NISSAN ALTIMA · model year

2001 NISSAN ALTIMA

202 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001NISSANALTIMA carries 202 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 29 crashes, 2 fires, 32 injuries, and 7 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 2001 ALTIMA is engine and engine cooling with 22 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system (14) and engine and engine cooling:engine (12). 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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2001 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.

202
Complaints
29
Crashes
2
Fires
32
Injuries
7
Deaths

Total Complaints

202 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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING22
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL9
SUSPENSION9
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
SUSPENSION:REAR8
AIR BAGS8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
ENGINE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE4

Recalls (2)

01V06500023/02/2001

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H TIRES. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459,

07E07400014/09/2007

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. DS517-B001L AND DS517-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OPTICEL SURFACE OF THE REFLECTOR IS CORRODED INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETR

Recent Complaints

20191002SERVICE BRAKES

THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA IS VERY LOW LOUD NOISE. THE CAR RATTLES AND SHAKE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION

Mileage: 203,000

20191002VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA IS VERY LOW LOUD NOISE. THE CAR RATTLES AND SHAKE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION

Mileage: 203,000

20191002SUSPENSION

THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA IS VERY LOW LOUD NOISE. THE CAR RATTLES AND SHAKE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION

Mileage: 203,000

20191002ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND IT SWAYED WHILE BEING DRIVEN, ESPECIALLY AROUND A CURVE. THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20191002SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND IT SWAYED WHILE BEING DRIVEN, ESPECIALLY AROUND A CURVE. THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20171225ENGINE

I HAVE BEEN READING COMPLAINT SECTION MY CAR DOES THE SAME THING STARTING THE ENGINE IT STARTS TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER . SOME TIMES I CAN GIVE IT MORE GAS AND IT MAY STOP OR WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING WHEN IT DOES IT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I PUT IT IN PARK AND STEP ON THE GAS PEDDLE, THIS USUALE STOPS THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY FEW MONTHS OR SO. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS COLD, BUT NOT THE CASE . IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. I HAVE LOW MILES ON IT ABOUT 77,5000. I SEE SOME PEOPLE THINK IT IS A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM AND I HAVE THE SAME ISSURE

20170221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, EMISSIONS CONTROL, AND SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20161023CrashSUSPENSION

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR AND MY TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TURNED OUT WORD AND THEN HIT A CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I REALIZED THAT THE CAR HAD COME APART AT THE CONTROL ARM , AT THE HUB AND THE TRANSAXLE HAD SEPARATED AS WELL. FOUND THESE PARTS AT THE PLACE I PARK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND THE OTHER ONE ABOUT 50FEET FROM WHERE THE CAR CAME APART. *TR

Mileage: 169,000

20160928SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE AXLE AND SWAY WELDINGS FAILED, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE'S REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 01/06/2017*CT *TR

Mileage: 187,000

20160928SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE AXLE AND SWAY WELDINGS FAILED, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE'S REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 01/06/2017*CT *TR

Mileage: 187,000

20151229ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 150,000

20150521CrashAIR BAGS

SOME DRIVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO A DUI, AND HIS CAR WAS STRADDLED ACROSS THE LEFT LANE AND I HIT IT AS I CAME AROUND THE BEND AT APPR. 11:30 P.M. IN A DARK SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND I AND MY SON WAS JERKED, BUT WE WERE BOTH WEARING OUR SEATBELTS. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. WE WERE NEARLY WIPED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. THOUGH MY LOCKED UP BRAKES CAUSED ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THE NEXT LANE, THUS HITTING THE CAR, IF I HAD MADE IT TO THE LANE TO THE RIGHT OF ME, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT, TRUST ME. THOUGH THIS HAPPENED NEARLY 9 YEARS AGO, IT STILL HAPPENED AND I STILL HAVE MY NISSAN. MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING AND THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. ALSO, MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALWAYS GO OUT, WAY MORE THAN THEY SHOULD AND THEY WERE POORLY DESIGNED. THE WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS GO UP OR DOWN EITHER.

Mileage: 130,000

20141119ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK WHEN I HEARD A CRANKING/SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, I STOPPED AND CHECKED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT NOTICED THAT ANYTIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES/MAKE A TURN THE SOUND WILL COME ON, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNT AND ALSO THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEEN AFFECTED AND I COULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A CERTAIN MILE ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS, IT;S STILL ON, NOW NO ONE CAN TELL IF IT IS RELATED TO THE ISSUE CAR HAD OR NOT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR HARDLY COME ON PROPERLY, EVEN IF I PUT THEM ON FULL LIGHT, IT'S STILL LOOKS DIM AND I CAN SEE WITH THEM AT NIGHT WHEN AM DRIVING, THE HEAT SUDDENLY COMES ON EVEN WITHOUT TURNING IT ON, AM REALLY SCARED NOW CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS COMPLAINTS ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH HIGH RECALLS . *TR

