Nissan Altima Complaints
15,602 consumer complaints on file.
- #10488162November 29, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUDDENLY STARTING USING 1 QT. OIL EVERY 600 MILES. NO LEAKS, NO SMOKE, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID OIL CONSUMPTION WAS FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER BREAKING DOWN AND GETTING SUCKED INTO ENGINE ABSORBING THE OIL AND SCORING LOWER ENGINE (CYLINDER BLOCK WALLS), THUS CAUSING OIL BLOW BY. THEY RECOMMEND CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $5,000 DOLLARS. THERE IS A HISTORY OF THESE CONVERTER FAILURES FROM 2002 IN NISSAN PRODUCTS. MY LOCAL DEALER SAID MY VEHICLE WASN'T ON RECALL. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IN THIS MATTER WAS THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND HAD I'D GONE ANOTHER 1000 MILES THIS CAR COULD HAVE SEIZED UP ON THE INTERSTATE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486312November 28, 2012STEERING
ON OUR FIRST TRIP FOLLOWING PURCHASE OF THE CAR, WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT TRACKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONDITION WAS NOT NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 65 MPH. ABOVE THAT SPEED, THE CAR WANDERS IN THE LANE REQUIRING CONTINUOUS ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING. INATTENTION TO THE DRIFT WOULD ALLOW THE CAR TO CROSS INTO THE ADJACENT LANE. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY THE NEW STEERING SYSTEM ON THE 2012 ALTIMA. IT USES A POWER-STEERING SYSTEM THAT CONSISTS OF A HYDRAULIC RACK DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEIR TEST DRIVE SERVICE MANAGER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. AFTER HE TALKED WITH NISSAN USA, HOWEVER, HE DISAVOWED EVER SAYING THAT HE NOTICED ANY PROBLEM. NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH NISSAN USA HAVE RESULTED IN NO ACTION TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE INTERNET INCLUDES MANY 2013 ALTIMA BUYERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN MANAGEMENT SAYS THAT WE JUST "NEED TO GET USED TO IT." THIS PROBLEM WHILE IT MAY SOUND MINOR, CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE OFTEN OVERCORRECTION TO THE LANE DRIFT, SENDING THE CAR TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486326November 28, 2012STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT I HAD A RUSTY DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD. HE SAID THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STICK HIS HAND THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF MY FLOORBOARD AND TOUCH MY DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS HAD ME VERY CONCERNED DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH AT LEAST 2 OTHER NISSAN ALTIMAS. BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT NISSAN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO COMPENSATE. IT COST ME $550 TO FIX DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE RUST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486381November 28, 2012SEATS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
EVERY WINTER OR WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, WHEN CAR WARMS UP IN MORNING EVEN WITH ALL WINDOWS OPEN SMELL IS CHOKING AND UNBEARABLE. ALSO BRAKES SQUEAK TERRIBLY LIKE A BIG TRUCK WHEN TURNING TO LEFT AND BRAKING, EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS IN A DRIVE THRU OR PARKING. EVEN BRAND NEW BRAKES. LASTLY AND MOST SCARY IS THE DRIVER SEAT SHIFTS, ROCKS, FORWARD AND BACK WHEN BRAKING HARD OR DURING A SUDDEN STOP. PURCHASED CAR IN 2007 AS A LEASE RETURN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486269November 27, 2012STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED, HE NOTICED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. .....UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER STATED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY FAILURES SUCH AS THIS. UPDATED 1/18/2013*JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486280November 27, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE MAKING THIS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS TO KEEP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, REACH OUT AND OPEN THE DOOR, THEN CLOSE WINDOW, SHUT OFF CAR, AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY IT WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THIS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN FURTHER INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486197November 27, 2012ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS REFERRED TO A DEALER AND INFORMED OF THE RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). A FEW WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT HER VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ UPDATED 2/4/2013*JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486215November 27, 2012STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD HAS RUSTED THROUGH, WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE. ACCORDING TO VARIOUS DATA ONLINE, THE METAL WAS NOT PROPERLY TREATED TO PREVENT RUST BEFORE INSTALLATION. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT NISSAN REPAIR THE RUST AT NO CHARGE TO US. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486212November 27, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WAS IN PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON DASH. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ADVISED STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) WAS BAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON '09 ALTIMAS AS WELL AS 370Z. DEALER OFFERED 10% DISCOUNT AND ADVISED $600 TOTAL. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND ESCALATED TO REGIONAL OFFICE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN BE STRANDED. NISSAN HAS RECALLED THIS PART ON OTHER MODELS AND DISCONTINUED THIS FEATURE ON SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486221November 27, 2012STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WENT OUT TO START CAR IN THE AM TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND CAR WOULDNT START. ALL ELECTRICS HOWEVER STILL DID,. STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED I COULDNT GET IT OUT OF PARK. TRIED TO JUMP IT. THAT DIDNT WORK EITTHER. SO WE REPLACED THE BATTERY. THAT DIDNT WORK. STILL WOULDNT START. DEALER CAME AND TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. SAID ITS THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY GOING BAD. I NEED IT REPLACED. ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. 723.00 IT WILL COST ME. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH MANY MANY 2009 ALTIMAS.. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALLED PART? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486077November 26, 2012STEERING, POWER TRAIN
I TURN OFF MY CAR TO GET GAS AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY CAR IT WOULD NOT TURN ON I TRY TO HAVE A JUMP AND THAT DIDN'T WORK SO I HAD MY CAR TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP, I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD NEED A NEW STEERING UNIT THAT WILL COST ME 1300.00. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR THESE NISSAN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE AND I FEEL A RECALL IS NEEDED. I FEEL LIKE I BEEN RIP OFF BY NISSAN AND MY DEALERSHIP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486127November 26, 2012STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FLOOR BOARD IS BADLY RUSTED. I CANNOT PASS THE STATE INSPECTION AND IT WILL COST ME SO MUCH MONEY TO FIX MY CAR JUST TO PASS THE INSPECTION. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND I SEE THAT MOST 2005 MODEL HAS THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT THE DEALER NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. I WILL MOST DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMEND THIS MAKE AND MODEL TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486129November 26, 2012AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
INTERMITTENTLY, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER (130 LBS) IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER, IT OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, HAD TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE CAR TO CLEAR THE LIGHT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10486142November 26, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I ALREADY WENT THOUGH P0420 ISSUE FEW YEARS BACK AND I GOT IT AGAIN. NISSAN DEALER CHARGED ME WHOLE LOTTA MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THE WARNING SIGN CAME BACK AGAIN. WENT TO LOCAL AUTO ZONE AND IT SHOW P0420 AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. I READ SO MANY ARTICLES ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT ALL ALTIMA HAS THIS ISSUE (CRANKSHAFT, O2 SENSOR, ETC.). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10485894November 24, 2012ENGINE
SOON AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY WHEN STARTED OR WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. BRINGING IT TO THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE SHAKING STOPPED FOR A WHILE THEN WEEKS LATER IT BEGAN AGAIN AND ONLY GOT WORSE. NOW IT SHUTS OFF WHEN RUNNING OR WON'T TURN ON AT ALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10485861November 23, 2012ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE OIL THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V084000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013 *LJ UPDATED 1/7/2013 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10485449November 21, 2012ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ENGINE SHUT OFF, WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS THE MOST SCARY EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. THE SES LIGHT CAME ON ONLY AFTER LOOSING ALL CONTROL. I WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SOME ALTIMAS AND THAT THEY HAD A RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10485252November 20, 2012POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND SHIFT OUT OF GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10485298November 20, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY HYBRID WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HYBRID WATER PUMP HAD FAILED. NIACIN DID NOT HAVE THEIR OWN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY IN 2007 SO THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE HYBRID WATER PUMPS FOR THAT MODEL YEAR BECAUSE OF FAILURES. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER NIACIN OF BOURNE IN MASSACHUSETTS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND FAXED HIM THE INFORMATION ON THE RECALL I ASKED HIM TO CONTACT NIACIN ABOUT THE ISSUE. HE STATED THERE WHERE NO CURRENTS RECALLS ON THE PART AND REFUSED TO INFORM NIACIN. I ASKED TWICE IF HE READ THE INFORMATION I FAXED HE SAID THEY RECEIVED IT AND HE HAD NOT, HE TOLD ME TO CALL 1-800-NISSAN1. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I ASKED FOR THE PARTS AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT ASK FOR THE PART IN ADVANCE THAT THEY WERE THROWN AWAY. I CALLED ON NIACIN CORP ON NOVEMBER 15 AND WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK BY THE END OF BUSINESS ON NOVEMBER 16. I CALLED TWO MORE TIMES AS OF 1:25 PM 11/20/2012 NO ONE HAS CALLED ME BACK. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE IN REGARDS TO THE NIACIN ALTIMA HYBRIDS SINCE NO ONE FROM NIACIN CALLED ME BACK I FEEL I HAVE TO FILED THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10485179November 19, 2012STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND NO WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0