COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Nissan Altima electrical problems

1,770 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

56 crash reports69 fire reports35 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,194 reports with mileage · 576 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 owners actually said

1,770 reports
2012 model year · 120,000 miles · Feb 21, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE FOB KEY EVEN AFTER THE FOB KEY BATTERY WAS CHANGED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE MANUALLY OPERATED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11074096

1999 model year · 225,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Electrical SystemFire

THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED MY CAR TO CATCH FIRE IN THE TRUNK ARE

NHTSA ODI #11073631

2010 model year · 138,025 miles · Feb 16, 2018
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DISINTEGRATED AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HILL NISSAN (6401 CYPRESS GA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DISINTEGRATED AND THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HILL NISSAN (6401 CYPRESS GARDENS BLVD, WINTER HAVEN, FL 33884, (863) 299-2161) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD AND THE HVAC WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,025. *TT *AS

NHTSA ODI #11073272

2012 model year · 51,000 miles · Feb 12, 2018
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE'S DOORS STOPPED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ALL 4 DOOR LOCKS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, WHERE THEY LOCK SOMETIMES AND AT OTHER TIMES, THEY DON'T. THE ALARM SYSTEM IS DOING STRANGE THINGS, ALSO. BY THAT, I MEAN THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN I PRESS THE DOOR BUTTON AND HEAR THE DOUBLE-BEEP, INSTEAD OF T…

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THE VEHICLE'S DOORS STOPPED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ALL 4 DOOR LOCKS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, WHERE THEY LOCK SOMETIMES AND AT OTHER TIMES, THEY DON'T. THE ALARM SYSTEM IS DOING STRANGE THINGS, ALSO. BY THAT, I MEAN THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN I PRESS THE DOOR BUTTON AND HEAR THE DOUBLE-BEEP, INSTEAD OF THE SINGLE-BEEP THAT WOULD UNLOCK THE BUTTON. AS I OPEN THE DOOR, I EXPECT THE ALARM TO GO OFF, AS I ASSUME THE ALARM SYSTEM BELIEVES THE DOOR IS NOW LOCKED. HOWEVER, THE DOOR WILL OPEN, THE ALARM WON'T GO OFF, THEN THE WARNING BEEPS WILL SOUND AS THE DOOR IS CLOSED, MAKING THE BEEPING WARNING SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE VEHICLE WITH YOUR KEYS STILL INSIDE. THIS IS CLEARLY A FACTORY ISSUE FOR NISSAN, BUT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AS THE LOCK IS AN ADDED MEASURE OF SECURITY FOR KIDS AND SAFETY WITHIN A VEHICLE. IF MY WIFE WOULD EVER FEEL THE NEED TO HIT THE LOCKS, FOR WHATEVER REASON SHE ENCOUNTERS, WE CAN'T KNOW FOR SURE THEY WILL OPERATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11072216

2008 model year · 139,000 miles · Feb 6, 2018
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

CAR STOPPED, WOULD NOT START, YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE LEFT DASHBOARD STAYS ON. CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #11067200

2009 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2018
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE ESCL BOX LOCKED UP FOR 3 DAYS! NOW I HAVE TO PAY $150 TO HAVE IT FIXED PER MY WARRANTY COMPANY. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR 60 WHOLE DAYS, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND TIME LOST! PLEASE CALL ME. WILL YOU PAY FOR THE $150 WARRANTY FEE? I HAD IT …

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MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE ESCL BOX LOCKED UP FOR 3 DAYS! NOW I HAVE TO PAY $150 TO HAVE IT FIXED PER MY WARRANTY COMPANY. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR 60 WHOLE DAYS, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND TIME LOST! PLEASE CALL ME. WILL YOU PAY FOR THE $150 WARRANTY FEE? I HAD IT TOWED TO CARMAX NORCROSS MONDAY MORNING. IT'S WEDNESDAY. I'VE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 5 DAYS NOW!!! [XXX] SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11066018

2006 model year · 130,000 miles · Jan 30, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, STATING LOW FUEL SENSOE OUT. $1200.00 WORHT OF WORK, REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR. NOW THEY ARE STATING IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS ON FUEL PUMP SHORTING OUT. PART IS ON NATIONAL RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11065818

2012 model year · 24,000 miles · Jan 29, 2018
Electrical System

THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS THAT ALL 3 PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING (NO AUTO LOCK, NO POWER LOCK, NO FOB LOCK) AT THE SAME TIME. MY WORK INVOLVES DRIVING CHILDREN AND NISSAN'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT TO COST ME A JOB AND IT ENDANGERS ANY CHILDREN WHO ARE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. ON NISS…

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THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS THAT ALL 3 PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING (NO AUTO LOCK, NO POWER LOCK, NO FOB LOCK) AT THE SAME TIME. MY WORK INVOLVES DRIVING CHILDREN AND NISSAN'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT TO COST ME A JOB AND IT ENDANGERS ANY CHILDREN WHO ARE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. ON NISSAN FORUMS AND OTHER WEBSITES, A PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAVE TAKEN PLACE FOR OVER A DECADE.

NHTSA ODI #11065715

2012 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CODES IS COMING STEP MOTORS

NHTSA ODI #11065440

2016 model year · 13,154 miles · Jan 24, 2018
Electrical System

AFTER DRIVING FOR FEW MILES, A RUBBER BURNING SMELL STARTS TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY FOUND A PLASTIC SHEET UNDER THE CAR BUT I DRIVE IN CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM AS I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE CAR A DAY EARLIER TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANYTHING BUT FOUND NOTHI…

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AFTER DRIVING FOR FEW MILES, A RUBBER BURNING SMELL STARTS TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY FOUND A PLASTIC SHEET UNDER THE CAR BUT I DRIVE IN CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD. I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM AS I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE CAR A DAY EARLIER TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANYTHING BUT FOUND NOTHING. THE RUBBER BURNING SMELL IS STRONG AND CAN BE FELT JUST STANDING BY THE CAR AND IN THE CABIN WHEN HEATING IS TURNED ON. I PARK THIS CAR IN DRIVEWAY NOW INSTEAD IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE I SUSPECT MY CAR CAN START A FIRE FROM WHATEVER IS BURNING SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI #11064545

Related Official recalls

3

14V138000 · Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System:software

Mar 25, 2014

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags:frontal

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

08V521000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:software

Oct 7, 2008

NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Air Bags

NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

07V599000 · Electrical System:ignition:module

Dec 28, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) REPLACED DURING SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE SOFTWARE. IF THE TPMS IS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT ALERT THE DRIVER TO A DECREASE IN THE TIRE PRESSURE AS DESIGNED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TPMS FUNCTION AND REACTIVATE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.