RoadVitals

1998 Nissan Altima Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
9
Latest Apr 3, 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 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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 9 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 suspension

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

Suspension
Filed Apr 3, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10853157
Incident
Mar 30, 2016
Mileage
142,400 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 26, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10851783
Incident
Mar 26, 2016
Mileage
143,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 18, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL GRINDING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO ADVISED THAT THE STRUT WELD BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE MOUNTING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SWAY BAR, BUSHINGS, MOUNTS AND THE STRUT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,500.

NHTSA ID
10493396
Incident
Dec 1, 2012
Mileage
168,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 4, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA.*MR (NAR) THE VEHICLE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10046671
Incident
Sep 9, 2003
Suspension
Filed Apr 25, 2003

DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED A FLAT TIRE. SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016479
Incident
Apr 10, 2003
Mileage
94,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 21, 2003

THE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER THE REPAIRS. MR *PH *JB

NHTSA ID
10015695
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Feb 11, 2003
Crash reported

THE SWAY BAR AND CRUISE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB*TS

NHTSA ID
10007082
Incident
Feb 11, 2003
Mileage
33,500 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 5, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8003527
Incident
Jan 31, 2002
Suspension
Filed Feb 1, 1999

REAR SUSPENSION REPAIRED TWO TIMES, HOWEVER NOT REMEDIED. YH

NHTSA ID
606010

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 .