The 1993 Nissan Altima has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine oil leak at timing cover and oil pan.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1993 Nissan Altima.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6 NHTSA complaints · 1995-12 → 2000-11
“OIL LEAK DEVELOPED AT ENGINE TIMING COVER. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR OVER $2000”
“CONSUMER NOTICED OIL SPOTS IN PARKING LOT, AND IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC OIL PAN WAS WORN OUT, AND OIL WAS JUST RUNNING OUT FROM BACK OF IT.*AK”
“THE TIMING COVER GASKET FAILED AND IS LEAKING OIL, TSB IS ISSUED CONCERNING THIS FAILURE. *MJS”
VISIBILITY
7 NHTSA complaints · 1996-04 → 2006-04
“AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, BOTH REAR WINDOWS OPEN FROM THE UP POSITION TO HALF WAY DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. ONE TIME, THE CAR WAS STOLEN”
“ALL POWER WINDOWS GO UP/DOWN BY THEMSELVES. *AK”
“TWO REAR WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED FOR SMALL CHILDRE RIDING IN THE REAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
35 NHTSA complaints · 1994-11 → 2017-01
“DT: NISSAN ALTIMA 1993. THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE PEDAL DROPPED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UPWARDS OF 85 MPH. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNT HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL OF THE VEHICLE”
“GAS PEDAL BRACKET ATTACHED TO FIREWALL BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CAUSING ACCELARATOR TO GET STUCK AT 25 MPH. GAS PEDAL RELEASED FROM WHERE IT WAS WELDED ON THE FIREWALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
“SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 1996 I HAVE NEVER BEEN INFORMED OF THE RECALL ISSUED IN 1994 AND I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES EVEN AT FIRST WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY”
AIR BAGS
20 NHTSA complaints · 1994-11 → 2003-09
“WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HAD A HEAD-ON FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THE ACCIDENT. *AK”
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, WHILE AT COMPLETE STOP WITH NO IMPACT INVOLVED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK”
“AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A BAD AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT'S WHY THE LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. *AK”
SEAT BELTS
17 NHTSA complaints · 1995-02 → 2016-01
“THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT LOCKS UP, AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO MOVE FREELY. THE BELT TIGHTENS UP TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF IN ORDER TO USE SAFETY LATCH TO UNLOCK BELT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK”
“WHILE DRIVING LOW TO HIGH SPEED, EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS LOCKUP, WHEN TURNING, STATIONARY OR DRIVING ALONG TO THE POINT OF CHOKING”
“UPON IMPACT, DURING REAR END COLLISION, AT APPROX. 15MPH, EXPERIENCED SHOULDER/LAP BELT FAILURE WHEN DIDN'T RETRACT, ALLOWED DRIVER TO HIT WINDSHIELD. TT”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5 NHTSA complaints · 1997-05 → 2005-01
“VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITH NO WARNING WHEN COMING FROM ANY STOP POSITION INTO A TURNING POSITION. *AK”
“THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY, USUALLY IT TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES - 1 HOUR TO START. VEHICLE WILL ALSO STALL/SHUT DOWN INTERMITENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM ,CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE IS NORMAL. *AK”
“WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
282 crashes 1990–2024
How the 282 occupant deaths break down
193
driver deaths
89
passenger deaths
282
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1993 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
24
complaints mentioning a crash
3
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1993 Nissan Altima reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.