RoadVitals

1997 Nissan Altima Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Dec 20, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 108 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 20, 2016

DUE TO CORROSION, BOTH REAR SUB MEMBER AND FRONT CRADLE ARE ROTTING OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. ONCE REPLACED, OTHER WORK MAY BE NEEDED

NHTSA ID
10936633
Incident
Dec 1, 2016
Mileage
169,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 6, 2000
1 injury reported

THE LEFT ARM REST COLLAPSED TWICE AND NISSAN REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME GRATIS. DUE TO THE HOLE ON THE ARM REST I DEVELOPED CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME OF THE LEFT ELBOW RESULTING IN SURGERY. NISSAN CLAIMS THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND IT IS NOT A "DESIGN/PRODUCTION" DEFECT BUT EXCESSIVE WEAR ON MY PART EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST OCCURANCE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 21,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
726816
Incident
Dec 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Aug 29, 1998

VEHICLE LEAKED IN THE TRUNK AREA RESULTING IN RUST.

NHTSA ID
539452
Incident
Dec 13, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Apr 26, 1998

PAINT IS COMING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE GRILL AREA.

NHTSA ID
780904
Body & structure
Filed Sep 8, 1997

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
603836
Incident
Jul 15, 1996
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Mar 18, 1997
Fire reported

FIRE STARTED BY FUSE BOX IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, THEY WOULD RELOCK DOORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
515305
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 14, 1997
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FUSE BOX IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WITHOUT WARNING. POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD RELOCK DOORS AFTER MANUAL UNLOCK RESULTING IN PROBLEMS EXITING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
546721
Body & structure
Filed Sep 9, 1996

UPON RELEASING TRUNK LID, WIND BLEW LID UP INTO REAR WINDSHIELD, SHATTERING GLASS.

NHTSA ID
508426
Incident
Aug 13, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .