RoadVitals

1998 Nissan Altima Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
17
Latest Jun 21, 2005
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.
14%
of 123 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Jun 21, 2005
Fire reported

AFTER ARRIVING HOME SAFELY FROM A LONG HIGHWAY DRIVE (7 HRS), OUR CAR SAT FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, I SMELLED SMOKE AND HEARD A UNUSUAL RUBBING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER POPPING THE HOOD, I SAW SMOKE POURING OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WENT INSIDE TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE WAS STILL BURNING, BUT SEEMED TO BE INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR. I EXTINGUISHED IT AND HOPEFULLY SAVED SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND IS AWAITING SERVICE NOW.

NHTSA ID
10126110
Incident
Jun 20, 2005
Mileage
67,200 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 9, 2005
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND NOTHING WAS DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10111261
Incident
Feb 7, 2005
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 10, 2004

THE CAR WAS IDLE AT A RED LIGHT WHEN IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY (ENGINE, RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC). IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I GOT A JUMP AND IT STARTED. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED FINE. I LET IT IDLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT WAS OKAY. I DROVE IT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT DIED AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. NONE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SHOWED ANYTHING WRONG (BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ETC. WERE OKAY). THEY DROVE IT AND IT DID NOT DIE AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS EITHER. *NM

NHTSA ID
10093897
Incident
Oct 5, 2004
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 31, 2004

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090148
Incident
May 5, 2004
Electrical
Filed May 6, 2003

JULY OF 2002 (DAYS BEFORE MY VACATION) MY ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. I WAS UNDER AN THIRD PARTY SERVICE AGREEMENT AND WAS TOWED 25 MILES FROM WORK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WIRES IN/ AROUND THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRES CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON THE FUEL PUMP, IN TURN THE FUEL PUMP ALSO HAD FAILED. NOT ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED COMPONENTS. THE EXACT SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2002, HOWEVER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND ALL COSTS WERE NOW MY RESPONSIBILITY IN FULL. NOW, MAY 2003 THE EXACT FAILURE AGAIN HAS OCCURRED. EACH FAILURE HAS CARRIED A MINIMUM SHOP CHARGE OF APPROX $475.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR, NOT TO MENTION THE SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE NEEDED A TOW. NO FAILURE CODES ARE ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOOKED UP TO A DIAGNOSTICS COMPUTER. EACH DEALER HAS HAD A HARD TIME TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM AS THE CAR USUALLY IS TOWED AND WILL STARTS THE NEXT DAY. HOWEVER AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL AGAIN WITHIN 24 HOURS, RESULTING IN ANOTHER TOW. DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT PLEASED THAT THEY HAVE TO GET INTO THE CAR AND TROUBLESHOOT RATHER THAN USING THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017114
Incident
Jul 3, 2002
Mileage
86,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 6, 2003

SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED. USUALLY HAPPENED AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME, STOPPED AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART. ONE TIME IT WOULDN'T START EVEN WITH A JUMP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALL READINGS FOR BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CAME BACK NORMAL.*JB

NHTSA ID
10014032
Incident
Mar 28, 2003
Mileage
55,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 2002

HORN IS SO LOW, IF ANOTHER DRIVER HAS WINDOW UP, CONSUMER WON'T BE ABLE TO HERE THE HORN. ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8014584
Incident
Jul 24, 2001
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2002

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE BATTERY EXPLODED, CASING HAD CRACKED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005674
Incident
Mar 9, 2002
Electrical
Filed Sep 13, 2001

BATTERY BLEW UP SOON AS CONSUMER TURNED ON VEHICLE. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ON HOOD AND AROUND THE AREA OF THE BATTERY. *AK

NHTSA ID
896270
Incident
Sep 7, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 27, 2001
1 injury reported

BATTERY EXPLODED UPON START OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN BATTERY EXPLODED. ALSO, BATTERY ACID LEAKED. CONSUMER GOT SOME BATTERY ACID IN EYES. CONSUMER WAS BREATHING THE GAS FROM BATTERY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED BATTERY WAS FAULTY.*AK BATTERY ACID SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FRONT BODY PANELS, FRONT BUMPER, AND THE HOOD WAS DENTED BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
895244
Incident
Aug 22, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING COULD PRESS HORN TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS, BUT HORN WAS NOT AS LOUD AS IT SHOULD BE. CONSUMER SAID HORN COULD NOT BE HEARD THAT MUCH.*AK

NHTSA ID
878507
Incident
Jan 18, 2001
Electrical
Filed Oct 19, 2000

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID
734701
Incident
Oct 15, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 28, 1999

UPON STARTING THE ENGINE, THE CAR BATTERY EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. THE CAR ALSO SUFFERED HOOD DAMAGE. I NOTIFIED NISSANS CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT. AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL RESPOND WITHIN THREE WORKING DAYS.

NHTSA ID
714022
Incident
Oct 26, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

CD PLAYER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
608676
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

CD PLAYER INSERT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
608055
Incident
Apr 28, 1998
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

THE IGNITION SWITCH FUSE FAILED, CAUSING ALL OPERATIONS TO MALFUNCTION. *YC

NHTSA ID
607555
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Aug 22, 1998

CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, RELAY SWITCH REPLACED BECAUSE

NHTSA ID
540213

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .