1997 Nissan Altima Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year are dominated by airbag concerns: owners describe frontal and rear impacts in which the front airbags did not deploy, and a smaller group report a blinking airbag warning light. Remaining reports are spread thin across transmission, braking, suspension/corrosion, seat belt and electrical problems, many of them filed at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a crash

   • 28 complaints (26%)
   • median 88,839 mi at 7.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 24 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2020

   Owners describe front-end, rear-end and side impacts at speeds from roughly 10 to 60 mph in which neither the driver nor the passenger front airbag deployed. In several accounts occupants were injured, and owners say the dealer told them the system was working to specification or did not follow up after the crash was reported. Reports are scattered from the late 1990s through recent years, at mileages ranging from about 28,000 to 160,000 miles when stated.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has been inspected and whether the warning light behaves normally on a test drive, and have a pre-purchase inspection include the restraint system. Note that a non-deployment in a crash does not by itself confirm a fault.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My son was in a head on crash in my vehicle. He was traveling approximately 30 MPH when he hit the back of another car. His air bags did not deploy nor did his seatbelt lock. His chin hit the steering wheel. His head and hand both went into the windshield which is cracked. He was driving a 1997 Nissan Altima. I also have photos of the car and the windshield.”

   NHTSA complaint #10052605, filed 2004-01, 58,000 miles

   “I was hit, rear-ended, very hard and the airbag definitely should have deployed. I was making a left turn, stopped for at least 10 seconds waiting for traffic to clear and a car slammed into the back of me with no attempt to hit their brakes”

   NHTSA complaint #11301549, filed 2020-01, 96,000 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Seat belts lock up or fail to retract

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2016

   Owners describe lap and shoulder belts that lock and will not release, belts that do not retract fully and leave slack, and guide rails that jam intermittently and set off the belt warning. One owner cut a belt to free a child. Dealers replaced guide rails in some cases, and one recall covers a front buckle base produced with improper heat treatment. Mileages in the sample run from new-vehicle reports up to about 160,000 miles, with several complaints filed within the first few years of ownership.

   Recall 96V1850001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and let it retract, checking that it locks and releases smoothly. Ask whether the front buckle recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear brake lights failure- both sides- first left then right- replaced went out again soon after. Lights on heater gauges failed. Cigarette lighter female part pulls out of dash when you take the lighter out. Passenger door panel came off-keeps the doors from unlocking- tried to fix it and ended up being locked in my car in the rain for an hour. Back passenger side seat belt was jammed. Also odometer is jammed-has never been tampered with. Was bringing my husband to work and I know that it is a 10 mile drive-none of the numbers rolled over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10095666, filed 2004-10

   “The vehicles driver and passenger side seat belt guide rails locked up intermittently which causes the seat belt warning system to activate. Dealership replaced guide rail once on the passenger side and once on the driver side.”

   NHTSA complaint #8022283, filed 2002-11, 160,806 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light blinking or staying on

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2005

   Owners report the airbag warning light blinking or flickering while driving, sometimes for months or years. Dealers and shops diagnosed a failed airbag control module, sensor or a faulty part in the computer and in some cases replaced the complete driver-side airbag system; owners also describe being told the repair was not covered after warranty expired. Reported from roughly 28,000 to 140,000 miles, with some owners noting the light had been blinking for a year or more.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the airbag light comes on briefly at startup and then goes out. If it blinks or stays lit, get the stored codes read before buying and ask what diagnostics or repairs have already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The air bag light all of a sudden started blinking while the ignition is on. I took the car to the dealer and they said needed new air bag controller. When I got in the car the light stopped flashing, I spoke with service rep and he said that the light will come on again and they have a report detailing the code from the computer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10106543, filed 2005-01

   “While driving, the air bag sensor lights started flickering. The dealership indicated that is was related to a part in the computer, that needed to be replaced (part unknown). Ts the air bag sensor lights remain to flickering. Scc”

   NHTSA complaint #10004474, filed 2003-01, 28,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting or sudden downshifts

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the transmission slipping, delayed engagement when shifting from reverse to drive, unexpected downshifts at highway speed and bucking at all speeds and gears. Several took the car to the dealer repeatedly without a confirmed cause; one owner reported a transmission replaced after recall work on the solenoid assembly. Mileages in the sample are mostly above 100,000 miles where stated, though some reports were filed in the first few years of ownership.

   What to check: Test drive from cold through several up- and downshifts, including a firm throttle application, and check the transmission fluid level and condition. Ask about any prior transmission or solenoid work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Airbag - driver's side airbag did not deploy in 35mph head-on crash. Driver was severely injured. Brakes - brakes did not adequately stop the vehicle in 35mph head-on crash. Driver was severely injured. Transmission - transmission constantly slips, takes few minutes to engage from reverse to drive. Engine - engine won't start at random. Dealer findds no problems. Has happened 3 times since purchased vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #700742, filed 1998-11

   “When traveling at 40 or more vehicle would downshift unexpectedly. Vehicle been in dealer shop on four occasions, and problem still reoccurring. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #888500, filed 2001-05
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Stalling or no-start, including in cold weather

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 97,939 mi at 11.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2013

   Owners describe the engine stalling at speed without warning, hard starting or no-start when temperatures drop below freezing, and a camshaft breaking. Dealers replaced batteries and distributors without resolving the cold-start problem, and in one case attributed a broken camshaft to missed oil changes, which the owner disputed with service records. Reports span roughly 28,000 to 131,000 miles and include repeated cold-weather no-starts.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Start the car from cold and let it idle, watching for a stumble or stall, and ask about any history of no-starts in winter or repeated battery and ignition-part replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This car had been repaired almost every year since I owned this car in september 2004. Had a sudden overheat problem recently. My mechanic told me engine head gasket was damaged or wore out. Did not repair the car. The car has 131,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10523112, filed 2013-07, 131,000 miles

   “Car cam shaft broke took it to dealer to be repaired they said that engine needs to be replaced. I asked what caused the cam shaft to break they said I havent been getting oil changes and did not take care of the car. Which is not the case. I called dealership and spoke with service manager and explained to him that I had all my services done with them he looked up information and agreed that I did have all service maintence done at their service department. I have all of the invoices to prove this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10031123, filed 2003-08, 64,878 miles

Buying note. On this model year the most consequential reports concern the restraint systems, so check the airbag warning light and belt operation carefully and confirm recall work. Ask for service records on the transmission and for any history of stalling or cold-start problems, and expect an older car to need rust inspection underneath.

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.