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1997 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Nissan Altima are lower than the model-year median of 231.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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: 20 of 108 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 35 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 →
  • Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

MY 97 NISSAN ALTIMA(MILELAGE: 66K) RUNS PERFECTLY EXPECT THAT OCCASIONALLY ONCE I PRESS THE BRAKE TIGHTLY AND THE CAR STOP TOTALLY, THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENTLY AND RUSH FORWARD, I HAVE TO REPRESS THE BRAKE VERY QUICKLY TO STOP IT AGAIN. SINCE THIS JANUARY IT HAPPENED TWICE. FIRST TIME I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT …

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MY 97 NISSAN ALTIMA(MILELAGE: 66K) RUNS PERFECTLY EXPECT THAT OCCASIONALLY ONCE I PRESS THE BRAKE TIGHTLY AND THE CAR STOP TOTALLY, THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENTLY AND RUSH FORWARD, I HAVE TO REPRESS THE BRAKE VERY QUICKLY TO STOP IT AGAIN. SINCE THIS JANUARY IT HAPPENED TWICE. FIRST TIME I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I THOUGHT THE REASON IS THAT I DIDN'T PRESS THE BRAKE TIGHTLY. FOR THE SECOND TIME, I WAS QUITE SURE I PRESSED THE BRAKE FIRMLY AND STOP AT A STOP LINE, BUT SUDDENTLY THE CAR RUSHED OUT AND CRASHED IN ANOTHER CAR. I'VE ALREADY HAD A BRAKE SYSTEM CHECK AND COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. I PAID MORE THAN $2,000 FOR THE CAR I CRASHED BUT I FEEL VERY UNDERSERVED, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO COMPLAIN. AND ALSO I HOPE MY CASE COULD SUPPLY SOME USEFUL INFORMATION FOR YOUR DATABASE, THAT'S THE REASON I WRITE TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH! SINCERELY, LI QIANG . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10063633

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766386

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WAS TRAVELING 40-45MPH AND HAD TAPPED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE A TURN AND BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN. STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO LEFT & HIT PASSENGER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881992

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

JAMMING THE BRAKE CAUSED SPINING OF THE CAR ENDING ON THE CURB. YH

NHTSA ODI #607254

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1998
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

AIRBAG - DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. BRAKES - BRAKES DID NOT ADEQUATELY STOP THE VEHICLE IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS, TAKES FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ENGINE - ENGINE WON'T STA…

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AIRBAG - DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. BRAKES - BRAKES DID NOT ADEQUATELY STOP THE VEHICLE IN 35MPH HEAD-ON CRASH. DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS, TAKES FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ENGINE - ENGINE WON'T START AT RANDOM. DEALER FINDDS NO PROBLEMS. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #700742

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED VEHICLE FOR ONLY A WEEK, AND IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES PADS. WHEN APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER NOTICED A NOISE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, PARTS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ODI #829084

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 1997
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE POWER SOCKET INTO WHICH THE PLUG FOR CELLULAR PHONE GOES INTO, DOES NOT STAY ATTACHED TO THE DASH WHEN UNPLUGGING THE JACK.THE LOCATION OF PLUG DOES NOT ALLOW FOR CUP HOLDER TO BE USED WHEN USING.

NHTSA ODI #522143

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1997
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45-55 MPH OWNER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER'S OR DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. ALSO ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809019

Official recalls

1

96V185000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Oct 10, 1996

CERTAIN BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED WITH A "BUCKLE BASE" THAT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS CAN CAUSE THE "BUCKLE BASE" TO BE BRITTLE FAILING TO COMPLY TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE THEM 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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