RoadVitals

1998 Nissan Altima Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
19
Latest Mar 12, 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.
15%
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.
1
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 19 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 fuel system

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

Fuel system
Filed Mar 12, 2013

TRIED TO FILL GAS TANK, ONLY ACCEPT SMALL AMOUNT BEFORE SPILLING ON GROUND. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10502489
Incident
Mar 7, 2013
Mileage
179,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 7, 2013

GAS GOES IN VERY SLOWLY WHEN ADDED TO VEHICLE, THEN THERE IS AN OVERFLOW FROM BACK OF PUMP BEFORE THE TANK IS FILLED. I WAS TOLD I HAVE PROBLEM WITH EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM VENT CONTROL CIRCUIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10501920
Incident
Sep 19, 2012
Mileage
179,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 16, 2010

VERY HARD TO PUT GASOLINE IN CAR. IT SPITS BACK OUT AT YOU. YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN VERY SLOW. I'VE NOTICE 2 DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE IT MENTIONS, TROUBLE PUTTING GAS IN THESE CARS. BULLETIN DATE: FEB 1998 DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUEL FILL. BULLETIN DATE: MAR 2000 INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR SLOW FUEL FILL. [XXX] INFO REMOVED FROM MY INSURANCE CO. PROGRESSIVE WEBSITE[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10330611
Incident
May 14, 2010
Fuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2007

GAS SPILLS BACK OUT OF TANK WHEN PUTTING GAS IN TANK. HAVE TO FILL TANK VERY SLOWLY. WAS TOLD THAT THE EVAPORATOR CONTROL VALVE IS PROBLEMATIC IN ALTIMA FROM 1997. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182054
Incident
Oct 22, 2006
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 24, 2005

1998 NISSAN ALTIMA DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK, AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE TANK, GAS WOULD SPILL OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10134548
Incident
Aug 1, 2005
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
Fuel system
Filed Aug 27, 2004

CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL WHILE DRIVING. HE EXAMINED FUEL SYSTEM UNDERNEATH AND THE FUEL TANK, AND NOTICED THE ENTRY POINT WHERE THE GAS WENT INTO THE VEHICLE BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089866
Incident
Aug 27, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Aug 3, 2004

WHENEVER I TRY TO FILL MY GAS TANK, THE FUEL BACKS UP AFTER FILLING 2-3 GALLONS AND SPILLS OUT. THIS IS THE 2ND SUMMER SEASON I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM. LAST SUMMER MY MECHANIC SAID THE TANK APPEARED FINE. I HAVE TO FILL THE TANK VERY SLOWLY AND I OFTEN STILL EXPERIENCE THIS BACKSPLASH OF FUEL. THIS HAPPENS 70% OF THE TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086119
Incident
Jul 29, 2004
Mileage
68,450 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 19, 2004

I CAN'T FILL GAS INTO MY GAS TANK AT ONCE. THE GAS SPITS OUT. IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO FILL IT UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10062632
Incident
Jan 7, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Nov 18, 2003

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO SENSORS IN GAS TANK. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT GAS IN THE TANK BECAUSE IT WOULD SPIT BACK OUT. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT ONE PART ALONE WAS $300. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047129
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Mileage
73,990 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 30, 2003

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK THE AUTOMATED PUMP WILL STOP. WHEN THE ATTENDANT DOES IT MANUALLY GAS WILL SHOOT OUT ALL OVER, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. AS THE GAS IS PUT IN SLOWLY BY THE ATTENDANT THE HOSE LEADING FROM THE PUMP TO MY GAS TANK VIBRATES VIOLENTLY. *LA

NHTSA ID
10045143
Incident
Jul 1, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Jul 8, 2003

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE FILLING VEHICLE WITH FUEL, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, FUEL SPRAYED BACK OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026778
Fuel system
Filed Jun 25, 2003

I CANNOT FILL GAS INTO MY GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK ALSO SPLURTS OUT GAS WHENEVER THIS IS ATTEMPTED CREATING A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023738
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Mileage
57,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2002

WHEN PUTTING GAS IN THE TANK IT SPLASHES BACK OUT OF TANK. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
8018992
Incident
Sep 7, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Oct 25, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
753696
Incident
Oct 24, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Mar 14, 2000

MY FUEL LINE HAD A LEAK, BUT THE DIFEO NISSAN DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
720106
Incident
Sep 20, 1999
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Sep 24, 1999

IHAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY SERVICE HAD BEEN DONE ON ALL OF MY COMPLAINTS AND HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION.

NHTSA ID
712008
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 1999

GAS GAUGE SENDING UNIT FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ID
607838
Incident
May 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 1999

FUEL CYLINDER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
607115
Incident
Jun 1, 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

Electrical17Airbags15Brakes14Engine14Visibility10Suspension9Tires & wheels8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .