Nissan Altima Complaints (1996)
92 consumer complaints on file.
- #11072155February 11, 2018FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CAR WAS DRIVING CRAZY AND TURNED OFF IN STREET.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10520991June 21, 2013SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
MY CAR CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP, BUT MY CAR JUST DIDN'T & MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. EVEN BEFORE THE CRASH, THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, & I CAN BARELY SEE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS! ALSO, MY CAR MAKES LOUD CRANKING NOISES WHEN I TURN. EVERY CAR I SEE LIKE MINE, HAS A SMASHED UP FRONT END & HAS ALL THE SAME ISSUES. I CAN'T CURRENTLY AFFORD A NEW CAR, BUT I'M SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE MINE, BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. HELP ME PLEASE! WHO CAN I CONTACT? I STRONGLY BELIEVE THESE CARS ARE NOT FIT FOR DRIVING. I NEED MY PROBLEMS SOLVED FAST BEFORE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS HAPPENS! IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN HOW DANGEROUS THESE CARS TRULY ARE, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT SOMETHING ELSE TO KEEP MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD SAFE. I DON'T HAVE THE MEANS AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE TO BUY A SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE. I EVEN HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM COLLEGE, BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO GET MYSELF THERE. IT'S VERY DEVASTATING. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170144September 21, 2006TIRES, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
1996 ALTIMA LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. *TS *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146692January 2, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY DAUGHTER'S 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT SOMETIMES LEFT HER STRANDED. WHEN I DISCOVERED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I WANTED OTHERS TO KNOW. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. IT WAS BURNED AND HAD ACTUALLY MELTED THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE CONNECTORS WERE. IT WAS THE TWO WIRE CONNECTOR THAT CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THE FUSE WAS A 15 AMP FUSE, BUT THE WIRES AND THE CONNECTORS LOOKED SMALL FOR THAT KIND OF CURRENT DRAW. THIS LOOKS TO ME LIKE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT THE WIRE "PIGTAIL" WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM NISSAN AS A REPAIR PART. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081181July 16, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10080934July 13, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10067876April 26, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
I BOUGHT MY PRE-OWNED 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH MY TRUNK WHEN IT RAINS. THE RAIN WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK THROUGH THE REAR LIGHTS. I HAD THE SEAL CHECKED AND THAT WAS OKAY. I WENT TO TRADE IN THE CAR, FOR AN UPGRADE, AND THEY HAD ASKED ME ABOUT THE REAR LIGHTS. THEY HAD SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS TRUE AND IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10051529January 2, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
RE: NISSAN ALTIMA 1996: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS TOO NEW TO GO BAD AND THERE ARE TOO MANY BAD ONES SHOWING UP. I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A VERY HIGH COST TO ME, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10039320September 22, 2003FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10024923July 24, 2003AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RIGHT-ANGLED FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK *CB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10022384June 4, 2003SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10013880April 3, 2003AIR BAGS
AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10012193March 20, 2003POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN CHANGING THE VEHICLES GEARS THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO FORWARD AND NOT REVERSE DUE TO A BURNED OUT CLUTCH. *NLM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #8021515October 24, 2002AIR 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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #768623October 19, 2002EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #8019335September 24, 2002ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #8008947May 1, 2002AIR BAGS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIRBAG HAD FAILED. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE, AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #760541April 10, 2002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE !!!!!! AND BURNED EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD INCLUDING THE HOOD NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS AT ALL WITH THE CAR NO GAS LEAKS, NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #756891January 15, 2002SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS SQUEAKED EXCESSIVELY WHETHER NEW OR WORN. FRONT DEFOGGER VENTS ON DASH SEPARATED FROM DASH AS DASH CONTINUES TO SWELL AND DEFORM OVER TIME IN A PREMATURE MANNER I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THIS DEFECT ON MANY OTHER ALTIMAS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #8002248January 15, 2002AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT THAT IS LOCATED ON DASH FLASHES CONSTANTLY WHEN VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0