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
168 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Nov 2, 2001, crash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 15MPH SUDDENLY VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER WENT OFF THE ROAD TRYING TO VEER TO LEFT, AND VEHICLE KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE STOPPED ON IMPACT BY HITTING A TREE. FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED. OFFICER AT THE SCENE STATED VEHICLE WASN'T TRAVELING TOO FAST ACCORDING HOW AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 1, 2001
MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. *YH
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Oct 26, 2001, crash
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED FOLLOWED BY FUMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SECONDS LATER, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH AND HIT A BRICK WALL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Electrical system, Oct 13, 2001
COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT ANY TIME-NO WARNING.*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
Wheels, Jul 18, 2001, crash
CAST METAL RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY FAILED WHILE IN MOTION, BROKE, WHEEL FELL OFF, AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO BLOCK WALL. *AK THERE WERE INJURIES DUE TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CAST METAL TRANSVERSE LINK FAILED AS WELL AS WHEEL BOLTS, A WITNESS SAW THE VEHICLE WOBBLING OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO THE WHEEL FAILLING OFF BEFORE IT SLAMMED INTO THE BLOCK WALL. *SLC
Suspension, Jul 12, 2001
SWAY BAR BUSHING HAS FALLEN OUT TWICE. *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
Suspension, Jun 25, 2001
AFTER HAVING VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM LEFT REAR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AT DEALER. TECHNICIAN STATED SWAY BAR WAS LOOSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Tires, Jun 24, 2001
DEVELOPED BUBBLE IN SIDEWALL. *AK (TIRESIZE: 205/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/60R15 )
Tires, Jun 21, 2001
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V065 AND WENT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, DEALER ONLY REPLACED THREE OF THE TIRES STATING THE OTHER TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO IT BEING MADE ON A DIFFERENT DAY, CONSUMER REPLACED THE OTHER TIRE AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
Suspension, Jun 6, 2001
LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CRUNCHING/RATTLING NOISE OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT TO BE NOISEY SWAYBAR LINK. THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE BUSHING PUSHED OUT APPARENTLY. THEY HAD TO INSTALL A WASHER ON SWAT BAR BUSHINGS RETAINER. NOT SURE IF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHERE I COULD OF LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I FOUND THIS BAD BECAUSE CAR IS NEW AND ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD AND I DRIVE ALL HIGHWAY INTERSTATE MILES. NO SIDE/OFF ROADS WITH MAJOR BUMPS TO KNOCK THIS OUT. HOPEFULLY PROB WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.IT IS A CONCERN SINCE VEH IS NEW AND THERE WAS NO EXTREMELY ROUGH DRIVING DONE WITH VEHICLE.
Suspension, Jun 4, 2001
CONSUMER HEARD A BANGING NOISE IN REAR. TOOK VHEICLE TO DEALER . DEALER CLAIMED SWAY BAR AND BUSHINGS HAD TO BE REMOUNTED. *AK *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jun 3, 2001
ON TWO OCCASIONS, IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC, WHILE STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR OUT OF GEAR, THE ENGINE RPMS "TOOK OFF" I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPEND, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE THE FIRST TIME BUT NOW I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED RACING, THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL IT WAS TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I AM TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM.
Power train, May 28, 2001
WHEN SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO 5TH GEAR, GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 900 MILES. DEALER INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED.*AK
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
Vehicle speed control, Nov 30, 2000
VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE & GO INTO OVERDRIVE ON ITS OWN. WAS DRIVING 5MPH DOWN ALLEY WAY. PUT INTO NEUTRAL & ENGINE STARTED ROARING, AND RPMS WENT RACING HIGH. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK