1998 Nissan Altima Problems

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

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

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.

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

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL

MY CAR WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. MY BUMPER AND HEADLIGHTS WERE BOTH TORN FROM THE CAR, BUT THE AIRBAG IN MY NISSAN ALTIMA GXE (98) DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TREATED AT AN URGENT CARE CENTER FOR NECK, BACK AND ARM PAIN THAT DAY.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AS IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONCE IT CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LEFT HAND THAT WAS BLEEDING, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PINE BELT NISSAN OF TOMS RIVER (229-245 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753 (732) 349-3030) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

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. BUT STILL I THOUGHT ABS WAS INVENTED TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING AND YET I KNOW THE BREAKS LOCK UP WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE. *TR

DURING CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP, VEHICLE BEGAN EMITTING METALLIC WHINING NOISE AND CLICKING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NOT AUDIBLE FROM PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I PERFORMED REGULAR TUNE-UP MAINTENANCE, CHECKED MY VALVE CLEARANCES AND TIMING ADJUSTMENTS. SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED MY VEHICLE AGAIN, MY LOWER TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED. AFTER A LENGTHY DISASSEMBLY, I DISCOVERED THAT A PIECE OF BLACK PLASTIC FROM A CHAIN GUIDE HAD BROKEN AWAY AND FUSED WITH THE CHAIN, CAUSING IT TO SEIZE AND BREAK. ALSO, THE LOWER CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BEEN COMPLETELY EATEN THROUGH BY THE CHAIN (NOT AS A RESULT OF POOR SERVICING; I CHANGED MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES AND CHECKED/TOPPED IT OFF EVERY 2 WEEKS) THE INCIDENT CAUSED $600 IN PARTS DAMAGE, AND COULD EASILY HAVE COST $1500 IN LABOR AT A MECHANIC OR DEALERSHIP. THE CHAIN BREAKAGE DESTROYED MY OIL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, LOWER CHAIN COVER, LOWER CHAIN TENSIONER, GUIDE (BEYOND ORIGINAL BREAKAGE) AND OIL PAN BAFFLE / SUMP TUBE. SINCE NISSAN HAD INITIATED A "TSB" BEFORE I EVER PURCHASED MY ALTIMA, NO COMPENSATION WAS EVEN CONSIDERED. OBVIOUSLY THE TSB PROCESS DOES NOT INCLUDE CHECKING VEHICLES AS THEY ARE BROUGHT IN FOR MAINTENANCE, AS I HAD REGULARLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FULL YEAR POST-PURCHASE. I REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE CHAIN GUIDE WITH THE UPGRADED NISSAN COMPONENT, A METAL-BACKED GUIDE TRACK, AND SHALL SOON INSPECT MY TIMING AGAIN TO ENSURE THAT THE REPAIRS PERFORMED INDEED CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. TWO RECOMMENDATIONS: FIRST, THE TSB PROCESS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AS IT OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT EFFECTIVELY SAFEGUARD CONSUMERS AGAINST ENGINEERING BLUNDERS SUCH AS THIS; SECOND, AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR QUALITY OF PRODUCT IN TERMS OF MECHANICAL SOUNDNESS AS WELL AS SAFETY. IF STATE CORPORATION COMMISSIONS CAN REGULATE SERVICE QUALITY AND PRICING FOR EVERY SERVICE AGENCY IN THEIR SPHERE, I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE THE SAME LEVERAGE OVER AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS. *JB

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

DRIVING IN SEMI HEAVY RAIN. VEHICLE IN MOTION WHILE TURNING ONTO A STREET, WIPERS WERE AT MEDIUM TO HIGH SPEED. DRIVERS WIPER STOPPED IN MID-STROKE; PASSENGER WIPER RAN OVER DRIVER WIPER. HAVE TAKEN TO SEE PROBLEM: NEEDING COMPLETE WIPER LINKAGE & SET UP.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAD FALLEN DOWN AND BLOCKED THE CONTACTS VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUN VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147000.

IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY DRIVE TO COOPER HOSPITAL, THE CAR VEERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, IT IS NOT A STEERING PROBLEM, IT IS UNDERNEATH THE CAR.....PLEASE HELP ME, I WILL GET KILLED IN THIS CAR......IT SEEMS TO WANT TO JUMP TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, NO MATTER THE SPEED. OF COURSE IT IS MORE DISTURBING WHEN ONE IS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD LIKE 676.

MY CAR WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT 55, 60 MPH. IT DOES IT AT SLOWER SPEEDS TOO BUT WE WERE ALMOST KILLED THIS TIME. IT SEEMS TO WANT TO GO TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. I JUST BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE PERSON NOT TOO LONG AGO.

I WAS DRIVING MY 98 NISSAN ALTIMA THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THE SIDE WALL OF MY DOUGLAS PERFORMANCE TIRE BLEW OUT DOT #PJAE1YLR0712. I PUT THE DONUT ON MY CAR AND TOOK THE TIRE BACK TO WALMART. IN SPEAKING TO THE SALES PERSON HE SAID THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT WORN DOWN ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. SO THE HAD NO WARRANTY, THESE TIRES WILL ONLY BE 7 MONTHS OLD ON MAY,9,2013. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY BECAUSE I DIDN'T BUY THEIR ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY AT AN ADDITIONAL $10 PER TIRE. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON 9/9/12 I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT THEY ARE 95/65R15. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRE BLEWOUT, VEHICLE JUMPED A LANE AND LANDED IN ANOTHER LANE, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, FIRESTONE TIRE SIZE P205/60R15 93T, CLAIM 31-3083-344. *SLC

EXTENSIVE RUST THROUGH OF LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BRACKET CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO DROP DOWN, DAMAGING COOLANT AND A/C LINES. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SUPPORT, RELATED SUPPORT BRACKETS, AND REPAIR TO A/C SYSTEM. *TR

SUNVISOR OFTEN FALLS OUT OF THE BRACKET AND FALLS ONTO MY FOREARMS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I'M DRIVING. NUMEROUS TIMES HAVING BEEN STARTLED BY THIS OCCURRENCE; I'VE REACTED BY JERKING THE WHEEL. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

POWER LOCKS GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, MAKING ALL KINDS OF RACKET AND BUZZING SOUNDS, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF!! HAVE TO PLAY WITH KEY AND LOCKS TO GET INTO THE CAR... FUEL DOOR OPENS ON OWN REPEATEDLY, WON'T STAY SHUT. BRAKES MAKE A DEEP GROWLING SOUND WHEN GENTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT...I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 11/4/03 TO GET THIS REPAIRED..I SHUDDER AT WHAT THIS WILL COST...ANY ADVICE PLEASE EMAIL ME [email protected]. *LA

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE DEALER THE HOOD FLEW OPEN. *NLM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AS IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONCE IT CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LEFT HAND THAT WAS BLEEDING, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PINE BELT NISSAN OF TOMS RIVER (229-245 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753 (732) 349-3030) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

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. WENT PAST EXIT AND CONTINUED DOWN HIGHWAY TOWARD GILROY, CA WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF AND I EXITED. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ON THE SAME DAY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC BY PULLING FORCEFULLY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE AUTO SHOP, I WAS SHOWN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED BRAKEPAD ON THE LEFT AND A PAPER THIN BRAKEPAD ON THE RIGHT. BOTH ROTORS WERE 80% COVERED WITH LARGE BLACK BLOTCHES. BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONE WEEK LATER. *TR

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. WENT PAST EXIT AND CONTINUED DOWN HIGHWAY TOWARD GILROY, CA WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF AND I EXITED. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ON THE SAME DAY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC BY PULLING FORCEFULLY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE AUTO SHOP, I WAS SHOWN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED BRAKEPAD ON THE LEFT AND A PAPER THIN BRAKEPAD ON THE RIGHT. BOTH ROTORS WERE 80% COVERED WITH LARGE BLACK BLOTCHES. BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONE WEEK LATER. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, WILL NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND GEAR, ALL REQUIRED MAINTAINANCE, SERVICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED.NISSAN WILL NOT HELP. COST OF NEEDED REPAIRS APPROX $5,000. *AK

THIS IS A CONCERN ISSUE...THE ADJUSTABLE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR PROTRUDES FROM SIDE POST 1" AT MY HEIGHT SEAT ADJUSTMENT IT PLACES MY HEAD ALONGSIDE THIS ANCHOR POST. ON A SIDE IMPACT (WITH NO SIDE BAGS AVAILABLE ON THIS MODEL YEAR) COULDN'T THIS CAUSE SEVERE (UNNECESSARILY) HEAD INJURY ?*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS SECURED IN THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE TWO SCREWS THAT FELL OUT OF THE HANDLE INTO THE SEAT. THE SCREWS WERE FROM THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT HANDLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REINSERT THE SCREWS BACK INTO THE HANDLE HOWEVER THE SCREW HOLES WERE STRIPPED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE CHILD SEAT IS A DORAL JUVENILE GROUP, EDDIE BAUER, MODEL NUMBER 22-630-BAL AND THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE IS 09/13/05. *AK

CONSUMER STATED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WHEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE AN ALIGNMENT COULD OCCUR, INSTEAD OF AN ALIGNMENT THEY SUGGESTED TIRE MAINPULATIONS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JG *AK

I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE NO STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH + THE VEHICLE DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE AT THOSE SPEEDS BUT ITS TOUGH TO CORRECT SINCE THE STEERING IS SO LOOSE. IT RECENTLY HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS

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

WHILE DRIVING FRONT SIDE AXLE BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIR CONDITIONING WAS LEAKING COOLANT INSIDE OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

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

WHEEL STUDS KEPT BREAKING OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE. *AK THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF FOLLOWED BY RIGHT SIDE FRONT AND BACK STUDS BREAKING OFF. THE ALLOY WHEELS OF THIS VEHICLE DO NOT GRIP THE STUDS PROPERLY AND ARE THE CAUSE FOR THE STUDS BREAKING OFF. *YH

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

FOG LAMP FAILED. YH