1996 Model Year

Nissan Altima

NHTSA Complaints & Reliability Data

Compare
Complaints
98
Recalls
0
Crashes
20
Severe
35

Recent Complaints

Latest owner reports

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Nov 2018

CAR WAS DRIVING CRAZY AND TURNED OFF IN STREET.

SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS Crash
Jun 2013

MY CAR CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP, BUT MY CAR JUST DIDN'T & MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. EVEN BEFORE THE CRAS...

Suspension
Jan 2007

PLEASE REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NTB98-001) WHEN ROUNDING A CURVE OR GOING OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD, AT 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR STARTING W...

TIRES,WHEELS
Sep 2006

1996 ALTIMA LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. *TS *JB

Fuel System
Feb 2006

MY DAUGHTER'S 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT SOMETIMES LEFT HER STRANDED. WHEN I DISCOVERED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I WANTED...

Air Bags
Jul 2004

I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DEVELOPED A PROBLEM, I.E. THE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT - IT CONTINUED TO FLASH. UPON DIA...

Air Bags
Jul 2004

AIR BAG MODULE. LIGHT ON DASH STARTED TO FLASH . TOOK CAR TO DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIRBAG MODULAR AFTER THEY CHECK OUT THE COMPUTER. I A...

Exterior Lighting
Apr 2004

I BOUGHT MY PRE-OWNED 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH MY TRUNK WHEN IT RAINS. THE RAIN WATER IS LEAK...

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT
Apr 2004

NO ACCELERATION WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON. O2 SENSOR REPLACED, IS THAT NORMAL. BRAKES GOING OUT AFTER RECENTLY HAVING THEM FIXED, WHY? *AK

Engine
Feb 2004

RE: NISSAN ALTIMA 1996: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS TOO NEW TO GO BAD AND THERE ARE TOO MANY BAD ONES SHOWING UP. I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A VERY HIGH C...

VS

Vehicle Safety Research Team

Automotive Data Analysts

Independent researchers analyzing NHTSA data to help consumers make informed vehicle decisions.

Data updated: March 4, 2026

Summary

The 1996 Nissan Altima has 98 complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most commonly reported issue is Air Bags. 20 crash-related incidents have been reported.

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