2001 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 168 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 23 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsSep 14, 2007
CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. DS517-B001L AND DS517-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OPTICEL SURFACE OF THE REFLECTOR IS CORRODED INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
Campaign 07E074000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, tread/beltFeb 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.
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.
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.
Campaign 01V065000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
16 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, May 21, 2015, crash
SOME DRIVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO A DUI, AND HIS CAR WAS STRADDLED ACROSS THE LEFT LANE AND I HIT IT AS I CAME AROUND THE BEND AT APPR. 11:30 P.M. IN A DARK SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND I AND MY SON WAS JERKED, BUT WE WERE BOTH WEARING OUR SEATBELTS. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. WE WERE NEARLY WIPED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. THOUGH MY LOCKED UP BRAKES CAUSED ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THE NEXT LANE, THUS HITTING THE CAR, IF I HAD MADE IT TO THE LANE TO THE RIGHT OF ME, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT, TRUST ME. THOUGH THIS HAPPENED NEARLY 9 YEARS AGO, IT STILL HAPPENED AND I STILL HAVE MY NISSAN. MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING AND THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. ALSO, MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALWAYS GO OUT, WAY MORE THAN THEY SHOULD AND THEY WERE POORLY DESIGNED. THE WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS GO UP OR DOWN EITHER.
Air bags, Nov 12, 2014, crash
THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED SOMEONE'S VAN WHILE ONLY GOING 15-20 MPH. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THEN EXPLODED; CAUSING 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. SMALL PIECES OF DEBRIS WERE ALSO REMOVED FROM BRUISES I SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. I BROKE/FRACTURED MY RIBS, DISLOCATED MY KNEE AND MY PELVIC BONE WAS SHATTERED. THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AUTO BODY IN CHARGE OF REPAIRS FOR THIS CAR "CONVENIENTLY" MISPLACED THE AIRBAGS AFTER BEING ASKED SPECIFICALLY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAGS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE......UPDATED 11-24/14 *BF
Air bags, Oct 25, 2014, crash
WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND FRONT END BUCKLED BY THE CRASH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY......FRONT END DAMAGE WAS APPROX $5500 DUE TO LOW MILES WAS REPAIRED ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY? *TR
Air bags, Apr 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Dec 22, 2011
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A PIECE OF TAPE OVER THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND AUTO ZONE HELPED ME TAKE IT OFF. THE NISSAN DIED GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. LATER TO FIND THAT I NEEDED A OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOW ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED EVAC HOSES BUT ALL THE DEALER DID WAS UNHOOK ONE SO THEY COULD CHARGE ME FOR CODES BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND MY PROBLEM WITH NO ENGINE LIGHT PRESENT. SO MY MECHANIC FOUND THE UNHOOKED HOSE AND PUT IT BACK ON AND IT WAS PREVIOUSLY NOT UNHOOKED. THE CAR DIES RANDOMLY IN TRAFFIC AND IS VERY HAZARDOUS TO BE REAR ENDED OR EVEN TO HIT SOME ONE ELSE WITH THE DEALER NOT EVEN KNOWING HOW TO PROPERLY RESOLVE THIS ISSUE???? MY MECHANIC WILL BE HELPING ME TO MAKE THIS CAR SAFER FOR ME TO DRIVE. *TR
Air bags, Jul 29, 2009, crash
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
Air bags, Jun 22, 2006, crash
THE AIR BAGS ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *JB
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 17, 2006, crash
I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15-20 MILES AN HOUR IN MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE LE. A TRUCK CUT ME OFF AND I WAS FORCED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. IN TURN MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND MY HEAD BOUNCED OF MY STEERING WHEEL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND WHY MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED OUT BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS A TOTAL LOSS. AS FAR AS CORRECTIVE ACTION NONE WAS TAKEN AS THE CAR IS DESTROYED. *JB
Air bags, Nov 9, 2004, crash
THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON AT 65 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER A REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE. *JB THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. *TC
Air bags, Mar 3, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 24, 2002, crash
SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN CRASH. ALSO, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SPEED WAS BELOW 35, BUT OTHER VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS ALSO BELOW 35 AND IT'S AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. OTHER VEHICLE WAS 95 NISSAN MAXIMA. CALL OR EMAIL WITH ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS. *AK
Air bags, Jan 15, 2002, crash
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FULL FRONTAL CRASH WHEN IT BROADSIDED ANOTHER CAR CROSSING HIS LANE OF TRAFFIC, TRAVELING 15 TO 25 MPH. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT. DRIVER RECEIVED HEAD/ NECK, AND BACK INJURIES; AND PERSON IN FRONT PASSENGER POSITION RECEIVED NECK AND HEAD INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
Air bags, Sep 26, 2001, crash
WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE RAN INTO A COMMERCIAL TRUCK HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 10, 2001, crash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON HIGHWAY ON A BRIDGE AND IT WAS RAINING. HE APPLIED BRAKES THREE TIMES, AND BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKED UP BECAUSE THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. VEHICLE SLID AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T COME OUT, BUT AIRBAG LIGHT DID COME ON. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE THREE POINT RESTRAINT SYSTEM ALSO FAILED, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
Air bags, May 10, 2001, crash
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 2-19-01. WE WERE TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON A CITY STREET WITH THE POSTED SPEED OF 40 MPH. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 38-40MPH. A CAR TRAVELING WEST BOUND TURNED IN FRONT OF US, WE HIT THE CAR AND THE HIT A STOP LIGHT POLE. WE CONTACTED NISSAN, AND THEY SENT US A LETTER STATING THAT WE DID NOT DECELERATE QUICK ENOUGH. GOING 40MPH AND HITTING A CAR AND THEN A LIGHT POLE, HOW CAN THAT NOT BE A QUICK ENOUGH DECELERATION? MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND ALL OF THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WITH THE LIGHT POLE RESTING IN THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. EVERYONE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE POLICE, FIRE DEPT., AND AMBULANCE WOULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO GET ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED FOR FEAR THAT THE BAGS WOULD DEPLOY IN ATTEMPT TO GET ME OUT. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. I LOVE MY EXTERRA, BUT IF EVER THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER ACCIDENT, I (OR SOMEONE ELSE) MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE TO SURVIVE THE CRASH.*AK
Air bags, Feb 27, 2001, crash
CONSUMER HAD A HEAD COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TWO PERSON WERE INJURED , DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *AK *SLC