1994 Nissan Altima Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year concentrate on the air bag system, both deployments that owners describe as too forceful in crashes and, less often, bags that did not deploy at all; an air bag warning light on the dash is a common early sign. Older, higher-mileage cars also draw reports of stalling or no-start faults traced to the distributor, oil and coolant leaks from engine seals, and random engine shutdowns. Reports span from the mid-1990s into recent years and usually involve vehicles well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on, or air bag did not deploy

   • 35 complaints (33%)
   • median 121,000 mi at 13.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 29 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2019

   Owners describe the air bag light staying on or blinking on the dash, sometimes after unrelated service such as an oil change, and in some cases a dealer traced it to the air bag control unit. Other complaints describe frontal collisions in which one or both front air bags did not deploy, and a few describe bag deployment after the crash rather than during impact. Several owners say they were told repairs were not covered or that recall parts were not available. Reported across a wide mileage range, from cars under 100,000 miles to ones well past 150,000, and often noticed simply as a lit dash light.

   Recall 03V1500002 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the air bag light comes on and then goes out; a light that stays lit points to a fault. Ask whether recall 03V150000 (passenger air bag replacement) was completed on this car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Another vehicle ran stop light, hit my wife head on. My wife suffered injuries to her face and mouth when she hit the steering wheel. Police estimate that other vehicle was going over 50 MPH, my wife was stopped. Neither driver's or passenger's side airbags deployed. Airbags in the other vehicle deployed (also a Nissan). I wish to formally report the failure of the airbag system in my vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #736267, filed 2000-11

   “After oil change the airbag light started blinking/flashing. Had not done so prior. Does this mean I need to pay out of pocket for it to be tested and then repaired even though I didn't do anything? My previous name was willa janine adams, now it's kohl.”

   NHTSA complaint #748045, filed 2001-07
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag deploys with excessive force, eye injuries

   • 24 complaints (23%)
   • median 139,000 mi at 10.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe the passenger-side air bag inflating with enough force in relatively low-speed impacts to injure the front passenger's face and eyes, in some accounts causing lasting vision loss. Some owners also report burns or abrasions from the deploying bag. A federal recall on this model year addressed the passenger air bag by fitting a lower-force unit. Described in crashes at everyday speeds, with no consistent mileage pattern in the complaints.

   Recall 03V1500002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for written confirmation that the passenger air bag recall was performed and by whom; owners report having been turned away when parts were unavailable, so a receipt matters.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ea01-015(pe01-008) while sitting at a intersection waiting for the traffic light vehicle in front made a sudden stop and driver pulled over into to the right of the lane and hit other vehicle. Passenger side airbag deployed intoher face, causing damage to eyes. Also, face was completely numb and noise was broken. Be advised that right eye had to brereplaced. Legal representation has been applied. .”

   NHTSA complaint #8016198, filed 2002-08

   “Consumer was involved in an accident, in which the passenger side air bag failed to deploy, but with delayed excessive force on the drivers side, consumer suffered injuried while trying to free herself from the seat belt is when the injuries occured from the driver side air bag.”

   NHTSA complaint #561842, filed 2001-07
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or will not start (distributor and ignition)

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 107,000 mi at 11.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2015

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at speed or while accelerating from a stop, sometimes restarting and sometimes not, and intermittent no-start conditions in cold weather. Owners report the distributor being replaced, in one case repeatedly, without a lasting fix, and one owner notes long waits for the part. Other electrical reports include a horn that works only intermittently and chafed wiring behind the dash. Mostly reported between roughly 80,000 and 230,000 miles, with some no-start reports in cold weather.

   What to check: Ask for service records on the distributor and ignition components, and test-start the car from cold. Check for a horn that works every time and for any history of dash or wiring repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 94 Nissan Altima shuts down while driving without any warning. The first time this has happened was sometime in april of 2004. While accelerating from a stop sign the car started jurking and the engine died. I started the car up again and kept on driving for about 1/2 a mile (I drove for about 10 miles prior to this car failure and than after the car was parked idle for about 5 hours I drove back home for 12 miles with no problems). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10126375, filed 2005-06, 107,000 miles

   “During cold weather intermittently the vehicle would not start. Dealership repaired the distributor five times, but the consumer was still having the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10115401, filed 2005-03, 19,100 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or throttle not returning to idle

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 6.9 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2019

   Owners describe the engine revving and the car surging forward when they were braking or at a stop, in some cases ending in a collision. Others report the throttle staying open after releasing the cruise control or the accelerator, or the accelerator pedal mounting frame breaking. A recall on this model year covers engine movement pulling the throttle cable housing out of its guide, which can keep the throttle from returning to idle. Reported at parking-lot and city speeds as well as highway speeds; mileage in the sample ranges from low to well over 100,000.

   Recall 94V035000

   What to check: Check whether recall 94V035000 was completed, and with the engine off work the accelerator and cruise control cable by hand to confirm it returns freely and the pedal mount is intact.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I crashed into 3 cars and a truck because my car engine revvedand even with my foot firmly on the brake just went. Three times before my car just went but I was lucky and did not cause any kind of accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #731335, filed 2000-09

   “While driving in steady, constant-speed freeway traffic, the accelerator pedal mounting frame collapsed. Dealer inspection revealed that one of the frame flanges snapped. Nissan claims it is not a safety issue and has refused to assist customer.”

   NHTSA complaint #749184, filed 2001-07
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Oil and coolant leaks from engine seals and gaskets

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 107,000 mi at 16.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2010

   Owners describe oil spots under the car traced to engine seals, timing cover and intake manifold gaskets, with repair attempts that did not always stop the leak. Some report rough, shaking idle and hesitation traced to the intake manifold gasket. Others describe coolant leaks and, in one account, a rusted radiator support beam. Reported from around 100,000 miles upward, often noticed as stains on the driveway or a rough idle.

   What to check: Look under the car and at the engine for fresh oil or coolant residue, check the coolant level and condition, and ask what gaskets or seals have been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car is a 1994 Nissan Altima 4 door with 107,000, and no previous mechanical issues ever. There are thousands of Nissan owners out there experiencing this same issue, why has Nissan done nothing to help? I feel this problem could become a safety hazard as the car randomly stalls in traffic. 1) there were no events leading up to this failure. The problem began about 7 days ago on april 19, 2010. 2) the failure is in the intake manifold gasket. The car shakes violently at idling (between 0-1rpm) and upon applying gas, trembles to get going. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10327649, filed 2010-04, 107,000 miles

   “I had noticed that there was an oil stain on my garage floor, after sevicing this vehicle the dealer said that they had to replace a seal. I had purchased the extended warranty on my car so it was covered for the repair. A couple of months later I noticed the small oil stain returning, every time I took my car in for service is was something different than transmission leaking (even though oil was not red), they had to clean something and so one. Finally this past winter they admitted that the seal had to be replaced in the engine again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #767273, filed 2002-09

Buying note. On a car this old, the air bag recall history and a working air bag warning light are worth confirming before anything else, and a test drive should include steady braking and a check that the throttle returns cleanly. Service records for the distributor, engine seals and gaskets tell you more about condition than the odometer alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.