IllustrationBAD DISTRIBUTOR, PART NOT AVAILABLE IN AN AREA POPULATION OF OVER 5 MILLION, VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE 14 DAYS AWAITING PARTS. *AK
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →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
What owners actually said
106 reportsTIMING 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
CONSUMER WAS STOPPED AT GAS STATION TO REFUEL HER VEHICLE, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AS THE CONSUMER PROCEDED TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP A FLAME SHOT OUT ONTO FACE, HAIR AND CHEST. NLM
THROTTLE CABLE SLIPPED OUT OF THE GUIDE CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION. FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF A PAVED RURAL ROAD WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC. HAD THIS OCCURED AS HE WAS PULLING ON TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON…
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THROTTLE CABLE SLIPPED OUT OF THE GUIDE CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION. FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF A PAVED RURAL ROAD WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC. HAD THIS OCCURED AS HE WAS PULLING ON TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON ALTIMAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1992 AND FEBRUARY 1994. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN SEPTEMBER OF 1993. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN IS #94V035000. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND THAT ANY REPAIRS WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT MY EXPENSE.*AK
ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP LIGHT, HIT MY WIFE HEAD ON. MY WIFE SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER FACE AND MOUTH WHEN SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. POLICE ESTIMATE THAT OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING OVER 50 MPH, MY WIFE WAS STOPPED. NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DEPLOYED (ALSO A NISSAN). I …
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ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP LIGHT, HIT MY WIFE HEAD ON. MY WIFE SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER FACE AND MOUTH WHEN SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. POLICE ESTIMATE THAT OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING OVER 50 MPH, MY WIFE WAS STOPPED. NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DEPLOYED (ALSO A NISSAN). I WISH TO FORMALLY REPORT THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A TELEPHONE POLE IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT IS BLINKING.*ET
I CRASHED INTO 3 CARS AND A TRUCK BECAUSE MY CAR ENGINE REVVEDAND EVEN WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE JUST WENT. THREE TIMES BEFORE MY CAR "JUST WENT" BUT I WAS LUCKY AND DID NOT CAUSE ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
203V150000 · 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
2EA01015 · 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.