1998 Nissan Altima Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 11%of 123 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 148,884miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the brakes of the 1998 Nissan Altima, 11% of the 123 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 148,884 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“It was a rainy day and I was following traffic, I was going about 30mph when I had to take a curve. I 'gently' hit brakes to slow for the curve when my brakes locked up sending me straight into oncoming traffic where I hit a hummer h3. Luckily neither of us were going that fast through the curve so little damage was done. But this wasn't the first time the breaks had locked up on a slippery surface, yet it doesn't occur very often, infact the ABS had check out ok a month prior. …”
NHTSA complaint #10294954, filed 2009-12, 147,769 miles“1. Was driving south on hwy 101 in california at 60 MPH. 2. Brakes failed to slow car down, only released an odor as the pads appeared to be smoldering. Accelerator appeared to be frozen and for a couple minutes actually accelerated. 3. Applied brakes repeatedly, pulled on hand brake, pressed on cruise control on off switch, pressed on cruise control cancel and set switches. Up until then the cruise control was not working at all anyway. But, it appeared that cruise control was on and non-responding to the brakes. …”
NHTSA complaint #10292115, filed 2009-11, 150,000 miles“A car ran a red light and turned in front of me I tried to stop but the car brakes locked and the car started skidding. I couldn't control the car and it skid into the rear of the car that pulled in front of me. The collision was hard enough to fold my hood in half but the airbag never deployed. I went to the emergency room with chest pain and a numb left arm and hand. The airbag failed to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #720848, filed 2000-03“The front brake calipers cease up and pulls severely hard to the left into on coming traffic. The calipers lock up without applying brakes and even when the vehicle is not turned on. The consumer can smell the brakes due to being so hot. The dealer was notified. Nlm”
NHTSA complaint #8006464, filed 2002-03“Consumer was pulling out a parking lot when another vehicle struck his vehicle on the right corner. Then when consumer tried to drive vehicle away from the other vehicle, he stepped on the brakes to stop, but vehicle did not stop. Vehicle went over the sidewalk.”
NHTSA complaint #826759, filed 1998-08Related service bulletins
- 10192217Jul 23, 2013If YOU CONFIRM: A vehicle needs to have the brake rotors resurfaced (front or rear). ACTION: Use the ProCut PFM Series on-car brake lathe to perform brake rotor resurfacing and…
- 10192216Jul 23, 2013SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 14% |
| 2024 | 5 | 12% |
| 2023 | 4 | 13% |
| 2022 | 5 | 16% |
| 2021 | 21 | 30% |
| 2020 | 18 | 10% |
| 2019 | 30 | 13% |
| 2018 | 49 | 22% |
| 2017 | 19 | 5% |
| 2016 | 11 | 2% |
| 2015 | 26 | 3% |
| 2014 | 28 | 3% |
| 2013 | 58 | 3% |
| 2012 | 20 | 5% |
| 2011 | 12 | 5% |
| 2010 | 32 | 8% |
| 2009 | 47 | 3% |
| 2008 | 93 | 9% |
| 2007 | 70 | 15% |
| 2006 | 26 | 3% |
| 2005 | 37 | 3% |
| 2004 | 10 | 4% |
| 2003 | 12 | 1% |
| 2002 | 29 | 3% |
| 2001 | 7 | 4% |
| 2000 | 12 | 8% |
| 1999 | 15 | 17% |
| 1998 | 14 | 11% |
| 1997 | 9 | 8% |
| 1996 | 5 | 5% |
| 1995 | 10 | 6% |
| 1994 | 4 | 4% |
| 1993 | 6 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1998 Nissan Altima
19 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsTires
7 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Nissan Altima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology