Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was hit, rear-ended, very hard and the airbag definitely should have deployed. I was making a left turn, stopped for at least 10 seconds waiting for traffic to clear and a car slammed into the back of me with no attempt to hit their brakes
Tl contact owns a 1997 Nissan Altima. While at a red light on November 5, 2008, the passenger side door of the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle. The contact's vehicle traveled down an embankment and rolled over. She sustained injuries and the air bags failed to deploy. The Nissan manufacturer was notified, but they have not responded in over four months. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle and she was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 140,000. Updated 05/20/09.
My son was in a head on crash in my vehicle. He was traveling approximately 30 MPH when he hit the back of another car. His air bags did not deploy nor did his seatbelt lock. His chin hit the steering wheel. His head and hand both went into the windshield which is cracked. He was driving a 1997 Nissan Altima. I also have photos of the car and the windshield.
While waiting for a red light to change to a green light, consumer's vehicle was involved in a rear end and side impact accident. Both impacts were about 35 to 45 MPH, and neither of the air bags deployed. A police report was issued.
On 10-12-04 my daughter was involved in an accident, where she had failed to stop quick enough at a red light. There where three cars ahead of her at the red light. She was going approx. 10 miles per hour and hit the car in front of her which lead a chain reaction involving the other two cars. The air bags deployed and she lost control of the car. She was rushed to the hospital via ambulance. She was treated and released. There was not damage to her car and little damage to the the others cars. The police at the scene questioned why the air bags deployed at such a low speed. My concern and question are the same. Why would the air bags deploy at such a low speed and perhaps cause more trauma and injury. The insurance companies will be investigating this as well.
On July 07 1999, I was pulling out from a side street onto a two lane road. As I was completing my turn, an SUV had crossed the solid yellow line in attempt to go around me in the wrong lane. As a result, my 1997 Nissan Altima was hit in the front left (nearly head on) at a high rate of speed. Estimated at 40-50 MPH. The vehicle had approximately $9,000 damage to the front end. Neither driver side or passenger side airbags deployed. I sustained a cervical myofascial (whiplash) injury that still has not resolved, and thank god my children were not injured badly. The auto body technician and insurance adjuster (usaa) stated that without a doubt, the airbags were defective and absolutely should have deployed. Anevaluation of the airbags is pending.
While at a complete stop, I was hit from the rear by a car traveling about 30mph. Upon impact the driver's seat collapsed and came off track. The airbags did not deploy. Because of the severity of the damage, I contacted Nissan to find out what needed to be done to prevent tthis from happening again because if my children were in the back seat, any child behind me would have been crushed to death. Nissan said that the seat was supposed to collapse as a saftey mecahanism. I am still undergoing therapy for injury to my low back, which hurt upon impact, and my neck and shoulders. I want this seat fixed. I would rather have whiplash, which I sustained anyway, than crush one of my children to death.( dot number: tire size: p205/60r15 )
Owner was drivimg his 1997 Nissan Altima se on the center lane along meadowbrook parkway, long island, ny. The BMW 7.4 on the right side (first lane) merged into the center lane and made a sudden brake. Owner of the Nissan Altima applied a sudden brake but because of the short distance in between two cars, the Altima hit the BMW on the rear. Both cars were traveling at approximately 40-45 miles per hour. Both the driver and passenger airbags were not deploy. The passenger, who is 8 month preagnant, required to be hospitalized for two days. I would like to Nissan company to carefully investigate on what happened why the airbags were not deployed during the collision.
Moving the steering wheel cuts off engine and power. If kept in the highest position it will start and run. But if one tries to lower the steering wheel, the whole car turns off. Moving it also blows the ignition fuse. Or that's what the repair man said. I am fairly short and find it difficult to drive it this way. Also I'm concerned as to if the airbag were to ever deploy, it is now aimed directly at my head. As for the accident on 1/1/1999 we were stopped at a red light when we were rear ended and rammed into the car in front of us. Neither of the airbags deployed during or after the incident.
Airbag - driver's side airbag did not deploy in 35mph head-on crash. Driver was severely injured. Brakes - brakes did not adequately stop the vehicle in 35mph head-on crash. Driver was severely injured. Transmission - transmission constantly slips, takes few minutes to engage from reverse to drive. Engine - engine won't start at random. Dealer findds no problems. Has happened 3 times since purchased vehicle.
Airbag complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Nissan Altima, 32% of the model year's 108 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Nissan Altima airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Nissan Altima, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Nissan Altima airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 23 crashes, 0 fires and 19 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.