Mileage: 137,086

20141119STEERING

I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK WHEN I HEARD A CRANKING/SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, I STOPPED AND CHECKED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT NOTICED THAT ANYTIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES/MAKE A TURN THE SOUND WILL COME ON, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNT AND ALSO THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEEN AFFECTED AND I COULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A CERTAIN MILE ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS, IT;S STILL ON, NOW NO ONE CAN TELL IF IT IS RELATED TO THE ISSUE CAR HAD OR NOT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR HARDLY COME ON PROPERLY, EVEN IF I PUT THEM ON FULL LIGHT, IT'S STILL LOOKS DIM AND I CAN SEE WITH THEM AT NIGHT WHEN AM DRIVING, THE HEAT SUDDENLY COMES ON EVEN WITHOUT TURNING IT ON, AM REALLY SCARED NOW CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS COMPLAINTS ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH HIGH RECALLS . *TR

Mileage: 137,086

20141119SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK WHEN I HEARD A CRANKING/SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, I STOPPED AND CHECKED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT NOTICED THAT ANYTIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES/MAKE A TURN THE SOUND WILL COME ON, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNT AND ALSO THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEEN AFFECTED AND I COULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A CERTAIN MILE ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS, IT;S STILL ON, NOW NO ONE CAN TELL IF IT IS RELATED TO THE ISSUE CAR HAD OR NOT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR HARDLY COME ON PROPERLY, EVEN IF I PUT THEM ON FULL LIGHT, IT'S STILL LOOKS DIM AND I CAN SEE WITH THEM AT NIGHT WHEN AM DRIVING, THE HEAT SUDDENLY COMES ON EVEN WITHOUT TURNING IT ON, AM REALLY SCARED NOW CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS COMPLAINTS ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH HIGH RECALLS . *TR

Mileage: 137,086

20141112CrashAIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED SOMEONE'S VAN WHILE ONLY GOING 15-20 MPH. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THEN EXPLODED; CAUSING 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. SMALL PIECES OF DEBRIS WERE ALSO REMOVED FROM BRUISES I SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. I BROKE/FRACTURED MY RIBS, DISLOCATED MY KNEE AND MY PELVIC BONE WAS SHATTERED. THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AUTO BODY IN CHARGE OF REPAIRS FOR THIS CAR "CONVENIENTLY" MISPLACED THE AIRBAGS AFTER BEING ASKED SPECIFICALLY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAGS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE......UPDATED 11-24/14 *BF

Mileage: 10,000

20141025CrashAIR BAGS

WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND FRONT END BUCKLED BY THE CRASH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY......FRONT END DAMAGE WAS APPROX $5500 DUE TO LOW MILES WAS REPAIRED ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY? *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20140722ENGINE

CAR IS IDLING ROUGH AND WILL STALL AT LIGHTS OR ANYTIME STOPPED WHILE IN GEAR. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED ON MANY OCCASIONS BECAUSE IT WILL IDLE THEN STALL. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20140527ENGINE

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE ENGINES RPM WOULD FALL BELOW 500 AND AT TIMES WOULD STALL THE ENGINE MAKING ME VULNERABLE TO A COLLISION. IT GOT SO BAD MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND NO ONE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM TUNE UPS AND SUCH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, I SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WITH A SMOKE MACHINE AND HE FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A LEAK AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM COST $850.00 PLUS TAX. I RESEARCHED INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM LEAK ON THE 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF NISSAN OWNERS WITH THE SAME VACUUM LEAK! SEVERAL OF THE NISSAN OWNERS HAD TO MAKE THE REPAIR MORE THAN ONCE, SOME PEOPLE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON VARIOUS FIXES THAT DID NOT WORK, I WAS TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER LUCKILY I DID NOT GO FOR IT. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE WHEN THE C

Mileage: 102,855

20140527STEERING

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE ENGINES RPM WOULD FALL BELOW 500 AND AT TIMES WOULD STALL THE ENGINE MAKING ME VULNERABLE TO A COLLISION. IT GOT SO BAD MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND NO ONE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM TUNE UPS AND SUCH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, I SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WITH A SMOKE MACHINE AND HE FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A LEAK AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM COST $850.00 PLUS TAX. I RESEARCHED INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM LEAK ON THE 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF NISSAN OWNERS WITH THE SAME VACUUM LEAK! SEVERAL OF THE NISSAN OWNERS HAD TO MAKE THE REPAIR MORE THAN ONCE, SOME PEOPLE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON VARIOUS FIXES THAT DID NOT WORK, I WAS TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER LUCKILY I DID NOT GO FOR IT. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE WHEN THE C

Mileage: 102,855

Compare 2001NISSANALTIMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA have?
The 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA has 202 NHTSA complaints, 29 crashes, 2 fires, 32 injuries, and 7 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA?
Yes, the 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is TIRES:TREAD/BELT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA?
The most-complained component for the 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 2001 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.