2001 Nissan Altima
The Verdict
The 2001 Nissan Altima has 172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (69 complaints) and body (58 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 60/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Altima, consider the 2025 model year which has 96% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 96% fewer complaints
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Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50 | 12 | 42 | 62 | 10 |
| 2001 | 58 | 5 | 35 | 69 | 5 |
| 2002 | 187 | 27 | 108 | 717 | 23 |
| 2003 | 175 | 8 | 90 | 590 | 20 |
| 2004 | 79 | 8 | 34 | 144 | 11 |
| 2005 | 455 | 31 | 104 | 419 | 82 |
| 2006 | 300 | 19 | 70 | 371 | 63 |
| 2007 | 198 | 71 | 92 | 87 | 50 |
| 2008 | 593 | 84 | 187 | 88 | 72 |
| 2009 | 806 | 37 | 493 | 125 | 86 |
| 2010 | 141 | 25 | 98 | 59 | 57 |
| 2011 | 82 | 12 | 40 | 47 | 60 |
| 2012 | 110 | 16 | 88 | 82 | 127 |
| 2013 | 663 | 38 | 956 | 198 | 443 |
| 2014 | 296 | 21 | 509 | 97 | 183 |
| 2015 | 252 | 21 | 446 | 86 | 136 |
| 2016 | 130 | 9 | 112 | 103 | 190 |
| 2017 | 107 | 17 | 92 | 56 | 109 |
| 2018 | 78 | 44 | 64 | 15 | 22 |
| 2019 | 82 | 29 | 46 | 58 | 8 |
| 2020 | 66 | 16 | 37 | 41 | 12 |
| 2021 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 2023 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
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Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND IT SWAYED WHILE BEING DRIVEN, ESPECIALLY AROUND A CURVE. THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA IS VERY LOW LOUD NOISE. THE CAR RATTLES AND SHAKE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION
I HAVE BEEN READING COMPLAINT SECTION MY CAR DOES THE SAME THING STARTING THE ENGINE IT STARTS TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER . SOME TIMES I CAN GIVE IT MORE GAS AND IT MAY STOP OR WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING WHEN IT DOES IT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I PUT IT IN PARK AND STEP ON THE GAS PEDDLE, THIS USUALE STOPS THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY FEW MONTHS OR SO. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS COLD, BUT NOT THE CASE . IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. I HAVE LOW MILES ON IT ABOUT 77,5000. I SEE SOME PEOPLE THINK IT IS A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM AND I HAVE THE SAME ISSURE
TL* 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 FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
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 PARK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND THE OTHER ONE ABOUT 50FEET FROM WHERE THE CAR CAME APART. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE AXLE AND SWAY WELDINGS FAILED, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE'S REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 01/06/2017*CT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
SOME DRIVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO A DUI, AND HIS CAR WAS STRADDLED ACROSS THE LEFT LANE AND I HIT IT AS I CAME AROUND THE BEND AT APPR. 11:30 P.M. IN A DARK SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND I AND MY SON WAS JERKED, BUT WE WERE BOTH WEARING OUR SEATBELTS. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. WE WERE NEARLY WIPED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. THOUGH MY LOCKED UP BRAKES CAUSED ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THE NEXT LANE, THUS HITTING THE CAR, IF I HAD MADE IT TO THE LANE TO THE RIGHT OF ME, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT, TRUST ME. THOUGH THIS HAPPENED NEARLY 9 YEARS AGO, IT STILL HAPPENED AND I STILL HAVE MY NISSAN. MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING AND THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. ALSO, MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALWAYS GO OUT, WAY MORE THAN THEY SHOULD AND THEY WERE POORLY DESIGNED. THE WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS GO UP OR DOWN EITHER.
I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK WHEN I HEARD A CRANKING/SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, I STOPPED AND CHECKED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT NOTICED THAT ANYTIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES/MAKE A TURN THE SOUND WILL COME ON, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNT AND ALSO THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEEN AFFECTED AND I COULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A CERTAIN MILE ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS, IT;S STILL ON, NOW NO ONE CAN TELL IF IT IS RELATED TO THE ISSUE CAR HAD OR NOT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR HARDLY COME ON PROPERLY, EVEN IF I PUT THEM ON FULL LIGHT, IT'S STILL LOOKS DIM AND I CAN SEE WITH THEM AT NIGHT WHEN AM DRIVING, THE HEAT SUDDENLY COMES ON EVEN WITHOUT TURNING IT ON, AM REALLY SCARED NOW CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS COMPLAINTS ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH HIGH RECALLS . *TR
THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED SOMEONE'S VAN WHILE ONLY GOING 15-20 MPH. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THEN EXPLODED; CAUSING 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. SMALL PIECES OF DEBRIS WERE ALSO REMOVED FROM BRUISES I SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT MY UPPER BODY. I BROKE/FRACTURED MY RIBS, DISLOCATED MY KNEE AND MY PELVIC BONE WAS SHATTERED. THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AUTO BODY IN CHARGE OF REPAIRS FOR THIS CAR "CONVENIENTLY" MISPLACED THE AIRBAGS AFTER BEING ASKED SPECIFICALLY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAGS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE......UPDATED 11-24/14 *BF
WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND FRONT END BUCKLED BY THE CRASH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY......FRONT END DAMAGE WAS APPROX $5500 DUE TO LOW MILES WAS REPAIRED ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY? *TR
CAR IS IDLING ROUGH AND WILL STALL AT LIGHTS OR ANYTIME STOPPED WHILE IN GEAR. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED ON MANY OCCASIONS BECAUSE IT WILL IDLE THEN STALL. *TR
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE ENGINES RPM WOULD FALL BELOW 500 AND AT TIMES WOULD STALL THE ENGINE MAKING ME VULNERABLE TO A COLLISION. IT GOT SO BAD MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND NO ONE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM TUNE UPS AND SUCH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, I SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WITH A SMOKE MACHINE AND HE FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A LEAK AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM COST $850.00 PLUS TAX. I RESEARCHED INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM LEAK ON THE 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF NISSAN OWNERS WITH THE SAME VACUUM LEAK! SEVERAL OF THE NISSAN OWNERS HAD TO MAKE THE REPAIR MORE THAN ONCE, SOME PEOPLE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON VARIOUS FIXES THAT DID NOT WORK, I WAS TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER LUCKILY I DID NOT GO FOR IT. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNEXPECTEDLY IT LEAVES YOU WIDE OPEN FOR A CRASH OR WORSE!! I THINK NISSAN, NORTH AMERICA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET OR POOR ENGINE DESIGN WHICH CAUSE'S THE GASKET TO FAIL- IT MAY ALSO BE TOO CLOSE TO A HEAT SOURCE (THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD) CAUSING THE GASKET TO FAIL. I THINK IT IS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO SO MANY NISSAN'S. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND RESET TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTDOWN AND RESTARTED AND THE GAUGES RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,255.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHEN THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 11/27/12 *CN
THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED ON A CAR THAT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM A NON-"HOT" STATE, NEW YORK, TO A "HOT" STATE, FLORIDA. THE REGULATOR FAILED AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS OF HOT WEATHER. THE REGULATORS WHERE NOT REPLACED IN INITIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN WHICH HAS NOW EXPIRED. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE REGULATORS AS IT WAS NOT A FULL RECALL ON ALL CARS. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT ONLY AFFECT HOT WEATHER STATES AS YEARS OF SUMMERS IN OTHER STATES CAN STILL WEAR DOWN AND DAMAGE REGULATORS IF THIS FAILURE WAS SO QUICK TO HAPPEN AFTER MOVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LOSE POWER INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,205 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,312.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A PIECE OF TAPE OVER THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND AUTO ZONE HELPED ME TAKE IT OFF. THE NISSAN DIED GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. LATER TO FIND THAT I NEEDED A OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOW ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED EVAC HOSES BUT ALL THE DEALER DID WAS UNHOOK ONE SO THEY COULD CHARGE ME FOR CODES BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND MY PROBLEM WITH NO ENGINE LIGHT PRESENT. SO MY MECHANIC FOUND THE UNHOOKED HOSE AND PUT IT BACK ON AND IT WAS PREVIOUSLY NOT UNHOOKED. THE CAR DIES RANDOMLY IN TRAFFIC AND IS VERY HAZARDOUS TO BE REAR ENDED OR EVEN TO HIT SOME ONE ELSE WITH THE DEALER NOT EVEN KNOWING HOW TO PROPERLY RESOLVE THIS ISSUE???? MY MECHANIC WILL BE HELPING ME TO MAKE THIS CAR SAFER FOR ME TO DRIVE. *TR
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