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1998 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 29 of 123 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2000
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

A CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND TURNED IN FRONT OF ME I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE CAR BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR STARTED SKIDDING. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE CAR AND IT SKID INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. THE COLLISION WAS HARD ENOUGH TO FOLD MY HOOD IN HALF BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM …

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A CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND TURNED IN FRONT OF ME I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE CAR BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR STARTED SKIDDING. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE CAR AND IT SKID INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. THE COLLISION WAS HARD ENOUGH TO FOLD MY HOOD IN HALF BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH CHEST PAIN AND A NUMB LEFT ARM AND HAND. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #720848

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT HIT A SMALL 12-INCH WALL WITH LEFT SIDE BUMPER, AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856287

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.A NISSAN DEALER STATED THE BECAUSE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED ON THE LEFT/RIGHT AND CENTER OF THE FRAME AND NOT ON THE BUMPER .THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN WITH $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837148

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1998
Air Bags

MY SON WRECKED MY CAR WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN UNSAFE LEFT TURN. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLES WERE ABOUT 10 MPH FOR THE NISSAN AND ABOUT 40 MPH FOR THE OTHER VEHICLE (FORD EXPLORER). THE FRONT OF THE NISSAN IS GONE AND THE AIRGABS DIDN'T DEPLOY. LUCKILY, THEY WERE NOT NEEDED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT I FEET THAT THE IM…

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MY SON WRECKED MY CAR WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN UNSAFE LEFT TURN. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLES WERE ABOUT 10 MPH FOR THE NISSAN AND ABOUT 40 MPH FOR THE OTHER VEHICLE (FORD EXPLORER). THE FRONT OF THE NISSAN IS GONE AND THE AIRGABS DIDN'T DEPLOY. LUCKILY, THEY WERE NOT NEEDED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT I FEET THAT THE IMPACT SHOULD HAVE ACTIVATED THEM. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND ASDED THAT THEY SEND SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE CAR BUT THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN MY REQUEST SERIOUSLY. I JUST GOT A NUMBER FOR NISSAN CORP THAT I PLAN TO CALL.

NHTSA ODI #539067

Mileage unknown · May 4, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD HARD ENOUGH TO SPIDER CRACK IT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A MINOR CONCUSSION AND BRUISING OF THE FOREARM AND ELBOW, AND STRAINED HER NECK MUSCLES.

NHTSA ODI #535184

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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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