1998 Nissan Altima: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 123 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (12% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2010
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 123 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 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.”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2016
“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.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Feb 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Tires · May 2013
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2012
“Very hard to put gasoline in car. It spits back out at you. You have to pump the gas in very slow. I've notice 2 different places where it mentions, trouble putting gas in these cars. Bulletin date: feb 1998 diagnostic procedure for slow fuel fill. Bulletin date: mar 2000 information on diagnostic procedure for slow fuel fill. [xxx] info removed from my insurance co. Progressive website[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · May 2010
“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”Owner report · Service Brakes, Electric · Dec 2009
“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”Owner report · Structure · Nov 2007
“Gas spills back out of tank when putting gas in tank. Have to fill tank very slowly. Was told that the evaporator control valve is problematic in altima from 1997. This has resulted in the engine light coming on. *jb”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Oct 2006
“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”Owner report · Seat Belts · Sep 2006
When filing, owners marked a crash in 17 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1998 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Altima by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Nissan Altima reliable?
NHTSA has 123 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Nissan Altima. The most complained-about area is electrical system (12% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Nissan Altima problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 94,000 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Nissan Altima have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.