Most common 1996 Nissan Altima problems
Share of the 92 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Altima complaints by model year
Best Altima years: 2022, 2025, 2023. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2009, 2002. Compare all years →
What 1996 Nissan Altima owners say
Air bags all 37 →
Prior to the accident, there was no indication of any defect in the airbag system. When the accident occurred, the airbag indicator light was flashing continiously. After the body work was repair, the body shop took the vehicle to the dealership to determine the cause of the flashing indicator light. They learned that the sensor module was damaged. Our insurance company paid an additional $500+ to replace this. However, when they replaced it, an error message was received which said: "passenger airbag disengaged." thus, the passenger airbag system needs to be replaced. The airbags never deployed from the accident, although the auto body repair shop said that they should have because of the impact sustained. The insurance company refuses to pay for the replacement of the airbag system because they feel that if the airbag didn't deploy, it was defective from the factory. …
My car crashed into the back of another vehicle. I had plenty of time to stop, but my car just didn't & my airbags didn't deploy. Even before the crash, the dash lights flicker on and off, & I can barely see with my headlights! Also, my car makes loud cranking noises when I turn. Every car I see like mine, has a smashed up front end & has all the same issues. I can't currently afford a new car, but I'm scared to death to drive mine, but I have no choice. Help me please! Who can I contact? I strongly believe these cars are not fit for driving. I need my problems solved fast before something more serious happens! If I would have known how dangerous these cars truly are, I would have bought something else to keep myself and others on the road safe. I don't have the means at this time in my life to buy a safer and more reliable vehicle. …
Electrical system
I had just moved off from the light, when about half-way down the block, thick white smoke began billowing from under my hood onto my windsheild. I quickly pulled over, and abandoned the car. Because I yanked the hood release on my way out of the car, I say bright yellow flames under the side of the hood. Per the ft. Lauderdale fire dept inspector, there was an electrical short in the area of the radiator fans. That short caught the neighboring wires, radiator fan and other engine components on fire. My insurance company and the Nissan dealer repair shop all agreed that this was what happened. The repairs cost about $7100 and 2 months to fix. I thank god for saving my life. I think it was a manufacturer defect that caused it. The manufacture can contact plantation Nissan in plantation florida regarding this incident. I pray that Nissan can use this information to help design safer cars. …
My car crashed into the back of another vehicle. I had plenty of time to stop, but my car just didn't & my airbags didn't deploy. Even before the crash, the dash lights flicker on and off, & I can barely see with my headlights! Also, my car makes loud cranking noises when I turn. Every car I see like mine, has a smashed up front end & has all the same issues. I can't currently afford a new car, but I'm scared to death to drive mine, but I have no choice. Help me please! Who can I contact? I strongly believe these cars are not fit for driving. I need my problems solved fast before something more serious happens! If I would have known how dangerous these cars truly are, I would have bought something else to keep myself and others on the road safe. I don't have the means at this time in my life to buy a safer and more reliable vehicle. …
Engine & cooling
Re: Nissan Altima 1996: the catalytic converter is too new to go bad and there are too many bad ones showing up. I had to replace it at a very high cost to me, when the vehicle was only 6 years old.
I am aware of tech. Safety bull. Ntb 96-009; 009a; 009b. Transmission failed 3 times. Each time it would not shift into reverse and neutral gear was a forward gear. Drive gears were not correct, often neutral. 1st 2 times, problem corrected itself after about 1 hr. Dealer refused to deal with problem until 3rd failure, claiming they needed to see the actual problem before dealing with it. They did inspect car after 1st failure but found nothing. 3rd time they did line and pressure (?) tests, which they could have done 1st two times but did not. Transmission failed. They did not attempt to determine cause of failure, claiming that Nissan corporate instructed them to replace and not investigate. Told me they were putting a "new" transmission in. Found out after work done that it was a remanufactured one. They also replaced radiator. …
1996 Nissan Altima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Nissan Altima a good car?
Based on 92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Altima rates better than average: 77% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Altima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Nissan Altima?
The air bags — 37 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (11) and engine & cooling (8).
How many recalls does the 1996 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Nissan Altima. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Altima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2025 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2009 and 2002. See the full Nissan Altima years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Nissan Altima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 miles; 11% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.