← New search

2001 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 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

100 reports with mileage · 59 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

159 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A FRONT-END IMPACT ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT WAS STILL INJURED. I RECEIVED INJURY TO MY RIGHT KNEE, LOWER BACK, AND BOTH WRISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278664

47,000 miles · Jul 14, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT FIRST MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS WATER IN MY GAS TANK. I HAD A TUNE UP DONE ON MY CAR AND THE SHAKING STOPPED MOMENTARILY. THE SHAKING STARTED AGAIN AND WOULD GET SO BAD THAT MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I WAS DRIVING AND ABOUT TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR SHUT OFF IN THE…

Read full complaint

AT FIRST MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS WATER IN MY GAS TANK. I HAD A TUNE UP DONE ON MY CAR AND THE SHAKING STOPPED MOMENTARILY. THE SHAKING STARTED AGAIN AND WOULD GET SO BAD THAT MY CAR WOULD SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I WAS DRIVING AND ABOUT TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY, IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THERE WERE ONLY FEW CARS ON THE ROAD. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276729

70,000 miles · Jul 8, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE 2.4 WITH 70,000 MILES. ON OR ABOUT THIS DAY MY WIFE AND 8 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING ON A EXPRESSWAY WHEN A ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF THEM. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO STOP AND AVOID THE ACCIDENT. WHILE WAITING FOR THE ACCIDENT TO CLEAR THE CAR STALLED DUE TO THE #4 INTAKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET FAILUR…

Read full complaint

2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE 2.4 WITH 70,000 MILES. ON OR ABOUT THIS DAY MY WIFE AND 8 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING ON A EXPRESSWAY WHEN A ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF THEM. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO STOP AND AVOID THE ACCIDENT. WHILE WAITING FOR THE ACCIDENT TO CLEAR THE CAR STALLED DUE TO THE #4 INTAKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. WHILE RESTARTING THE CAR TO ADVANCE TO A SAFER AREA. THAT IS WHEN A CAR HIT THEM IN THE REAR AND PUSHED THEM INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF THEM, CAUSING ALMOST $3000.00 DAMAGE TO OUR CAR. MY WIFE AND I STILL HAVE DIFFICULTY SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT, THINKING OF THE HARM THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO OUR DAUGHTER. I STILL HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THIS DEFECT ON OUR CAR AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT MOST DAYS WHILE IT TRIES TO STALL OUT ON ME. THIS DEFECT IS CONSISTENT WITH COMPLAINTS #10167168,101451161,10100639 AND#10163901. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276158

144,000 miles · Jul 4, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

NISSAN ALTIMA 2001 I JUST WANT JOINT SO MANY CAR OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ;REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. NISSAN CHARGE $840.00 TO FIX IT. REFERENCE THE EXISTING COMPLAINTS: #10167168 #10145161 #10100639 #10163901. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275759

95 miles · Jun 27, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE IS LEAKING. I HAD TO PAY OVER $480.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND NISSAN SHOULD DO A RECALL OR REIMBURSE MY SELF AND OTHERS FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE PAT OR ENGINEERING FLAW. THIS IS A MAJOR EMISSION PROBLEM AND I WOULD N…

Read full complaint

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE IS LEAKING. I HAD TO PAY OVER $480.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND NISSAN SHOULD DO A RECALL OR REIMBURSE MY SELF AND OTHERS FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE PAT OR ENGINEERING FLAW. THIS IS A MAJOR EMISSION PROBLEM AND I WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION IN VIRGINIA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275091

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

ROUGH IDLING THAT STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR HAS CUT OFF ABOUT 3 TIMES WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE CHANGED SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, FUEL FILTER, OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. I HAVE A MECHANIC WHO THINKS IT IS POSSIBLY THE FUEL INJECTOR BUT I DON'T WANT TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY FOR SOMETHING…

Read full complaint

ROUGH IDLING THAT STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR HAS CUT OFF ABOUT 3 TIMES WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE CHANGED SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, FUEL FILTER, OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. I HAVE A MECHANIC WHO THINKS IT IS POSSIBLY THE FUEL INJECTOR BUT I DON'T WANT TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THERE SHOULD BE RECALL ON THIS FAULTY PART THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273713

70,000 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

OWNER OF A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE 2.4L, BOUGHT NEW IN 2001, ALL SERVICES AND TAKEN GOOD CARE . HAD THE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED , THEN THE O2 SENSOR, AND NOW THE WHOLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS FAULTY AND THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS LAST WORK IS $400 (FROM A LOCAL CHEAP MECHANIC, FORGET ABOUT THE BRAND NAME MECHANICS IN BAY AREA , WOULD …

Read full complaint

OWNER OF A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE 2.4L, BOUGHT NEW IN 2001, ALL SERVICES AND TAKEN GOOD CARE . HAD THE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED , THEN THE O2 SENSOR, AND NOW THE WHOLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS FAULTY AND THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS LAST WORK IS $400 (FROM A LOCAL CHEAP MECHANIC, FORGET ABOUT THE BRAND NAME MECHANICS IN BAY AREA , WOULD BE 3 TIMES I GUESS). MILES ON THE CAR : ONLY 70K AND I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. CHECK CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR 100+ NISSAN ALTIMA 2001 CAR ENGINE COMPLAINTS ALONE. PLEASE I WOULD REQUEST THIS ORGANIZATION TO TAKE ACTION AND LET NISSAN PAY FOR THE SERVICES AND LOST TIME BECAUSE OF THIS BAD DESIGN AND COMMON PROBLEM. THANK YOU. SHAHID USMAN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10272697

70,000 miles · May 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR VERY ROUGHLY IDLES, AND HAS SHUT OFF ABOUT 3 TIMES. OIL INSIDE THE #1 SPARK PLUG WIRE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE PLUG. CHANGED, FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES, ROTOR, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, VALVE COVER GASKET, ANTIFREEZE, OIL AND OIL FILTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269775

102,000 miles · May 7, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

ROUGH IDLING AND VIBRATIONS IN THE ENGINE STARTED IN 2006 AT 102,000 MILES. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. THEN, A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. WENT TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS WHO COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. DROVE THE CAR LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM! ENGINE NOW BUCKS AND STALL…

Read full complaint

ROUGH IDLING AND VIBRATIONS IN THE ENGINE STARTED IN 2006 AT 102,000 MILES. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON. THEN, A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. WENT TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS WHO COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. DROVE THE CAR LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM! ENGINE NOW BUCKS AND STALLS OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO SIT AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT WITHOUT YOUR CAR STALLING IS TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME! YOU HOPE AND PRAY YOU DON'T RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU! I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS! NOW, THERE IS POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE! AFTER A WHILE THE CAR WILL TAKE OFF! TRY GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS ISSUE!! AFTER REPLACING SPARK PLUGS, DISTRIBUTOR CAPS, HARNESSES, FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL FILTERS, O-RINGS, ETC. WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET! A CHEAP PART TO BUY BUT EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX! OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS I HAVE SPENT OVER $4,000 TO ACTUALLY FIX MY CAR! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM, I FOUND 110 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE! EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 2000-2001 NISSAN ALTIMA!! PLEASE RECALL THIS ITEM! I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE BECOME SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF NISSAN!! A SIMPLE RECALL TO REPLACE A $10.00 PART TO SAVE A LIFE...... OR A LAWSUIT AND A LOST LIFE! THIS SHOULD BE A NO BRAINER!! A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.....NISSAN SHOULD HURRY UP AND TAKE THEIR PICK!!! I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267910

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2009
EquipmentVisibility

BACK REAR WINDOW REGULATORS NOT FUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266850

Official recalls

1

01V065000 · Tires:tread/belt

Feb 23, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H TIRES. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.

Remedy: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES WHICH WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THESE ALTIMA VEHICLES. FIRESTONE IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE AT 1-800-465-1904.

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