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1994 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 16 of 106 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

34 crash reports2 fire reports24 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

11 reports
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107,000 miles · Apr 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR IS A 1994 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 DOOR WITH 107,000, AND NO PREVIOUS MECHANICAL ISSUES EVER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NISSAN OWNERS OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE, WHY HAS NISSAN DONE NOTHING TO HELP? I FEEL THIS PROBLEM COULD BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS IN TRAFFIC. 1) THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING U…

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MY CAR IS A 1994 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 DOOR WITH 107,000, AND NO PREVIOUS MECHANICAL ISSUES EVER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NISSAN OWNERS OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE, WHY HAS NISSAN DONE NOTHING TO HELP? I FEEL THIS PROBLEM COULD BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS IN TRAFFIC. 1) THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 7 DAYS AGO ON APRIL 19, 2010. 2) THE FAILURE IS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT IDLING (BETWEEN 0-1RPM) AND UPON APPLYING GAS, TREMBLES TO GET GOING. WHEN EVER CAR GETS BELOW 1RPM, IT WILL BEGIN TO TREMBLE AGAIN. THE CAR IS HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME STARTING AS WELL AS GETTING POWER TO DRIVE. THE CAR STALLS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL START. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. 3) TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, I WILL REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH IS IN THE AREA OF $600-1000. I KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS DEEP ROOTED BECAUSE MY CAR IS UP TO DATE ON TUNE-UPS, OIL CHANGES, NEW SPARK PLUGS, EVERYTHING ELSE RUNS GREAT UNTIL THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327649

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

1. MY AND EVERY OTHER MID 90'S ALTIMA HAS GOT FOGGED HEADLIGHTS THAT BARELY ILLUMINATE ANY LIGHT THROUGH. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? 2. I HAVE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE REPLACED TWICE, BOTH TIMES COSTING AROUND $1,500.00 AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THIS PART OR THE HEADLIGHTS.…

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1. MY AND EVERY OTHER MID 90'S ALTIMA HAS GOT FOGGED HEADLIGHTS THAT BARELY ILLUMINATE ANY LIGHT THROUGH. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? 2. I HAVE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE REPLACED TWICE, BOTH TIMES COSTING AROUND $1,500.00 AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THIS PART OR THE HEADLIGHTS. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160158

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAK FRONT RUBBER O-RING AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. HAD THIS REPAIRED ONCE AT THE NISSAN DEALER 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO. PAID $1200 TO FIX THE FIRST TIME, HOWEVER I'M ALMOST CERTAIN I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING ALL OVER AGAIN. VEHICLE ISN'T WORTH THE COST OF THE REPAIR AT THIS POINT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153757

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL STAIN ON MY GARAGE FLOOR, AFTER SEVICING THIS VEHICLE THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE A SEAL. I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR SO IT WAS COVERED FOR THE REPAIR. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THE SMALL OIL STAIN RETURNING, EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE I…

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I HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL STAIN ON MY GARAGE FLOOR, AFTER SEVICING THIS VEHICLE THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE A SEAL. I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR SO IT WAS COVERED FOR THE REPAIR. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THE SMALL OIL STAIN RETURNING, EVERY TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE IS WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN TRANSMISSION LEAKING (EVEN THOUGH OIL WAS NOT RED), THEY HAD TO CLEAN SOMETHING AND SO ONE. FINALLY THIS PAST WINTER THEY ADMITTED THAT THE SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE ENGINE AGAIN. AT THIS TIME I WAS INFORMED FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE ORIGINAL REPAIR THEY PERFORMED WAS NO LONGER WARRANTEED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $800. TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. IF NISSAN RECOGNIZES A DEFECT IN DESIGN WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM 4 YEARS AGO, AND NOT TELL ME EVERY 6 MONTHS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION THAT I HAVE A SMALL OIL LEAK. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT, I HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR. I HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT IF NISSAN MOTOR CORP, KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS EARLY AS 1995 THEY SHOULD HAVE REPAIRED PEOPLES CARS INSTEAD OF LETTING THE PROBLEM CONTINUE UNTIL THEIR WARRANTEE EXPIRED. THIS IS WHAT I KNOW THEY DID WITH ME AND I DO NOT APPRECIATE IT THAT I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY KOEPPEL NISSAN BY TELLING ME THAT THE CAR WAS NOT LEAKING OIL WHEN IN REALITY IT WAS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #767273

