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: engine and engine cooling
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, May 1, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 11, 2011
I JUST HAD TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON THE #4 CYLINDER FOR THE 2ND TIME ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE FIRST TIME WAS FEB 23, 2005 AT JUST UNDER 57,000 MILES. NOW, THE MILEAGE IS 123,225. LUCKILY, MY FIANCE WORKS AT A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY GAVE ME A BREAK ON THE LABOR RATE! AT A REDUCED LABOR RATE, THE REPAIR WAS $287.00, ALL LABOR EXCEPT $7.13. MY CAR STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS, ALMOST LIKE IT WANTED TO DIE. SINCE IT HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, I KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THIS TIME!! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 11, 2011
MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT THE #4 CYLINDER REPLACED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 56,955 MILES ON IT IN FEB 2005. THE PART WAS LESS THAN $10.00 BUT THE REPAIR WAS OVER $734.14 DUE TO LABOR. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE EXACT SAME PART A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 123,000 MILES ON IT. BOTH TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD START IDLING EXTREMELY ROUGH WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. WHEN YOU START TO ACCELERATE, AT TIMES, THE CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 15, 2011
2001 ALTIMA SE IDLE PROBLEM WHEN ON A STOP. SIMILAR IDLE PROBLEMS I HAD IN MAY 2005 IN WHICH THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH IS LEAKING AT #4 CYL. PAID NOTHING BECAUSE ITS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN IN MAR 2007, WITH 60,802 MILES, DEALER REPLACED THE SAME INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET INWHICH THIS TIME, I PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT FIX. NOW, ON THE THIRD TIME, WITH 120,000 MILES, I'M HAVING SIMILAR IDLE PROBLEM AND PROBABLY I WILL HAVE THE DEALER TO WORK ON IT. THIS IS REALLY A BIG PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR AND I TAUGHT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. IT'S REALLY UNSAFE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE/OPERATE WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 11, 2011
I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT, AND GOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 52,000 MILES, I HAD MAJOR SHAKING AT IDLE, TOOK IT IN, AND THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, AT 74,000 MILES, ONLY 22,000 MILES MORE, THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTOZONE, AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, WHICH INDICATED THE PROBABILITY OF A VACUUM LEAK, POSSIBLY DUE TO A FAULTY GASKET, ETC. THIS PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY VERY COMMON WITH THIS YEAR ALTIMA, AND NISSAN HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER, THERE IS EXCESSIVE HEAT IN THE AREA NEAR THE MANIFOLD GASKET (WHICH IS A 15.00 PART), LEADING TO PREMATURE BREAKDOWN OF THE GASKET. SIMPLE HEAT SHIELDING WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT NISSAN HAS DONE NOTHING. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE CAR COULD DIE AT IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT, AND THE DRIVER COULD BE REAR ENDED. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE JOB, DUE TO 5 OR MORE HOURS OF LABOR TO GET THE GASKET REPLACED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 24, 2010
THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY STALLED DURING THE PAST MONTH. NOW ITS MILLAGE IS 105,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 1, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIANS INFORMED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET EXHIBITED A LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 22, 2010
THE FAILURE I AM WRITING ABOUT IS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN THE 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA IN DOING RESEARCH IT IS EVIDENT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN MOST OF THESE CARS IN ORDER TO FIX HAD TO BRING TO MECHANIC AND PAY $900 FOR A PART THAT COST NO MORE THEN$20 THERE HAS BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED TO YOU ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE FROM OTHERS IT IS EASY TO SEE HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS ISSUE IS WITH ONE QUICK INTERNET SEARCH. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 27, 2010
CAR STALLING WHEN NOT IN MOTION, SHUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, OCCURS WHENEVER I DRIVE THE CAR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS TO BE REPLACED. MANY OTHER CONSUMERS SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN ALTIMA 2001 LIMITED EDITION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 24, 2010
GASKET ISSUE...CAR STARTS SHAKING AT STOP SIGNS AND ONE HAS TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL PRETTY HAND. CAN BE DANGEROUS. THE PART WAS REPAIRED ....BUT BECAUSE IT WAS 100K MILES + ....HAD TO PAY 1200 DOLLARS TO FIX THE ISSUE. LOOKS LIKE A SCAM BY NISSAN AND DEALERS....SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME TOPIC. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 30, 2010
THE CAR STARTED TO ALMOST DIE AND VIBRATE WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS. I AM PAYING $636 TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 66000 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT AND PERFECTLY MAINTAINED. BASED ON THE LARGE NUMBER OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO NHTSA, I BELIEVE THIS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY NISSAN. I ALSO REGISTERED THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE NISSAN WEBSITE TODAY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 15, 2009
2001 NISSAN ALTIMA ,ROUGH IDLE APPEARS TO ACT AS IF THERE IS A DEAD MISS. CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC AND ITS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE . NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THIS. FAILURE MILEAGE 58,000. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Dec 11, 2009
SECOND TIME MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT HAS A ROUGH IDLES WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS, IN GEAR, NEUTRAL OR IN PARK. NISSAN NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. BOTH INSTANCES HAVE INCLUDED THE ENGINE STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 30, 2009
2001 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, CAUSES ROUGH IDLE AND CAR TO SHUT OFF WHEN ENGINE IS ON. THIS LEADS TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF CAR AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A $10 PART, WHICH COSTS $600+ TO REPAIR. NISSAN SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM AND HAVE IT REPLACED ON THESE CARS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 6, 2009
EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLING THAT DULLS DOWN UPON PUTTING CAR IN PARK BUT DOES NOT STOP. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE CAR MIGHT STALL AT TIMES. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I WAS STOPPED THE OTHER DAY ON A HILL AND THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION POWER AND ALMOST STALLED. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS WITH STALLING OR THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ALSO APPEARED AND REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND APPARENTLY IT IS A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ($600-$800). IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED/RECALLED.TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 29, 2009
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH IS A PROBLEM NISSAN IS AWARE OF ON MOST OF THE 2000-2004 ALTIMA CARS, MAKES THE CAR SHAKE AND SEEM LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL WHILE IDLE. SOMETIMES IT DOES IT WHILE DRIVING, AND HAS IN SOME CASES MADE THE CAR GO DEAD WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STEERED AWAY FROM DANGER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 28, 2009
ONLY 64000 MILES AND THIS CAR SHAKES RATTLES AND ROLLS AT IDLE. I DID A SEARCH IN GOOGLE, IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE FOR 2000 AND 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THERE ARE ALREADY QUITE A FEW SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, THE REPAIR BILL IS $1175. THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE GAS INTAKE GASKET. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 14, 2009
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 8, 2009, crash
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 4, 2009
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 27, 2009
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 13, 2009
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 2, 2009
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
Engine and engine cooling, May 23, 2009
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