RoadVitals

1997 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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 Jul 3, 2013
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.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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 engine

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

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 3, 2013

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10523112
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Mileage
131,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 27, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
9001310
Engine
Filed Jan 20, 2000

WHEN THE TEMPETURE IS BELOW 35 DEGREES ENGINE WON'T START. AND DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
855166
Incident
Jan 19, 2000
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 20, 2000

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW FREEZING. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ON TWO OCCASIONS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE DISTRIBUTOR. BOTH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LINES WITH THE FUEL LINE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE SECOND FAILURE ARE THE TWO SEALS ON THE REAR TAILIGHTS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN WATER DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK.

NHTSA ID
717608
Incident
Dec 20, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 1999
Fire reported

DEFECT IN ENGINE CAUSED FIRE AND DESTROYED THE CAR. (INSURANCE AGENT REPRESENTING CLIENT) YH

NHTSA ID
548026
Incident
Mar 18, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERS REPAIE SHOP EIGHT TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
841173
Incident
Aug 27, 1998
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 1999

OIL PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
607491
Incident
Nov 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Dec 24, 1998
Fire reported

WITHIN 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IGNITED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
701584
Incident
Dec 22, 1998

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

Airbags35Electrical13Brakes10Seat belts8Body & structure8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .