Most common 2001 Nissan Altima problems
Share of the 159 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 →
2001 Nissan Altima recalls (1)
Tires › Tread/belt
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with Firestone firehawk gta-02 , size p205/55r16 89h tires. The recalled tires are identified by dot serial #w2 t2 vf3 xxx or w2 t2 vf3 xxxx; where xxx May be 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519,…
Remedy: Bridgestone/Firestone will replace the tires which were installed as original equipment on these altima vehicles. Firestone is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign.
What 2001 Nissan Altima owners say
Engine & cooling all 66 →
2001 Nissan Altima gxe 2.4 with 70,000 miles. On or about this day my wife and 8 month old daughter were driving on a expressway when a accident occurred in front of them. My wife was able to stop and avoid the accident. While waiting for the accident to clear the car stalled due to the #4 intake exhaust manifold gasket failure. While restarting the car to advance to a safer area. That is when a car hit them in the rear and pushed them into the car infront of them, causing almost $3000.00 damage to our car. My wife and I still have difficulty sleeping through the night, thinking of the harm that could have happened to our daughter. I still have been unable to afford to fix this defect on our car and continue to drive it most days while it tries to stall out on me. This defect is consistent with complaints #10167168,101451161,10100639 and#10163901.
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.
Suspension all 20 →
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.
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
Electrical system
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.
Car was parked overnight in garage. When key was turned in the ignition, explosion occurred under the hood. Smoke was coming out from under the hood and acid was dripping to the pavement. There is a dent on the hood from the inside directly above the battery location. There was also acid on the engine and local areas.
2001 Nissan Altima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Nissan Altima a good car?
Based on 159 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Altima rates better than average: 66% 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 2001 Nissan Altima?
The engine & cooling — 66 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system. Next are the suspension (20) and electrical system (19).
How many recalls does the 2001 Nissan Altima have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Nissan Altima, the most recent from February 23, 2001 (tread/belt). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2001 Nissan Altima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 25% 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.