Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Nissan Altima, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags40
- Electrical system14
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Vehicle speed control11
- Suspension7
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Tires3
- Power train3
- Visibility3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 28 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1994 Altima vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1994 Nissan Altima failed the safety check 1.11% of the time — 16% less often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 117,183 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1994 Nissan Altima.
| 2003118 30 Apr 2003 | Airbag Nissan has initiated the following action on certain Altima's. The passenger side air bag will be replaced with a depowered one in order to reduce the risk of f… |
| 1994035 18 Feb 1994 | Engine ENGINE MOVEMENT MAY RESULT IN THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING BEING PULLED OUT OF THE CABLE GUIDE. THIS COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITIO… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
NISSAN IS RECALLING MY 1994 AND EARLY 1995 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THESE VEHICLES HAD CAUSED A NUMBER OF MODERATE-TO-SEVERE EYE INJURIES. NISSAN HAS DEVELOPED A NEW PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT IS LESS POWERFUL WHEN IT INFLATES IN A CRASH TO REDUCE THE RISK OF AIR BAG INFLATION-RELATED INJURIES.
ENGINE MOVEMENT CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE AIRFLOW METER/FILTER HOUSING AND SUPPORT BRACKET, WHICH IS MOUNTED IN THE ENGINE AIR DUCT, CAUSING THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE CABLE GUIDE. THIS MAY PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 1994 Nissan Altima: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 606182 | KEY VALUE BRAKE PAD SERVICE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 604301 | SERVICE INFORMATION ON KEY VALUE BRAKE PADS. *TT |
| 603251 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 1N4DL01D0WC150648 MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE TIMING CHAIN NOISE. *YC |
| 601863 | HVAC BLOWER MOTOR NOISE. *YC |
| 601717 | INFORMATION REGARDING INSTRUMENT PANEL INSPECTION AFTER PASSENGER AIR BAG ACTIVATION. *TT |
| 600972 | EXPERIENCING A OIL LEAK AT FRONT OF ENGINE. *YC |
| 600624 | VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 1N4BU31D - VC138483 MAY EXPERIENCE POOR AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) PERFORMANCE. *YC |
| 54272 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING REAR WHEEL ARCH CORROSION REPAIR. *YC |
| 52167 | REAR DOOR PARTITION SEAL. *JD |
| 52165 | POOR AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) PERFORMANCE- LOW PRESSURE GOES INTO VACUUM. *JD |
| 51293 | REPLACEMENT BRACKETS FOR THE 1994-97 ALTIMA PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE ARE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NISSAN PARTS SYSTEM. *JD |
| 45799 | ALTIMA EXHIBITS OIL LEAKAGE AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, IT MAY BE CAUSED BY THE O-RING SEAL BETWEEN THE TIMING COVER AND THE BLOCK. *SD |
| 45010 | FRONT OIL COVER LEAK. *TW |
| 38003 | ERRATIC POWER WINDOW OPERATION. *TW |
| 37997 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *TW |
| 37990 | DASH HARNESS BEHIND GLOVE BOX BRACKET THAT ATTACHES TO EVAPORATOR CAN BE PINCHED BETWEEN EVAPORATOR AND ENGINE WALL CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW. *TW |
| 10243708 | DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10239062 | SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray Silicone-based lubricant or grease, or inadvertently overspray Silicone-based lubricant or grease onto any interior electrical components. These types of lubricants can be detrimental to the proper operation of electrical components. |
| 10239060 | 12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are expected to promote uniformity during the connection process, therefore reducing the number of incorrect Test with DCA and Replace results. HINT: If 12 volt batteries are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced. This condition may lead to premature battery replacement and customer dissatisfaction. |
| 10235710 | INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10235707 | VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10232658 | REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10232657 | WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10232656 | WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
| 10232652 | DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PASSENGER AIR BAG-RELATED FACIAL/EYE INJ
PASSENGER AIR BAG-RELATED EYE INJURIES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation