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Nissan Altima 1998–2001 problems by year and mileage

2nd generation (L30)

NHTSA data through 18 October 2026529 complaints, 242 with mileageMethod

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

• 1998—too few
• 1999100kmedian
• 200084kmedian
• 200166kmedian

Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 1999; earliest: the 2001, and the 1999 is 2 years older (part of the gap is age). 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.

The short answer

“Is the 1998–2001 Nissan Altima reliable?”

Median of reported failures

78,000 mi

90% of reports came by

153,000 mi

Reports with mileage

242

Recalls

1

Most reported

1. Engine and its cooling system24.6% of complaints · median 75,000 mi
2. Electrical system11.9% of complaints · median 70,000 mi
3. Airbag system10.8% of complaints · median 75,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

• Engine1998–2001
• Emissions1998–2001

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 529 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2001 Nissan Altima; the engine and its cooling system leads with 24.6% of them, and half of the 242 that record an odometer reading came by 78,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.

No single peak: the middle half runs 52,000 to 115,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 1998–2001 Nissan Altima last?

Figure 1 · Nissan Altima 1998–2001 · 242 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

20,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 46 complaints

463523120

19.0% of all reports fall between 60,000 and 80,000 miles

25k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k

• Rest of the range
• Median
• 200,000+ — 6 complaints (2.5%), plotted separately

10%

34,000

25%

52,000

Median

78,000

75%

115,000

90%

153,000

Show the numbers

Complaints by mileage bin

Mileage	Complaints	Share
0–20,000	12	5.0%
20,000–40,000	23	9.5%
40,000–60,000	44	18.2%
60,000–80,000	46	19.0%
80,000–100,000	37	15.3%
100,000–120,000	24	9.9%
120,000–140,000	20	8.3%
140,000–160,000	14	5.8%
160,000–180,000	11	4.5%
180,000–200,000	5	2.1%
200,000+	6	2.5%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

How to read these figures

Common Altima problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Nissan Altima 1998–2001

When each system fails

Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)

System0–12,000 mi factory-defect window12,000 mi and beyond wear and service lifeMedian

1. Throttle and speed control43 reportsmedian 49,000middle half 34,000–118,000
2. Visibility equipment38 reportsmedian 59,000middle half 35,000–79,000
3. Electrical system63 reportsmedian 70,000middle half 50,000–108,000
4. Fuel system26 reportsmedian 74,000middle half 57,000–86,000
5. Engine and its cooling system130 reportsmedian 75,000middle half 57,000–99,000
6. Airbag system57 reportsmedian 75,000middle half 52,000–113,000
7. Suspension42 reportsmedian 113,000middle half 89,000–169,000

5001k2k5k10k20k50k100k200k

• Your odometer, once entered below

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.

All systems in a table

Complaints by vehicle system

System	Complaints	Share	Median	25–75%
Engine and its cooling system	130	24.6%	75,000	57,000–99,000
Electrical system	63	11.9%	70,000	50,000–108,000
Airbag system	57	10.8%	75,000	52,000–113,000
Throttle and speed control	43	8.1%	49,000	34,000–118,000
Suspension	42	7.9%	113,000	89,000–169,000
Tyres	42	7.9%	—	—
Hydraulic brake circuit	41	7.8%	—	—
Visibility equipment	38	7.2%	59,000	35,000–79,000
Transmission and driveline	28	5.3%	—	—
Fuel system	26	4.9%	74,000	57,000–86,000

Known problems with the 1998–2001 Altima

Before you buy a 1998–2001 Altima: the 3-minute check

Generated from 242 mileage-tagged complaints, 1 recall campaign, 2 documented problem areas.

Altima problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer, or read the table.

Your odometer, milesGo

Figure 3 · Nissan Altima 1998–2001 · 242 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Steps at bin edges (how to read it)

100%75%50%25%0%

25k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k

• 60,000 mi — 33% of reports below
• 120,000 mi — 77% of reports below
• 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
• Median (the 50% line)
• Your odometer, once entered

Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

1998–2001 Nissan Altima recalls (1)

NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).

Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

1. Feb 2001 · 2000–2001 · TiresUnder these circumstances, a belt edge separation is posible, which could resulting in the loss of tire…

   The defect. 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…

   What can happen. Under these circumstances, a belt edge separation is posible, which could resulting in the loss of tire pressure.

   The free fix. 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…

   NHTSA campaign 01V-065 (2001-02-23).

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

Out of 529 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:

Crashes

83 (15.7%)

Fires

12

Injury reports

48

Fatality reports

2

Self-reported and overlapping (how to read these).

Altima problems by model year

The 2000 drew the most complaints of this generation, 160, most of them about the engine and its cooling system, and the 1999 the fewest, 87. A typical year drew about 141.

What Altima owners reported

the contact owned a 1999 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle that made a sharp left turn across the contact's lane. The front driver and passenger air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that later required medical…

1999 · 43,000 miles · Airbag system

the contact owns a 1998 Nissan Altima. Upon starting the vehicle and shifting from park to drive, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to engage as it traveled to the floor. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped once it crashed into the…

1998 · 180,000 miles · Brakes

the contact owns a 2001 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft, catalytic converters, emissions control, and sensors…

2001 · 50,000 miles · Electrical system

I was driving down the street at about 15 miles an hour and my tire on the passenger side turned out word and then hit a car on the side of the road. Upon further inspection i realized that the car had come apart at the control arm , at the hub and the transaxle had separated as well. Found these parts at the place i…

2001 · 169,000 miles · Suspension

Built from 242 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built

Other Altima generations

• Altima 2002–2006 3,301 reports with mileage, most about the engine and its cooling system
• Altima 2007–2012 3,145 reports with mileage, most about the steering
• Altima 2013–2018 3,510 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
• Altima 2019–2025 147 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system

Other midsize cars from the same years

• Chevrolet Malibu 1997–2003
• Honda Accord 1998–2002
• Toyota Camry 1997–2001
• Volkswagen Passat 1998–2005