1999 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

110 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1999 Nissan Altima, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 7/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1999 Nissan Altima has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

110Complaints
7/100Trouble index
4Recalls
88,500Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 1999 sits among all Altima years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 19 complaints (17%)
Wheels & tires 14 complaints (13%)
Airbags 13 complaints (12%)
Engine 8 complaints (7%)
Visibility & wipers 8 complaints (7%)
Transmission & drivetrain 8 complaints (7%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 40 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 88,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 43,000 and 113,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (4)

SUSPENSION 10E002000 2010

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD…

Fix: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E025000 2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E026000 2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…

Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1999peak 32 in 20002020

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1999 Nissan Altima reliable?

The 1999 Nissan Altima drew 110 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 7/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).

What are the most common 1999 Nissan Altima problems?

The top reported problems for the 1999 Nissan Altima are brakes & stability (19 complaints), wheels & tires (14), and airbags (13).

At what mileage do 1999 Nissan Altima problems show up?

Owners most often report 1999 Nissan Altima problems around 88,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 43,000 and 113,000 miles.

Does the 1999 Nissan Altima have recalls?

4 recall campaigns apply to the 1999 Nissan Altima. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.