Most common 1999 Nissan Altima problems
Share of the 87 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 1999 Nissan Altima owners say
Brakes
To whom it May concern: I was in a terrible car accicent on 11/1/00. Neither airbag deployed and I had damage on all four sides of the vehicle. The worst of the damage was in the front ... The front of the car was gone down to the engine. This vehicle never drove well during the rain. In an ironic way, I am happy to know I am not the only one this has happend to. When I contacted the dealership,they refused to answer my questions & just said, "Nissan has a fail proof airbag deployment system." I advised I had video type of the vehicle after he accident, but they didn't even want to see or acknowledge what had happend. Please feel free to contact me with any answers or information pertaining to this situation. Thank you.
I have been having a "squealing" brake for the past couple of months. Throughout the entire day, my brakes would make a shrilly noise whenever I braked (at least 4 or 5 times throughout the day). I took my car to the mechanics and had a brake inspection done. The mechanic said my brakes are brand new... So I went to the Nissan dealer in cerritos. They informed me of a memo that Nissan had sent out to its dealers regarding brake noise, claiming that it was "normal" to have some noise. In any case, I feel that a 6 month old car should have no noise coming from anywhere, considering that I have followed the complete warranty instructions in maintaining my car. In addition, the mechanic that inspected my brakes also told me that he, too, had an Altima; and that his brakes started making noise since 5,000 miles. …
Air bags
Tl* 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 attention. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a tow yard. The contact called dartmouth Nissan at [phone] (located at 483 state rd, north dartmouth, ma 02747) and was informed of an unknown air bag recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that the dealer was aware of the recall. The contact's attorney took over further interaction with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000. The VIN was not provided.
(1) I turned left into a parking from sitting still in a turn lane. Approx. 3 car lengths into this parking lot both of the front air bags deployed in my automobile. There was no impact. The police were notified and their response was that because there was no vehicle damage etc. There wasn't anything for them to do. They then referred me to this site to fill out a complaint. (2) all three occupants had to be seen in the er. (3) Nissan was contacted; they sent out a vehicle inspector and then Nissan issued a letter stating that because they could not find any defaulted parts they would not assist in the repairs or hospital costs. Personal automotive insurance covered the incident. As far as I know, all parts have been replaced to the tune of $4,000.00 just to repair the automobile.
Wheels & tires
Broken coil and front suspension exploded also causing tire to flatten sounded like a gunshot going off aaa mechanic determined if I was driving at time of inciderdent would have been killed please make this a recall so I can get it fixed at no cost to me my car is my survival car was in stationary mode
After noticing the tire was low in pressure I proceeded to a tire repair facility. After inspecting the tire and finding a small nail the repairman noticed a split on the inside of the tire where the belts are joined together. The repairman said he could not put the tire on the car due to safety reasons. I purchased a new tire to be on my way. After taking the tire to a general tire dealer it was determined that the defect was a factory process defect. I contacted general tire (file #75994) however the company would only agree to fund half of another tire. I did not want another tire. I am concerned that this defect May affect other tires, however, every tire would have to be removed from the mounting to inspect the inside of the tire. I would like general tire to refund my purchase price for the new tire I was forced to purchase due to the nature of the defect. …
1999 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 | 20 / 28 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Nissan Altima a good car?
Based on 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Altima rates better than average: 80% 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 1999 Nissan Altima?
The brakes — 15 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc. Next are the air bags (13) and wheels & tires (13).
How many recalls does the 1999 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 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 1999 Nissan Altima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 17% 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.