Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2001 Nissan Altima, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Nissan Altima year.
23.7 mpg average · 20–28 range · EPA says 21
Over 5 years this costs $3,500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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 PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
Campaign 07E074000
Issue: 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, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE.
Risk: UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.
Remedy: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES WHICH WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THESE ALTIMA VEHICLES. FIRESTONE IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE AT 1-800-465-1904.
Campaign 01V065000
NHTSA frontal crash test
Rated configuration: 2001 Nissan Altima 4-DR.
The parts named most often across 174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
1 crash
1 fire
2 crashes
11 crashes · 15 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
4 complaint-reported fatalities on this model.
THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA IS VERY LOW LOUD NOISE. THE CAR RATTLES AND SHAKE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Showing 12 of 174 complaints.