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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 168

Of the 2001 reports, 23 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 4 people died.

Primary concernEngine and engine cooling60 reports · 36% of complaints
Owner complaints168Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine and engine cooling60
  2. Electrical system22
  3. Suspension19
  4. Air bags16
  5. Visibility14
  6. Vehicle speed control12
  7. Equipment9
  8. Service brakes8

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  1. Engine and engine cooling, Mar 2, 2005

    VEHICLE LOST SPEED FROM 70 MPH TO 20 MPH ,AND ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD SHUT DOWN, BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING ON TWO OF THE FOUR CYLINDERS. *TC

  2. Engine and engine cooling, Apr 1, 2004

    WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK *JB

  3. Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Feb 19, 2004

    WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER ENGAGED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. *AK *JB

  4. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Nov 4, 2003

    MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA, WITH APPROX 89000 MILES, HAS STARTED EXPERIENCING ENGINE FAILURE AT CRUISING SPEEDS (50-70 MPH) ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS INTERMITTENT WITH NO APPARENT WARNING. FIRST, ALL GUAGES, INCLUDING GAS, TEMPERATURE, RPM AND ODOMETER, FALL TO ZERO. THE CAR JERKS AS IF DOWNSHIFTED, AND SLOWS DRASTICALLY, AND THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT ACCELERATE THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED 7-8 TIMES IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THE RADIO DISPLAY LIGHT ALSO BLANKS OUT, NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED OR A SEPARATE PROBLEM.*AK

  5. Engine and engine cooling, Oct 22, 2002

    WHILE IN MOTION, THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY. THE SERVICE MEN COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND BOTH STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL WERE LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE TEAM. THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THIS TIME CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE DOES SHUT DOWN. THEY ARE STILL UNABLE TO GET TO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *JG

  6. Engine and engine cooling, Oct 2, 2002

    THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING. NISSAN SAID IT WAS THE ECM AND REPLACED THE PART. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR CONTINUES TO SHUTDOWN AND HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. TS

  7. Engine and engine cooling, Sep 29, 2002

    ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL. CAR DROVE ONTO CURVE. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC CAN DETECT NO ERROR CODES. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT IT IS THE ECM WITH NO APPARENT PROOF. MR

  8. Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 8, 2002

    VEHICLE IS LOSING OIL BUT SHOWS NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE. PRESENTLY, IT IS UNKNOWN WHERE OIL IS FLOWING TO DUE TO OIL GAUGE READING BELOW THE FULL MARK. WHILE IDLING IN PARK VEHICLE CUTS OFF, WHEN RESTARTED IT MADE A RATTLING NOISE AND CUT OFF AGAIN. VEHICLE HAD 3 OIL CHANGES SINCE DECEMBER 2001. SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT PISTON RINGS WERE PUT ON TOO TIGHTLY. CONSUMER WAS ASKED TO DRIVE VEHICLE FOR 500 MILES TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD CORRECT BY ITSELF.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED VEHICLE BURNS FUEL QUICKLY.*JB

  9. Engine and engine cooling, Mar 20, 2002

    ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

  10. Engine and engine cooling, Nov 1, 2001

    MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. *YH