Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Nissan Altima, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 12 | 12% |
| Tires | 12 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 12% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 8% |
| Visibility | 8 | 8% |
| Power train | 7 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 5% |
| Structure | 4 | 4% |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
KEEP HAVING TROUBLE SMELLING GAS. INSIDE THE CAR AND FUEL PUMP AND THE EXHAUST GAS AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IT KEEPS MESSING WITH THEIR ASTHMA SPENDING TO MUCH MONEY KEEP GETTING IT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TIRE ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS FLATERED SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF COLLAPSED COIL SPRING STRUT AND SUSPENSION
NHTSA complaint: 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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
BROKEN AND COLLAPSED COIL ON LEFT FRONT TIRE SUSPENSION IN CARPORT STATIONARY POSITION
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED MY CAR TO CATCH FIRE IN THE TRUNK ARE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
MY 99 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE IS STALLING WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM SCARED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AND THAT SOMEONE MAY HIT ME FR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR S
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 Nissan Altima. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
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 JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE
Risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK
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.
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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
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 SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
| Reliability | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 75 | good |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 12 of them (12%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.