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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Nissan Altima Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1997 Nissan Altima has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 107 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Nissan dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Nissan Altima, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1997 Nissan Altima owner complaints

Owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Nissan Altima, describing incidents dated July 15, 1996 to January 4, 2020.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 35 complaints
  • Electrical System 13 complaints
  • Service Brakes 9 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 9 complaints
  • Engine 8 complaints
  • Power Train 8 complaints

Of the 107 complaints on file, 31 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 107 complaints, owners report 24 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11301549 · Filed

    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

  • ODI #10936633 · Filed

    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

  • ODI #10924053 · Filed

    VEHICLE I MISSING AND I HAD TO FILE A POLICE REPORT FOR A STOLEN VEHICLE.

Read all 107 complaints

AFTERMARKET FRONT STRUT MOUNTS

NHTSA #10E002000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported February 11, 2010 · RIDE CONTROL, LLC

Potentially affected: 12,657 vehicles

Owners notified March 15, 2010

Defect description

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Safety consequence

THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR FRONT STRUT MOUNTS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS, NISSAN, OR TOYOTA.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

NISSAN/REAR SEAT BELTS

NHTSA #96V185000 · Seat Belts — Front — Buckle Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported October 10, 1996 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 36,000 vehicles

Owners notified October 28, 1996 · Vehicles built June 9, 1996 – September 19, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THESE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 1996.NOTE:OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYTRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Other Nissan Altima model years

Check your 1997 Nissan Altima VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Nissan Altima at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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