Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Nissan Altima problems
Owners filed 176 complaints about the 2000 Nissan Altima with NHTSA between Feb 2000 and Sep 2016. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (52).
Complaints
176
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
27
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
25
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling52
- Electrical system35
- Vehicle speed control22
- Tires20
- Air bags16
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Power train10
- Visibility8
- Structure6
- Suspension6
- Wheels5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Engine4
- Steering3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
14
28
16
12
22
12
7
10
16
13
5
6
6
2
2
1
4
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 28 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
52 reports1 crash2 fires
“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.”
Electrical system
35 reports4 crashes1 fire
“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.”
Vehicle speed control
22 reports5 crashes
“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”
Tires
20 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED TWO SETS AND RECEIVED ONE FREE SET OF COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE TIRES IN APRIL OF 2004. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE TREAD ON THE TIRES HAS WORN SO QUICKLY AND UNEVENLY. THE SECOND SET OF TIRES WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 12, 2006 AND THE THIRD SET WAS REPLACED ON JANUARY 2, 2007. THE SECOND SET OF TIRES, WHICH WERE RECEIVED FOR FREE, WAS REPLACED AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,300. EQ-10204089-4200 ,12/19/07. THE CONSUMER STATED PURCHASED 4 TIRES ON 12/08/04, 06/12/06, AND 12/18/06. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR”
Air bags
16 reports16 crashes
“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.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
11 reports4 crashes
“WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.