHY DISASSEMBLY, I DISCOVERED THAT A PIECE OF BLACK PLASTIC FROM A CHAIN GUIDE HAD BROKEN AWAY AND FUSED WITH THE CHAIN, CAUSING IT TO SEIZE AND BREAK. ALSO, THE LOWER CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BEEN COMPLETELY EATEN THROUGH BY THE CHAIN (NOT AS A RESULT OF POOR SERVICING; I CHANGED MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES AND CHECKED/TOPPED IT OFF EVERY 2 WEEKS) THE INCIDENT CAUSED $600 IN PARTS DAMAGE, AND COULD EASILY HAVE COST $1500 IN LABOR AT A MECHANIC OR DEALERSHIP. THE CHAIN BREAKAGE DESTROYED MY OIL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, LOWER CHAIN COVER, LOWER CHAIN TENSIONER, GUIDE (BEYOND ORIGINAL BREAKAGE) AND OIL PAN BAFFLE / SUMP TUBE. SINCE NISSAN HAD INITIA
Mileage: 124,666
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE STALL - CRANK POSITION SENSOR
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
DRIVER'S AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE
PASSENGER AIR BAG-RELATED FACIAL/EYE INJ
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.