RecallMyCar

1997 Nissan Altima Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1997 Nissan Altima, and owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
108
owner complaints to NHTSA
31 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
21–24
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1997 Nissan Altima

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 96V185000 Reported 36,000 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Certain buckle assemblies were produced with a "buckle base" that was improperly heat treated. This can cause the "buckle base" to be brittle failing to comply to FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the buckle assemblies and replace them if necessary.

108 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Nissan Altima have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA; 31 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 24 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 99,795 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 14 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 24, 2020 · Air bags

“Due to corrosion, both rear sub member and front cradle are rotting out and must be replaced. Vehicle is unsafe. Once replaced, other work may be needed”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 20, 2016 · Structure

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Nissan Altima / Stanza. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21–24 mpg
City / Highway18–21 / 26–28
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 2.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Nissan Altima model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Altima model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1993 Nissan Altima1122
1994 Nissan Altima2106
1995 Nissan Altima3180
1996 Nissan Altima092
1997 Nissan Altima1108
1998 Nissan Altima0123
1999 Nissan Altima087
2000 Nissan Altima1160
2001 Nissan Altima1159
2002 Nissan Altima51,047
2003 Nissan Altima4883
2004 Nissan Altima1276
2005 Nissan Altima11,091
2006 Nissan Altima3824
2007 Nissan Altima3471
2008 Nissan Altima41,030
2009 Nissan Altima41,547
2010 Nissan Altima3381
2011 Nissan Altima1241
2012 Nissan Altima4426
2013 Nissan Altima122,312
2014 Nissan Altima81,114
2015 Nissan Altima10954
2016 Nissan Altima4553
2017 Nissan Altima3391
2018 Nissan Altima2226
2019 Nissan Altima7232
2020 Nissan Altima6158
2021 Nissan Altima270
2022 Nissan Altima030
2023 Nissan Altima029
2024 Nissan Altima141
2025 Nissan Altima27
2026 Nissan Altima01

Checking a specific 1997 Nissan Altima

How do I know if my 1997 Nissan Altima has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Nissan Altima; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V185000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.