2000 Nissan Altima: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 160 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (29% of complaints); the 1999 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 160 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 nissan altima. While driving approximately 40 mph, both the driver and passenger air bags deployed, without warning or impact. The contact stated that the driver's air bag struck her in the face. As a result, the contact crashed into a curb and destroyed the transmission and the passenger side seat belt. The contact stated that the air bag indicator flickered on and off prior to the failure. There were no injuries. The contact drove the vehicle to her home. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2016
“Gauges shut off, freeze, and advance while in motion, confusing the drivers. Causing unknown speed, gas, temperature, and others metering. This is happening since I bought the car. Sometime work fine. Most of the time gages are down.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2016
“Traveling w/ flow of traffic when turn head for split second not realizing the vehicle ahead of me stalled, so she had no brake lights or flashers, nevertheless I slammed into the that vehicle in front of me. I hit wrapped myself around the steering wheel and my head flew over the steering wheel and back unto the seat. But never did the airbag deploy to hold me in place. My injuries where shortness of breath, since my chest and neck were bruised. My arms were difficult to move. My head was pounding along with my jaws in pain. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jul 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“I just bought a 200 nissan altima. I was driving to hilton head and 2 hours into the trip the cruise control went off and then the air bag light came on. I kept giving it gas and it just started slowing down. We got hit from behind and spun around. I broke my nose and my girlfriend broke her hip in 3 places.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2013
“I put my foot on the brakes after I started the car and when the brake pedal went to the floor, I realized my brakes were not working. I later had the car checked and learned that the bracket on the strut assembly that secures the brake hose separated from the strut when the spot welds failed. Subsequently, the unsecured brake hose was punctured because of contact with moving parts. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 nissan altima. The contact stated that while traveling 40 mph the contact noticed that the temperature was almost at max. The vehicle began to run rough and smoke started to emit into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who stated that the engine was not the original equipment and there was no coolant. As a result, the engine over heated causing the engine block to crack. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 200,000.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 nissan altima. The contact was driving 2 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted after the failure occurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing nor was the manufacturer notified. The vehicle was not repaired and the VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileage was 95,000.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 nissan altima. The contact was driving 45 mph when the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the catalytic converter failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were unknown.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Mar 2012
“My 2000 nissan altima idles rough and the engine shakes. My mechanic ran a diagnostic test and said cylinder 4 was misfiring and the only way to correct it was to change the intake manifold gasket. The price: $1500. This seems to be a common problem because I see the same complaints from 98-01 altima owners. The mechanic, said this was common problem with these cars. He also said changing the gasket will fix the problem. Why isn't nissan forced to recall this issue? Someone needs to do their job and look at this issue. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2012
“While going 75mph on cruise control all of a sudden all the gauges (rpm, mph, fuel, engine temp) dropped down to zero. Only the cruise control lights remained on. All while a combination of #'s and letters came up on the odometer (even the odometer went blank). It was a shock and I did not know how to react to this. My first reaction was to turn off the cruise control via the buttons on the steering wheel, as soon as I did it this caused all the gauges to come back to life including the odometer. Very weird issue. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 25 of these complaints and injuries in 21 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. DS517-B001L AND DS517-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OPTICEL SURFACE OF THE REFLECTOR IS CORRODED INHIBITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BEAMS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H TIRES. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE.
Remedy: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES WHICH WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THESE ALTIMA VEHICLES. FIRESTONE IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE AT 1-800-465-1904.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2000 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 2000 Nissan Altima reliable?
NHTSA has 160 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2000 Nissan Altima. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (29% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2000 Nissan Altima problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 84,706 miles or less.
Does the 2000 Nissan Altima have open recalls?
2 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.