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND ITS A VERY BAD LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #758929

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAKS PROFUSELY OUT THESE SEALS AND SOILS ALL GROUNDS THE VEHICLE THREADS OVER. VERY COMMON IN THE FIRST GENERATION ALTIMA. VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN OIL LEVEL AND TO FIX LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753317

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

MECHANIC FOUND OIL LEAK ON ENGINE, O RINGS AND MAIN SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884538

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING AS WELL AS MANIFOLD LEAKING. CAR SERVICED AT MERCHANT'S TIRE AND REPAIR CENTER 1/31/01 AND 2/6/01 FOR DIAGNOSIS. SHOP FOREMAN SAID IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THEY'VE SEEN WITH THIS CAR. SAID IT'S A POOR DESIGN, DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. HE TRIED TO FIX ONE BEFORE AND SAID HE WOULD NEVER TRY AGAIN…

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TIMING COVER GASKET LEAKING AS WELL AS MANIFOLD LEAKING. CAR SERVICED AT MERCHANT'S TIRE AND REPAIR CENTER 1/31/01 AND 2/6/01 FOR DIAGNOSIS. SHOP FOREMAN SAID IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THEY'VE SEEN WITH THIS CAR. SAID IT'S A POOR DESIGN, DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. HE TRIED TO FIX ONE BEFORE AND SAID HE WOULD NEVER TRY AGAIN. SAID IT'S A DEALER JOB, MEANING NO ONE ELSE WOULD BE ADVISED TO TRY AND MAKE THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740595

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862318

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAKING FROM FRONT ENGINE VALVE COVER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #857905

Official recalls

2

03V150000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 25, 2003

NISSAN IS RECALLING MY 1994 AND EARLY 1995 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THESE VEHICLES HAD CAUSED A NUMBER OF MODERATE-TO-SEVERE EYE INJURIES. NISSAN HAS DEVELOPED A NEW PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT IS LESS POWERFUL WHEN IT INFLATES IN A CRASH TO REDUCE THE RISK OF AIR BAG INFLATION-RELATED INJURIES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: NISSAN EXPECTS THAT THIS NEW AIR BAG CAN HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF AIR BAG INFLATION-RELATED INJURIES.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPORTED THAT OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 28, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

94V035000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 28, 1994

ENGINE MOVEMENT CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE AIRFLOW METER/FILTER HOUSING AND SUPPORT BRACKET, WHICH IS MOUNTED IN THE ENGINE AIR DUCT, CAUSING THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE CABLE GUIDE. THIS MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPOSITION THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING IN THE SUPPORT BRACKET TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SLACK FOR ENGINE MOVEMENT. A RUBBER STOPPER WILL BE CLAMPED TO THE CABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT POSITION FOR THE CABLE AT THE SUPPORT BRACKET. IN ADDITION, THE THROTTLE CABLE WILL BE TESTED FOR PULL OUT RESISTANCE FROM THE GUIDE IN THE EVENT THE CABLE WAS DAMAGED. THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA01015 · Passenger Air BAG-RELATED Facial/eye Inj

Opened Aug 9, 2001 · Closed Apr 24, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal

BY LETTER DATEDAPRIL 11, 2003, NISSAN NOTIFIED NHTSAIT WILL CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE WITH A DEPOWERED AIR BAG MODULE IN MODEL YEAR 1994 - EARLY 1995 (BUILT PRIOR TO MARCH 2, 1995) NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES. THE REPLACEMENT MODULE WILL BE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS.THE DEPOWERED AIR BAG SHOULD REDUCE THE OVERALL RISK OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT-RELATED INJURIES. THE AIR BAG REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN TO BE CONDUCTED BY NISSAN, WHICH WILL ENHANCE SAFETY AND BE MONITORED BY NHTSA, SUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSES THE SAFETY CONCERNS RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT

PE01008 · Passenger Air BAG-RELATED Eye Injuries

Opened Mar 13, 2001 · Closed Aug 9, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal

No summary supplied.

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