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: service brakes

8 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Suspension, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Oct 2, 2019

    THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA IS VERY LOW LOUD NOISE. THE CAR RATTLES AND SHAKE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION

  2. Suspension, Service brakes, Sep 28, 2016

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE AXLE AND SWAY WELDINGS FAILED, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE'S REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 01/06/2017*CT *TR

  3. Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Nov 19, 2014

    I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK WHEN I HEARD A CRANKING/SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, I STOPPED AND CHECKED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT NOTICED THAT ANYTIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES/MAKE A TURN THE SOUND WILL COME ON, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNT AND ALSO THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEEN AFFECTED AND I COULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A CERTAIN MILE ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS, IT;S STILL ON, NOW NO ONE CAN TELL IF IT IS RELATED TO THE ISSUE CAR HAD OR NOT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR HARDLY COME ON PROPERLY, EVEN IF I PUT THEM ON FULL LIGHT, IT'S STILL LOOKS DIM AND I CAN SEE WITH THEM AT NIGHT WHEN AM DRIVING, THE HEAT SUDDENLY COMES ON EVEN WITHOUT TURNING IT ON, AM REALLY SCARED NOW CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS COMPLAINTS ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH HIGH RECALLS . *TR

  4. 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

  5. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Aug 11, 2005

    EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAD TO CALL NISSAN HQ BACK BOTH TIMES JUST TO GET AND ANSWER THAT YES IT IS COVERED AND NO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I AM COMPLETELY OVER NISSANS FAULTY WORKMANSHIP. I TOOK MY X IN TO HAVE THE 60K MAINT DONE AND THEY HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME ABOUT MY BRAKES, BUT DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRACKED MANIFOLD. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THAT THEY SAW IT BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. IF IT WASN'T FROM THE DEALER CHARGING ME FOR OVERFILLING MY TRANS FLUID AND NOT TIGHTENING A TRANS HOSE FITTING, I WOULD HAD DROVE THE THING UNTIL THE NEXT TIME TO CHANGE THE OIL AND NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD OR RAN THE TRANSMISSION DRY. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS MY FAULT FOR NOT KEEPING AN EYE ON IT. I ASKED THE LADY AT HQ'S, IF I HAD TAKEN MY X IN WITH 60K MILES ON IT AND THEY HAD FOUND THE CRACK WOULD IT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY? SHE TOLD ME NO THEN WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN ON 59999K AND IT WOULD HAD BEEN. I HAD TAKEN IT IN PRIOR TO THE 60K TO WHICH THE DEALER DID NOTHING OR NOTED NOTHING. THEN AFTER FINDING THE TRANS FLUID LEAK I TOOK IT BACK IN WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK IN IT WAS OVER THE 60K. NOW AFTER THE DEALER QUOTED ME 4 DIFFERENT PRICES RANGING FROM 300-1500 DOLLARS ON REPAIRING THE EXACT SAME THING (EXHAUST MANIFOLD). I AM PAYING MORE FOR GAS DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE FROM THE CRACKED/FAULTY MANIFOLD. I CONSTANTLY SMELL EXHAUST DURING TRAVELING(STOPS). AT TIMES IT IS TO THE POINT THAT I MUST KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN. *NM

  6. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 15, 2005, crash

    DT: WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. *AK *NM

  7. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 23, 2003

    6 TIMES CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PROBLEM STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB

  8. 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