1997 Nissan Altima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Altima years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 24th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Nissan Altima. That ranks 24th out of 32 Altima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (35 complaints, 32%), typically at around 61,500 miles. Complaints mention 31 crashes, 5 fires, 24 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 108owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 31complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Nissan Altima problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 35 | 32% | 61,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 14 | 13% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 9% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 7% | 131,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 7% | 109,403 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 7% | 169,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 6% | 66,122 | — | — |
| Visibility | 6 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 5% | 122,900 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 5% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 4% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4% | 159,100 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 131,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Nissan Altima recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Problem: Certain buckle assemblies were produced with a "buckle base" that was improperly heat treated. This can cause the "buckle base" to be brittle failing to comply to fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Risk: In the event of a collision, these seat belts may not restrain an occupant increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the buckle assemblies and replace them if necessary.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was hit, rear-ended, very hard and the airbag definitely should have deployed. I was making a left turn, stopped for at least 10 seconds waiting for traffic to clear and a car slammed into the back of me with no attempt to hit their brakes
Due to corrosion, both rear sub member and front cradle are rotting out and must be replaced. Vehicle is unsafe. Once replaced, other work may be needed
Vehicle i missing and i had to file a police report for a stolen vehicle.
The car don't start. My seatbelt shredding and i worry that my air bag won't work if my children and i got into an accident
While slowing down & applied brakes at a stop sign, the car instead suddenly accelerated crossing four lanes of traffic and ultimately slamming into a tree.
Other Nissan Altima years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Altima | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 Altima | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 Altima | 41 | 1 |
| 2023 Altima | 30 | 0 |
| 2022 Altima | 31 | 0 |
| 2021 Altima | 70 | 2 |
| 2020 Altima | 158 | 6 |
| 2019 Altima | 233 | 7 |
| 2018 Altima | 226 | 2 |
| 2017 Altima | 391 | 3 |
| 2016 Altima | 554 | 4 |
| 2015 Altima | 955 | 10 |
| 2014 Altima | 1,114 | 8 |
| 2013 Altima | 2,313 | 12 |
| 2012 Altima | 426 | 4 |
| 2011 Altima | 241 | 1 |
| 2010 Altima | 381 | 3 |
| 2009 Altima | 1,547 | 4 |
| 2008 Altima | 1,030 | 4 |
| 2007 Altima | 471 | 3 |
| 2006 Altima | 824 | 3 |
| 2005 Altima | 1,091 | 1 |
| 2004 Altima | 276 | 1 |
| 2003 Altima | 883 | 4 |
| 2002 Altima | 1,047 | 5 |
| 2001 Altima | 159 | 1 |
| 2000 Altima | 160 | 1 |
| 1999 Altima | 87 | 0 |
| 1998 Altima | 123 | 0 |
| 1997 | 108 | 1 |
| 1996 Altima | 92 | 0 |
| 1995 Altima | 180 | 3 |
See all Nissan Altima problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.
Similar Nissan models
Embed this 1997 Nissan Altima badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Nissan Altima?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 35 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Nissan Altima?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Nissan Altima a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Altima model years, the 1997 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.