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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 16, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

VERY HARD TO PUT GASOLINE IN CAR. IT SPITS BACK OUT AT YOU. YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN VERY SLOW. I'VE NOTICE 2 DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE IT MENTIONS, TROUBLE PUTTING GAS IN THESE CARS. BULLETIN DATE: FEB 1998 DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUEL FILL. BULLETIN DATE: MAR 2000 INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUE…

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VERY HARD TO PUT GASOLINE IN CAR. IT SPITS BACK OUT AT YOU. YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN VERY SLOW. I'VE NOTICE 2 DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE IT MENTIONS, TROUBLE PUTTING GAS IN THESE CARS. BULLETIN DATE: FEB 1998 DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUEL FILL. BULLETIN DATE: MAR 2000 INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUEL FILL. [XXX] INFO REMOVED FROM MY INSURANCE CO. PROGRESSIVE WEBSITE[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330611

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS SPILLS BACK OUT OF TANK WHEN PUTTING GAS IN TANK. HAVE TO FILL TANK VERY SLOWLY. WAS TOLD THAT THE EVAPORATOR CONTROL VALVE IS PROBLEMATIC IN ALTIMA FROM 1997. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182054

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

1998 NISSAN ALTIMA DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK, AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE TANK, GAS WOULD SPILL OUT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134548

120,000 miles · Feb 9, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND NOTHING WAS DONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111261

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL WHILE DRIVING. HE EXAMINED FUEL SYSTEM UNDERNEATH AND THE FUEL TANK, AND NOTICED THE ENTRY POINT WHERE THE GAS WENT INTO THE VEHICLE BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089866

68,450 miles · Aug 3, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHENEVER I TRY TO FILL MY GAS TANK, THE FUEL BACKS UP AFTER FILLING 2-3 GALLONS AND SPILLS OUT. THIS IS THE 2ND SUMMER SEASON I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM. LAST SUMMER MY MECHANIC SAID THE TANK APPEARED FINE. I HAVE TO FILL THE TANK VERY SLOWLY AND I OFTEN STILL EXPERIENCE THIS BACKSPLASH OF FUEL. THIS HAPPENS 70% OF THE TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086119

73,990 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO SENSORS IN GAS TANK. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT GAS IN THE TANK BECAUSE IT WOULD SPIT BACK OUT. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT ONE PART ALONE WAS $300. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047129

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE FILLING VEHICLE WITH FUEL, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, FUEL SPRAYED BACK OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026778

57,000 miles · Jun 25, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

I CANNOT FILL GAS INTO MY GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK ALSO SPLURTS OUT GAS WHENEVER THIS IS ATTEMPTED CREATING A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023738

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN PUTTING GAS IN THE TANK IT SPLASHES BACK OUT OF TANK. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8018992

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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems