NISSAN ALTIMA · model year

1999 NISSAN ALTIMA

110 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999NISSANALTIMA carries 110 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 29 crashes, 3 fires, 23 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 1999 ALTIMA is air bags:frontal with 9 filings, followed by tires (7) and vehicle speed control (6). 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 1999 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.

110
Complaints
29
Crashes
3
Fires
23
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

110 filings

Crashes Reported

29 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL9
TIRES7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC6
TIRES:TREAD/BELT5
SUSPENSION4
AIR BAGS4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY3
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS2

Recent Complaints

20201009SERVICE BRAKES

KEEP HAVING TROUBLE SMELLING GAS. INSIDE THE CAR AND FUEL PUMP AND THE EXHAUST GAS AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IT KEEPS MESSING WITH THEIR ASTHMA SPENDING TO MUCH MONEY KEEP GETTING IT FIXED.

Mileage: 255,900

20201009FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

KEEP HAVING TROUBLE SMELLING GAS. INSIDE THE CAR AND FUEL PUMP AND THE EXHAUST GAS AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IT KEEPS MESSING WITH THEIR ASTHMA SPENDING TO MUCH MONEY KEEP GETTING IT FIXED.

Mileage: 255,900

20181126CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN ACROSS THE CONTACT'S LANE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT LATER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT CALLED DARTMOUTH NISSAN AT 508-996-3200 (LOCATED AT 483 STATE RD, NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA 02747) AND WAS INFORMED OF AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT'S ATTORNEY TOOK OVER FURTHER INTERACTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Mileage: 43,000

20180526TIRES

TIRE ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS FLATERED SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF COLLAPSED COIL SPRING STRUT AND SUSPENSION

Mileage: 111,000

20180524SUSPENSION

BROKEN COIL AND FRONT SUSPENSION EXPLODED ALSO CAUSING TIRE TO FLATTEN SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF AAA MECHANIC DETERMINED IF I WAS DRIVING AT TIME OF INCIDERDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL SO I CAN GET IT FIXED AT NO COST TO ME MY CAR IS MY SURVIVAL CAR WAS IN STATIONARY MODE

Mileage: 111,000

20180524WHEELS

BROKEN COIL AND FRONT SUSPENSION EXPLODED ALSO CAUSING TIRE TO FLATTEN SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF AAA MECHANIC DETERMINED IF I WAS DRIVING AT TIME OF INCIDERDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL SO I CAN GET IT FIXED AT NO COST TO ME MY CAR IS MY SURVIVAL CAR WAS IN STATIONARY MODE

Mileage: 111,000

20180523SUSPENSION

BROKEN AND COLLAPSED COIL ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SUSPENSION IN CARPORT STATIONARY POSITION

Mileage: 111,000

20180523WHEELS

BROKEN AND COLLAPSED COIL ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SUSPENSION IN CARPORT STATIONARY POSITION

Mileage: 111,000

20180219FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED MY CAR TO CATCH FIRE IN THE TRUNK ARE

Mileage: 225,000

20130622ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 99 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE IS STALLING WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM SCARED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AND THAT SOMEONE MAY HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP 3 DAYS THIS WEEK AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

20101006STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20100805VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE LINKAGE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20100302VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

Mileage: 100,200

20100210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

20090610FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V435000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE SEVERAL HOURS FOR THE REPAIR. THE FOLLOWING DAY HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

20090108ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

NISSAN 98-2001 ALTIMA I OWN A 99 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH HAS HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM FOR APPROX 2 YRS .DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND VERY COMMON FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET TO LEAK ...PLEASE LOOK AT CAR COMPLAINTS.COM...I HAVE BEEN SMELLING FUMES INSIDE CAR AT TIMES AND NOW I KNOW THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE NISSANS FOR DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING . I AM HAVING MINE REPLACED BUT HAVE READ OF MANY GOING AGAIN AND A THIRD ...NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FLAW .. THANKYOU ...HAVING TO PAY FOR THERE FLAW MAKES ME ANGRY .. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

20080722CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN WE WERE TAUGHT HOW TO DRIVE WE WERE TOLD TO PLACE OUR HANDS AT THE 10 AND 2 O'CLOCK POSITION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF THAT IS WHERE YOUR HANDS ARE AT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG IT THROWS YOUR LEFT ARM AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND IT'S FRAME WHICH RESULTS IN BROKEN ARMS AND WRISTS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING FOR THIS. *TR

20080322ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY ALTIMA IDLES VERY ROUGH, WHICH FEELS AS IF IT WERE ABOUT TO STALL. IT SHAKES THE WHOLE CAR AND IS SLOW AND SHAKING DURING ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS A MISFIRE IN CYL #4. ON THE INTERNET, EVERYONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I READ THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW BY NISSAN AND THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED IT, BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. I NOW HAVE TO PAY A REPAIR SHOP TO FIX NISSAN'S PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20070927FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCEPT HALF TO THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK OF FUEL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER TUBE WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO BE FILLED, WITHOUT FUEL ESCAPING FROM THE TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE SAME COMPONENT OF OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES EXCEPT HIS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ

Mileage: 75,000

20070813ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE FAILING, BUT WOULD NOT SPECIFY EXACTLY WHICH COILS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Mileage: 68,000

Compare 1999NISSANALTIMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
The 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA has 110 NHTSA complaints, 29 crashes, 3 fires, 23 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The most-complained component for the 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.